Wetlands do not conjure up particularly strong emotions. In fact, many people might be put off by the term. But wetlands are one of the most important habitats we have, and they are among the most threatened, especially with so much already having been lost.
They cover only around 6 per cent of the Earth’s land surface, 40 per cent of all plant and animal species live or breed in wetlands. Approximately 87% of all wetlands have been lost to human development over the last 300 years and 35% of that has happened since 1970. This has meant that there is a specific convention – Ramsar – for their protection.
Not only are they so important for living species, the soils of wetlands store twice as much carbon as all forests. Draining them releases this.
So there are just two super important reasons to consider what you can do to encourage or even better cause the protection and possible replenishment of wetlands on this World Wetlands Day.
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