International Wetland Organization: Majority of New National Nature Plans Include Wetlands

At the United Nations COP16 Biodiversity Conference currently taking place in Cali, Colombia, a new report commissioned by the International Wetland Organization reveals that most new national nature plans submitted before COP16 include references to wetlands.

The report, Assessing the Integration of Wetlands in National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), shows that 83% of the submitted NBSAPs explicitly mention terms such as “wetlands,” “inland waters,” or “freshwater.” Additionally, out of the 24 NBSAPs submitted by October 8, 23 included wetland-related content in either national targets or indicators used to measure targets.

“The International Wetland Organization, along with its partners, is working to promote the restoration and protection of wetlands, including through the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). It is encouraging to see such a large proportion of national nature plans recognize the importance of wetlands. Wetlands account for 40% of global biodiversity, but they are disappearing faster than any other ecosystem. Therefore, it is crucial to prioritize wetlands at both the global and national levels for the successful implementation of the GBF,” said Han de Groot, CEO of the International Wetland Organization.

However, the organization’s analysis also shows that, as of October 8, less than two weeks before COP16, only 12% (24 out of 196 parties) had submitted their NBSAPs. During COP15 in Montreal, Canada, two years ago, global leaders committed to submitting their NBSAPs before COP16.

“Wetlands must be a priority on the COP16 agenda and be at the core of national plans to implement the Global Biodiversity Framework. We urge the more than 150 countries still updating their NBSAPs to publish their complete and updated national plans as soon as possible, ensuring that wetlands are comprehensively covered and adequately funded for implementation. They can draw inspiration from the NBSAPs that have already been released, which focus particularly on wetland restoration and protection and integrate the role of wetlands in achieving other GBF targets, such as pollution, urban nature, climate action, and funding,” said Femke Tonneijck, Director of Program Impact at the International Wetland Organization.