While wetland ecosystems are increasingly being recognized as highly valuable natural assets that provide a wide range of benefits to urban communities, the services they provide are under immense pressure due to rapid urban expansion and human activity. Cities are uniquely positioned to drive local action to protect our wetlands.
Below are five key action areas for cities to mobilize urban communities for wetlands:
Integrate wetland management goals into municipal development plans, zoning regulations, and climate resilience strategies.
Advocate for wetlands as critical infrastructure in disaster risk management, emphasizing their role in flood mitigation, erosion control, and urban cooling.
Allocate funding for wetland restoration and maintenance as part of city budgets.
Highlight wetlands’ function as natural water filters, improving water quality for drinking and sanitation.
Educate communities about the importance of wetlands in regulating stream flow, preventing floods, and mitigating droughts.
Encourage partnerships between cities and water utilities to protect wetlands as vital water supply sources.
In the weeks to come, and during our meeting in Rome this February, I will work alongside Parties to build the trust and consensus needed to achieve Peace with Nature, ensuring that the goals and targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) translate into tangible action. Securing adequate and predictable financing will be central to our efforts, enabling transformative change for biodiversity while ensuring benefits for communities and ecosystems alike.
– said H.E. Susana Muhamad, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia and President of COP16.
Organize events such as guided wetland tours, birdwatching activities, and clean-up drives to connect urban communities with local wetlands.
Collaborate with schools and universities to use wetlands as outdoor classrooms for environmental education.
Celebrate World Wetlands Day by showcasing wetlands’ cultural, recreational, and ecological value through art exhibitions, storytelling sessions, and public campaigns.
Organize events such as guided wetland tours, birdwatching activities, and clean-up drives to connect urban communities with local wetlands.
Collaborate with schools and universities to use wetlands as outdoor classrooms for environmental education.
Celebrate World Wetlands Day by showcasing wetlands’ cultural, recreational, and ecological value through art exhibitions, storytelling sessions, and public campaigns.
Encourage eco-tourism and recreational activities like boating, fishing, and wetland safaris to generate local employment.
Support community-based initiatives in wetland restoration, creating jobs and fostering skills in conservation and sustainable resource use.
Showcase the agricultural and economic benefits of wetlands, such as fisheries, fertile soils, and natural resources, as integral to urban food security and poverty reduction.