An international report, led by a Department of Conservation (DOC) scientist, warns the world is on track to lose even more of its wetlands unless significant action is taken.
Dr Hugh Robertson is a DOC freshwater scientist and lead author of the Global Wetland Outlook 2025, as Chair of the Scientific and Technical Review Panel of the International Convention on Wetlands.
“New Zealand has lost 90% of our wetlands. This pattern is reflected internationally – over 400 million hectares of wetlands have vanished since 1970. And if the loss continues at its current rate, a further fifth of the world’s remaining wetlands could be gone by 2050 unless we take action,” Dr Robertson says.
Wetlands provide food, regulate the global water cycle, remove water pollution, serve as buffer from the effects of sea level rise and storm surges, and store carbon.
In New Zealand, wetlands are home to an abundance of taonga species – kahikatea, native ducks, rare orchids and mudfish, to name a few of wetland plants and animals found nowhere else in the world.
“Losing a further fifth of wetlands globally will have enormous impact on people, nature and economies, amounting to losses of up to USD$39 trillion ($NZ65 trillion),” Dr Robertson said.
“However, the panel of experts behind the report was at pains to lay out a pathway for conserving wetlands, so it’s not all bad news.
“The report suggests a combination of private and public financing could address the funding gaps, such as biodiversity credits. Recognising the essential role of wetlands to store, filter and regulate water flows, and treating wetlands as essential infrastructure will also hope to reverse wetlands loss.
“Restoration per hectare costs anything between USD$1,000 and $70,000 (about NZ$1,600 to $115,000), so conserving wetlands is cheaper than restoring them.”
Global Wetland Outlook 2025 has been published in the leadup to the Ramsar Wetlands Convention Conference of Parties (COP 15), taking place in Zimbabwe from 23-31 July. Ramsar is a global treaty dedicated to promoting international cooperation and actions to protect wetlands.
At COP 15, countries will make decisions to address wetland loss and degradation and improve management of wetlands of international importance.
New Zealand’s latest report on its internationally important wetlands (Ramsar sites), published earlier this year, will be tabled at COP15. The report covers the recent, devastating fires at Awarua-Waituna and Whangamarino wetlands, as well as positive changes through the Government’s Jobs for Nature programme, DOC’s Ngā Awa river restoration programme and partnering with tangata whenua to monitor wetland condition.
Read the Global Wetland Outlook Report 2025: https://www.global-wetland-outlook.ramsar.org/.
New Zealand’s Ramsar National Report to COP15: COP15 National Reports: New Zealand | The Convention on Wetlands, The Convention on Wetlands.
