The international community dedicated to the preservation and wise use of wetlands convened on the scenic shores of Lake Geneva in May 2026 for a pivotal meeting of the Convention on Wetlands Standing Committee (SC67). This gathering, the first since the high-profile Convention on Wetlands COP15 held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, in July of the previous year, brought together government delegates, experts, and observers, including representatives from Wetlands International, to review progress, share expertise, and chart a course for implementing the ambitious global wetland goals and targets adopted at COP15. The SC67 meeting served as a crucial platform for translating the strategic vision set forth in Victoria Falls into concrete actions, ensuring that the momentum generated by the COP would translate into tangible conservation outcomes.
Background: The Ramsar Convention and the Path Forward
The Convention on Wetlands, commonly known as the Ramsar Convention, is an intergovernmental treaty adopted in 1971 that provides a framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. Its overarching mission is to halt the worldwide loss of wetlands and to secure their conservation for future generations. The COP15, held in 2025, was a landmark event that saw Contracting Parties adopt the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which includes significant targets for wetland protection and restoration, alongside the Ramsar Strategic Plan 2025-2034. This plan outlines key objectives, including halting and reversing wetland loss, enhancing wetland ecosystem services, and strengthening international cooperation. SC67, as the Standing Committee’s primary meeting between COPs, plays a vital role in overseeing the implementation of the Convention’s work program and monitoring progress towards these critical goals.
The choice of Lake Geneva as the venue for SC67 held symbolic significance, given the region’s rich history of international cooperation and environmental diplomacy. Switzerland has long been a champion of multilateral environmental agreements, and its commitment to hosting such important discussions underscored the urgency and global nature of wetland conservation efforts. The meeting’s timing, just over a year after COP15, allowed for an initial assessment of how effectively the ambitious resolutions adopted in Victoria Falls were being translated into national policies and on-the-ground actions.
Key Decisions and Achievements of SC67
The 67th meeting of the Convention on Wetlands Standing Committee proved to be a highly productive session, yielding significant decisions and advancements across several critical areas of wetland conservation and management. Six key highlights emerged from the week-long deliberations:
Partners for Wetlands Priorities
The meeting commenced with a powerful opening statement delivered by Wetlands International on behalf of all six International Organisation Partners (IOPs) of the Convention on Wetlands. This collective voice set the stage for the deliberations, emphasizing three paramount priorities for immediate action. Firstly, the IOPs underscored the urgent need to address the root causes of wetland loss and degradation, particularly by integrating wetland considerations into financial and economic decision-making processes. This involves challenging conventional economic models that often overlook the intrinsic value and essential services provided by wetlands.
Secondly, the statement highlighted the necessity of reconfiguring human-wetland relationships. This encompasses a broader societal understanding of our interconnectedness with wetland ecosystems, including the burgeoning concept of "Rights of Wetlands" – a legal and ethical framework that recognizes the inherent rights of wetland ecosystems to exist, thrive, and regenerate. Such approaches represent a paradigm shift from viewing wetlands solely as resources for human exploitation to acknowledging their intrinsic value and right to legal protection.
Thirdly, the IOPs emphasized the critical role of wetlands in delivering on the objectives of other Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs). By prioritizing wetlands in national and regional implementation plans, and by recognizing their interconnectedness with global environmental goals, countries can leverage wetland conservation as a powerful tool for achieving broader biodiversity targets, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and sustainable water management. This integrated approach recognizes that wetlands are not isolated ecosystems but rather vital components of larger ecological and hydrological systems that flow through and connect various global environmental initiatives, including those related to the Rio Conventions and the UN Water Conference.
Later in the week, an official IOP information session provided a deeper dive into the specific initiatives being undertaken. Progress was showcased across flagship programs such as the Freshwater Challenge, the Mangrove Breakthrough, and the Peatland Breakthrough. These initiatives represent collaborative efforts to accelerate the restoration and conservation of critical wetland types, demonstrating tangible progress and fostering innovative solutions. The session also provided a valuable platform for engaging with Contracting Parties, soliciting their feedback on how IOPs can further enhance their effectiveness in achieving shared wetland goals.
Wetland Indicators: Measuring Progress Towards Strategic Goals
A cornerstone decision of SC67 was the adoption of a robust indicator framework designed to meticulously measure progress towards the targets outlined in the Convention on Wetlands Strategic Plan 2025-2034. This framework is characterized by its strong and explicit alignment with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and other overarching global environmental objectives. Significant amendments were incorporated into the framework to ensure flexibility in differentiating between lost and degraded wetlands, a critical distinction for targeted conservation interventions. Furthermore, the framework was refined to enhance its alignment with targets focused on mobilizing finance and reducing harmful incentives, as stipulated by the Global Biodiversity Framework.
This crucial adoption paved the way for SC67 to also approve the template for National Reports. These reports, which are due by December 7, 2027, will serve as the foundational data for a comprehensive global implementation report to be presented at the next Convention on Wetlands Conference of the Parties (COP16). A draft guidance document was also presented, which will undergo further refinement to ensure clarity and usability for Contracting Parties in their reporting processes. The development of these reporting tools is vital for transparently tracking the effectiveness of conservation efforts and for identifying areas where greater attention and resources are needed.
Waterbird Population Estimates: Strengthening Global Monitoring
Following the establishment of the Global Waterbird Estimates Partnership (GWEP) at COP15, SC67 took another significant step by approving an update on the GWEP’s progress and formally establishing a permanent GWEP International Coordination Committee. While acknowledging the pressing need to address the funding gap that currently hampers the partnership’s full operational capacity, this decision places the GWEP on a more secure footing. The committee will provide long-term coordination, essential scientific and technical guidance, and facilitate resource mobilization to ensure the continued production of vital Waterbird Population Estimates beyond 2027.
These estimates are indispensable for effective waterbird and wetland conservation, providing critical data for national conservation efforts and for managing migratory flyways. They are instrumental in the designation and management of Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention and inform a broader spectrum of waterbird conservation actions globally. The ongoing work of the GWEP directly contributes to understanding the health and connectivity of wetland ecosystems, which are crucial for supporting diverse avian populations.
Science in the Spotlight: Enhancing the Role of STRP
Contracting Parties expressed strong support for the vital work undertaken by the Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP), the Convention’s scientific advisory body. A comprehensive report on the STRP’s activities and future plans was enthusiastically received, with a particular focus on strengthening the involvement of early career researchers, promoting the dissemination of STRP outputs, and expanding collaborative efforts.
Discussions also centered on a prioritized list of STRP tasks, including four key areas highlighted by the IOPs in their opening statement: GEOwetlands, which leverages earth observation technologies for wetland inventories, assessment, monitoring, management, and reporting; the upcoming Global Wetland Outlook focusing on cities; an analysis of transformative change pathways for wetlands, including the role of Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs); and a crucial report on wetlands and the water cycle, slated for release at the UN Water Conference later in the year. These scientific endeavors are critical for informing policy decisions and ensuring that conservation strategies are based on the best available scientific knowledge.
Cities and Wetlands: Recognizing Urban Conservation Efforts
The SC67 received an update on the Wetland City Accreditation scheme, a program that recognizes cities demonstrating a strong commitment to wetland conservation and wise use. The accreditation scheme, which has so far officially recognized 74 cities from 27 countries, is gaining significant traction as an effective tool for raising public awareness and promoting urban wetland stewardship. Future roundtables of Wetland City Mayors are scheduled to take place in Valdivia, Chile, in 2027, and Mechelen, Belgium, in 2028, further fostering international dialogue and knowledge exchange. Preparations are already underway for this year’s roundtable in Niigata, Japan, with a specific focus on rice paddies and the dual importance of urban wetlands for both waterbirds and human well-being.
With a growing global urban population, the Wetland City Accreditation scheme plays an increasingly vital role in building public understanding of wetland conservation. It also highlights the significant contribution of urban wetlands to global biodiversity targets, particularly concerning urban green and blue spaces, climate adaptation, and the provision of essential ecosystem services. The upcoming theme for World Wetland Day 2028, "Wetlands for Sustainable Cities," is set to align with the next wetland COP in Panama City, Panama, further amplifying the focus on urban wetland action. The deadline for new applications for the accreditation scheme is in December of the current year, signaling a surge in interest and commitment to urban wetland conservation.
Rights of Wetlands: A New Frontier for Conservation
In parallel with the growing global momentum of the Rights of Nature movement, discussions at SC67 explored the exciting potential of "Rights of Wetlands" approaches as a potent avenue for wetland conservation and restoration. This emerging legal and philosophical framework, gaining traction at local and national levels worldwide, aligns with the imperative for transformative change in how humanity interacts with natural systems. Following recent IUCN resolutions on the rights of rivers and the rights of nature, and building upon the ongoing work of the Rights of Wetlands Initiative, there is strong support for the development of a new Draft Resolution on the rights of wetlands. Such a resolution, brought forward by Contracting Parties to the next wetland COP, could significantly advance the legal recognition and protection of wetland ecosystems. Panama’s recent elevation of rights of nature at the UN further underscores the growing international recognition of these principles.
Broader Implications and Future Outlook
Beyond these six principal highlights, SC67 engaged in extensive deliberations on a wide array of critical issues. These included the risks posed to wetlands and water security by potential dilutions of the Water Framework Directive in Europe and the threats to High Andean wetlands from increased lithium mining. The crucial role of Ramsar Regional Initiatives (RRIs) in driving transboundary implementation was also emphasized, with welcome confirmation of new funding for the Southern African RRI and the Danube WILD Island RRI. Furthermore, the significant work required in wetland finance was underscored, including the adoption of a resource mobilization plan, an area where IOPs are poised to make substantial contributions.
With the next Convention on Wetlands COP scheduled for Panama City in just over two years, the overarching focus for the global wetland community remains resolutely on action and implementation at local, landscape, national, and regional levels. As International Organisation Partners, Wetlands International and its counterparts are committed to fostering continued collaboration with governments, the Convention secretariat, and an expanding network of wetland stakeholders from across society. This collaborative endeavor aims to scale up wetland protection and restoration efforts, recognizing their indispensable contribution to the well-being of people, the health of nature, and the stability of the climate.
The outcomes of SC67 represent a significant stride forward in translating the ambitious goals set at COP15 into tangible progress. The meeting underscored the interconnectedness of wetland conservation with broader global environmental agendas and highlighted innovative approaches, such as the Rights of Wetlands framework, to secure a more sustainable future for these vital ecosystems. The continued dedication and collaboration of the international community will be paramount in addressing the ongoing challenges and ensuring that wetlands are recognized and protected as the essential life-support systems they are.
All SC67 documents are available through the Convention on Wetlands website, providing further insight into the detailed discussions and decisions made during this crucial meeting. The commitment to robust monitoring, scientific advancement, and innovative policy approaches signals a determined effort to safeguard the world’s wetlands for generations to come.
