The 67th meeting of the Standing Committee of the Convention on Wetlands, held in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 5, 2026, served as a critical platform for international dialogue on the urgent need to protect and restore the world’s vital wetland ecosystems. In a powerful opening statement delivered on behalf of six leading International Organisation Partners—Birdlife International, IUCN, IWMI, Wetlands International, WWF, and WWT—Laura MacKenzie, Senior Advocacy Officer at Wetlands International, underscored the successes of the recent COP15 in Victoria Falls and outlined three key priorities for concerted global action to safeguard these indispensable natural assets.
The statement began by acknowledging the positive momentum generated by COP15, which concluded in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, with the adoption of the 5th Ramsar Strategic Plan. This plan, a cornerstone for global wetland conservation efforts, sets ambitious targets for the coming years. MacKenzie extended thanks to Zimbabwe for its presidency of COP15 and congratulated Panama, the designated host of COP16, signaling a continued commitment to advancing the Convention’s objectives. The adoption of numerous resolutions, covering crucial areas such as flyways, freshwater ecosystems, Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs), and crucial financing mechanisms, has now shifted the focus to the vital task of implementation.
Drawing upon the extensive on-the-ground experience of the International Organisation Partners, MacKenzie articulated three paramount priorities that demand immediate and sustained attention from Contracting Parties and the global community. These priorities aim to address the systemic drivers of wetland loss and degradation, foster a fundamental shift in human-wetland relationships, and embed wetlands as indispensable components of broader environmental governance frameworks.
Addressing the Root Causes: Finance and Economic Decision-Making
The foremost priority identified by MacKenzie is the imperative to address the fundamental drivers of wetland loss and degradation, with a particular emphasis on the pervasive influence of financial and economic decision-making. Unlocking increased financial resources for wetland conservation and restoration is a critical objective. However, the stark reality, as highlighted by the comprehensive Global Wetland Outlook, reveals a deeply concerning trend: nature-negative public and private financial flows have demonstrably increased.
This alarming situation is further illuminated by the UNEP State of Finance for Nature report, which paints a grim picture of financial priorities. The report starkly illustrates that for every single dollar invested in protecting nature, a staggering thirty dollars are expended on activities that actively destroy it. This imbalance underscores a profound misallocation of global capital and a systemic failure to recognize the intrinsic and instrumental value of natural ecosystems.
Consequently, the current triennium necessitates a concentrated effort to reduce and redirect subsidies and financial flows that actively undermine wetland health. MacKenzie emphasized the pivotal role of governments in this regard, referencing the findings of the IPBES business and biodiversity assessment. Governments possess the power to shape the actions of businesses and financial institutions through robust policy, legal, and regulatory frameworks. Furthermore, fiscal policies and incentives can be strategically aligned to support biodiversity goals, creating an economic landscape that rewards conservation rather than penalizing it.
A critical component of this priority involves making rapid progress in integrating the true value of wetlands into economic policy. For too long, the economic calculus has overlooked the multifaceted benefits that wetlands provide, leading to their degradation in the pursuit of short-term development gains. MacKenzie cited recent concerning examples that exemplify this detrimental trend. The weakening of a law designed to protect glacier areas, for instance, has exacerbated the threats posed by lithium mining to wetlands and water security in the sensitive High Andes region. Similarly, proposed dilutions of the EU Water Framework Directive have generated deep concerns among environmental stakeholders, highlighting the ongoing challenges in safeguarding freshwater ecosystems.
Reconfiguring Human-Wetland Relationships: Embracing the Rights of Wetlands
The second crucial priority centers on reconfiguring the fundamental relationship between humanity and wetlands. This involves a paradigm shift from viewing wetlands solely as resources to be exploited towards recognizing their intrinsic value and the essential services they provide. MacKenzie expressed strong support for the resolutions adopted by the IUCN in October, particularly those pertaining to the rights of nature, including rivers. These resolutions, endorsed by governments, Indigenous Peoples’ Organisations, and NGOs, signal a growing global recognition of the need to grant legal standing to natural entities.
The International Organisation Partners are eager to explore how "rights of wetlands" approaches can catalyze transformative change. This concept, underscored by IPBES as essential for achieving global sustainability targets and referenced in the Ramsar Strategic Plan, offers a promising pathway to ensure that wetlands are treated with the respect and protection they deserve. By acknowledging the inherent rights of wetlands, legal and policy frameworks can be strengthened to prioritize their conservation and wise use, moving beyond anthropocentric perspectives to embrace a more holistic and ecologically-informed approach. This reorientation is vital for fostering a sustainable coexistence between human societies and the natural world, ensuring the long-term health of both.
Wetlands as Vital Connectors: Integration Across Multilateral Environmental Agreements
The third, and equally critical, priority is to firmly establish wetlands as vital contributors to the achievement of goals set forth by other Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs). MacKenzie stressed the importance of prioritizing wetlands as the critical watery connectors that permeate the agendas of the three Rio Conventions (UNFCCC, CBD, UNCCD), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the UN Water Conference. This interconnectedness is explicitly recognized in Ramsar Resolution XV.4 on synergies.
The UN SDG 6 Synthesis Report powerfully emphasizes the role of water as a "Super Connector," linking progress across all SDGs and MEAs. Wetlands are at the very heart of this water nexus, playing indispensable roles in regulating water cycles, purifying water, supporting biodiversity, and providing livelihoods. Their health is inextricably linked to the achievement of numerous global targets, from climate mitigation and adaptation to food security and human health.
The year 2026 has already witnessed encouraging developments. Parties to the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) have adopted significant decisions on flyways, connectivity, and migratory wetland species, underscoring the transboundary nature of wetland ecosystems and the species they support. The Pantanal Declaration, a landmark initiative, has championed the central role of wetlands not only for biodiversity conservation but also for climate regulation, water security, and the sustenance of local communities. These examples vividly demonstrate the profound importance of cross-border cooperation and courageous political leadership in safeguarding shared wetland resources.
Looking ahead, the strengthening of coherence across monitoring and reporting systems is paramount for effective wetland management. In this context, the proposed indicator framework for the 5th Strategic Plan, which aims to streamline and standardize reporting, is a welcome development. The Standing Committee is urged to adopt this framework, paving the way for more robust and comparable data on wetland status and trends globally.
Synergistic Actions Across Global Fora
The coming months and years present a series of critical opportunities for advancing wetland conservation through synergistic actions across various international forums. The UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) COP17 in Mongolia offers a vital platform to accelerate action on freshwater ecosystems and peatlands. By incorporating wetlands into land degradation neutrality targets and drought resilience plans, the UNCCD can significantly bolster efforts to combat desertification and its impacts.
At the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) COP17 in Armenia, the global review of progress towards the 2030 biodiversity targets must unequivocally showcase how reversing wetland loss and degradation is fundamental to achieving these ambitious goals. Wetlands are biodiversity hotspots, and their restoration is a direct pathway to safeguarding a vast array of species and ecosystems.
Furthermore, the UNFCCC COP31 and the UN Water Conference present crucial junctures for discussions on water security, climate resilience, and mitigation. These high-level events must witness a decisive shift in investment priorities, moving away from unsustainable "grey" infrastructure towards the development of resilient "green" and "blue" infrastructure, where wetlands play a central role.
The statement also highlighted the indispensable role of "whole of society" voluntary initiatives. The Freshwater Challenge, featured in Resolution XV.15, alongside the Mangrove Breakthrough and the Peatland Breakthrough, represents powerful examples of collaborative efforts that can drive significant positive change. Contracting Parties are warmly encouraged to actively participate in and support these initiatives, amplifying their impact and fostering a global movement for wetland restoration.
The Enduring Value of Scientific and Technical Outputs
Finally, MacKenzie underscored the exceptional value and importance of the outputs generated by the Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP) to the conservation and wise use of wetlands. The International Organisation Partners are committed to contributing to many of the STRP’s priority tasks. These include crucial work on GEOwetlands, which aims to improve the monitoring of wetlands using Earth observation data, a deeper understanding of the water cycle and its implications for wetlands, the development of transformative change pathways for wetland management, and the preparation of the next Global Wetland Outlook, with a specific focus on urban wetlands.
The statement concluded with a forward-looking expression of commitment. Wetlands International and its partner organizations eagerly anticipate continued collaboration with Contracting Parties, the Ramsar Secretariat, and a broad spectrum of stakeholders. This collaborative spirit is essential for advancing shared wetland goals and ensuring a sustainable future for these invaluable ecosystems, not only in the coming week but for generations to come. The challenges are significant, but the collective will and the scientific understanding are growing, offering hope for a future where wetlands are recognized, valued, and protected for the myriad benefits they provide to people, nature, and the planet.
