Wetland are disappearing The Convention on Wetlands reports that nearly one-fifth of the world’s wetlands have been lost in the last 50 years. It’s easy to shrug off abstract statistics like that, but what does that loss mean for life on Earth, including ours? These ecosystems feed human and animal populations, support the water cycle, and reduce the impacts of climate change by buffering extreme weather. But agricultural expansion, urbanization, water drainage, pollution, invasive species, and infrastructure development all threaten these delicate, essential ecologies. Indigenous and local communities, who often have the deepest ties to these landscapes and depend on them for sustenance, are also key stewards and must have a central role in decision-making. In many cases, preventing destruction in the first place is more cost-effective and ecologically sound than attempting restoration later. The wetlands that need our help are all around us. What’s in your neck of the woods? Explore the interactive map below!
Posted: August 16, 2025