Wetlands International articles
According` the National Land Inventory of 1 January 2000, mires make up 8.2% of the total land resources of the Russian Federation. According to expert evaluation, mires and peat-containing paludified landscapes cover at least 20% of the country`s territory and are a major part of the world`s peatland resource.
Peatlands use in the economy is associated with the following problems brought about by the specificity of the resource:
- A peatland is a complex natural object t
Emissions from drained and degrading peatlands (organic soils) amount to almost double the amount of CO2 emissions from aviation1, even when skyrocketing emissions from peat fires are not included. This briefing paper shows where the most urgent action is needed and presents a roadmap and policy recommendations for accelerating action.
Peatlands cover only 3% of the global land surface. Some 15% of these peatlands have been drained for agriculture, forestry and grazing, which leads to
What do you do when mangroves fail to naturally recolonise abandoned rice fields in one of the most precious mangrove deltas of the world? Pieter van Eijk reports on a recent mission to Western Africa that paves the way for large-scale mangrove recovery through a so-called ‘ecological restoration’ approach.
While small on a map, Guinea Bissa
Pieter van Eijk
Tackling the biggest coastal resilience challenge in West Africa
The Senegal River is the second largest river in West Africa and forms the natural border between Senegal and Mauritania for much of its course as it flows west towards the Atlantic Ocean. At the coastal delta it flows past the low river banks of the city of Saint-Louis. From there it turns south, running alongside a thin strip of sand dunes separating it from the ocean for the last 30 km until it
Wetlands International will be speaking about this issue at the upcoming Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting. The Clinton Global Initiative was established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton to convene global leaders to create and implement solutions to the world`s most pressing challenges. This year’s Annual Meeting will take place on 26-29 September in New York.
Water scarcity and wetlands
We a
Vast lowland areas of Southeast Asia will be frequently and irreversibly flooded before the end of the century unless action is taken to stop the destruction of peatlands. A radical change in land-use is needed. In particular the palm oil and pulp wood sectors must stop developing new plantations on peat and plan to phase-out existing drainage-based plantations before they are flooded. If no action is taken, productivity will be lost in extensive peatland areas in Indonesia and Malaysia with
2014 was a dynamic year for Africa’s regional office of Wetlands International which continued to consolidate its good achievements. Many strategic actions were implemented by the organisation as it strengthened its leadership on wetlands conservation in Africa. As part of its projects and programmes, key activities related to the management of wetland ecosystems and their restoration were conducted in the countries of Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria and Kenya and others in
Glossary
Afforestation: Cultivating plants (mangroves) in an area where no plants (mangroves) grew previously
Air layering: A form of vegetative propagation where a branch is stimulated to form roots while still on the parent plant by removing part of the bark and keeping the area moist
Cotyledon: Leaf forming part of embryo or newly emerged seedling
Ecosystem: Part of the environment that can be recognized with geographical margins due to the character
As I leave behind the vast and wild beauty of Uruguay’s coasts, I have some mixed feelings about the progress made at the 12th Ramsar Convention on Wetlands Conference of Parties (COP), held in Punta del Este. “What was it for?”, the uninitiated may ask. Actually I’m asking myself the same question, even though I have 25 years of experience engaging with this Convention and the COPs.
Amongst the main throng of delegates, there were newcomers from countries like
Jane Madgwick
Wetlands act as water sources, sinks and purifiers. They protect our shores. They are Earth’s greatest natural carbon stores. They support abundant and unique nature. But we have lost so much of our wetland treasure. And those that remain are under growing pressure. This makes people and nature vulnerable.
It’s time to reverse the trend.
Together with many partners around the world, Wetlands International works to safeguard