WETLANDS: NATURE’S SILENT GUARDIANS

Wetlands are vital guardians of life on Earth, storing carbon, fostering biodiversity and protecting coastlines. From bird-filled marshes to carbon-rich swamps, these ecosystems regulate water cycles, support climate mitigation and biodiversity conservation. Yet, these ecosystems are disappearing rapidly due to urbanisation, agriculture and climate change. In the last half-century, over ⅓ of wetlands have been lost,, threatening both nature and cultural heritage.

On World Wetlands Day 2025, at CIFOR-ICRAF, we celebrate these diverse landscapes and their role in sustaining biodiversity, climate resilience and human identity while calling for their urgent protection.