Cali, Colombia, 21 October 2024 — As the UN biodiversity conference kicks off in Cali, Colombia today, a new report commissioned by Wetlands International shows that wetlands feature in the vast majority of the new national nature plans submitted by countries ahead of COP16.

Wetlands International’s report, Assessing the Inclusion of Wetlands in National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans, shows that 83% of submitted “national biodiversity strategies and action plans”, or NBSAPs, explicitly mention the terms “wetlands”, “inland waters” or “freshwater” in their targets. Furthermore, 23 of the 24 NBSAPs submitted by 8 October* included at least one example of wetlands in their national targets or the indicators proposed to measure delivery of the targets. 

“Wetlands International collaborates with allies and partners to upscale wetland restoration and conservation including through implementation of the GBF. In light of this, it is encouraging to see that such a large proportion of national nature plans are recognising the importance of wetlands. Wetlands are home to 40% of the world’s biodiversity but disappearing faster than any other ecosystem, so it is vital that they be given due recognition in efforts to implement the Global Biodiversity Framework, at global and national level,” said Han de Groot, CEO of Wetlands International.

However, Wetlands International’s analysis also reveals that just 12% – or 24 of the 196 parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity – had submitted their NBSAPs by 8 October, less than two weeks before COP16 was due to take place. World leaders had committed to submit their NBSAPS ahead of COP16, which will take place in Cali from 21 October to 1 November, at COP15 in Montreal, Canada two years ago.

“Wetlands need to be high on the COP16 agenda and at the heart of countries’ plans for implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework. We urge the 150+ countries who are still updating their NBSAPs to urgently release full and updated national plans, including wetlands as comprehensively as possible – and provide funds to deliver them. They can take inspiration from many of the NBSAPs published so far which focus specifically on wetland restoration and conservation and embrace the power of wetlands for meeting multiple other GBF targets including pollution, urban nature, climate action and finance,” said Femke Tonneijck, Director of Programme Impact at Wetlands International. 

The report also found that:

• Explicit mentions of the terms “wetlands”, “inland water” or “freshwater” were made against a highly diverse range of targets – 16 in total.
• Explicit mentions of the terms “wetlands”, “inland water” or “freshwater” were made most frequently under Kunming Global Biodiversity Framework Target 2 (to restore 30% of degraded ecosystems by 2030), with 17 NBSAPs mentioning the terms here.

• Target 3, on conserving at least 30% of the Earth’s land, inland water, coastal, and marine areas by 2030, saw the terms wetlands”, “inland water” or “freshwater” mentioned in 12 NBSAPs.  Six different wetland types were mentioned under this target.
• Target 8, on reducing the impact of climate change and ocean acidification on biodiversity, only had six NBSAPs mentioning the terms “wetlands”, “inland water” or “freshwater”.
• Target 10, on sustainably managing areas used for agriculture, aquaculture, fisheries, and forestry, saw the terms “wetlands”, “inland water” or “freshwater” mentioned in four NBSAPs. Eight different wetland types were mentioned under this target.
• However, few parties have comprehensively and specifically integrated wetlands throughout the targets and indicators, instead frequently using generic statements to cover all ecosystems without specific wetland targets.
• The most frequently mentioned wetland types within NBSAP targets are mangrove, river, lake, coral reef, marsh / pond and peatland. However, countries often only used one wetland type under a target, resulting in many wetlands being underrepresented.

Media can get the first look at the full findings of Wetlands International’s exclusive analysis of the extent to which wetlands feature in countries’ NBSAPs and national targets at a press conference to be held on 21 October at 17:00 Cali / 1am London / 5pm Washington (full details below).

ENDS

Notes for editors

*Wetlands International analysed all the post-COP15 NBSAPs that were submitted through the clearing house mechanism of the CBD up to 8 October 2024, to assess how wetlands were included.

The full report is available here.

The 24 parties to the CBD who submitted their NBSAPs on time were: Afghanistan, Austria, Burkina Faso, Canada, China, Cuba, EU, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy,  Japan, Jordan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Spain, Suriname and Uganda.

For our general involvement and statements regarding COP16, please see here.

Press conference

WHO: Femke Tonneijck, Director, Programme Impact; Rafaela Nicola, Director, Brazil; and Daniel Blanco, Director, Latin America and the Caribbean at Wetlands International (TBC)

WHEN: 21 October at 17:00 Cali / 1am London / 5pm Washington 

WHERE: In-person at the COP16 Press Conference Centre (meeting venue located  right next to the WG 2 hall). Online at UN Web TV.

Wetlands International experts attending the conference:

Han de Groot, CEO, for comment on wetlands, Freshwater Challenge, Mangrove Breakthrough and Peatland Breakthrough

Femke Tonneijck, Director, Programme Impact, for comment on NBSAPs, Blue Carbon, Mangrove Breakthrough and Peatland Breakthrough

Laura MacKenzie, Senior Advocacy Officer, Biodiversity, for comment on wetlands in NBSAPs

Francesca Antonelli, Programme Head, Rivers & Lakes, for comment on Freshwater Challenge, freshwater issues, dams and the Mediterranean

Daniel Blanco, Director, Latin America and the Caribbean, for comment on rivers and lakes in the Parana-Paraguay delta and Americas Flyway

Rafaela Nicola, Director, Brazil, for comment on the Pantanal, rivers and lakes in Brazil

Roman Baigun, Programme Coordinator, High Andes wetlands, for comment on lithium mining, High Andean wetlands and peatlands

Cinthia Soto, Senior Advocacy Officer, Climate, for comment on peatlands and climate mitigation

To speak to any of our experts please contact:
Niharika Iyengar, communications manager, digital engagement, [email protected],