Kathmandu, 4 September 2025
Wetlands are among the most valuable ecosystems on Earth, yet they are also among the most threatened. A new global assessment warns that while restoration is urgently needed to reverse decades of degradation, conserving existing wetlands remains far more cost-effective and sustainable in the long run.
According to the Global Wetland Outlook, the cost of restoring degraded wetlands can range from $1,000 to more than $70,000 per hectare per year. By contrast, preventing their loss through proactive conservation measures is significantly cheaper, while also ensuring wetlands continue providing their irreplaceable benefits.
Wetlands Under Threat
Over the past century, the world has lost more than one-third of its wetlands due to agricultural expansion, urbanization, pollution, and climate change. This decline has weakened natural systems that regulate water cycles, protect against floods, sequester carbon, and support biodiversity.
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, an intergovernmental treaty adopted in 1971, has long championed the protection and wise use of wetlands. Yet despite global commitments, wetland loss continues at an alarming pace.
Restoration: A Necessary but Costly Measure
Experts caution that while conservation is more cost-effective, large-scale restoration cannot be avoided. To meet international climate and biodiversity goals, at least 123 million hectares of wetlands will need to be restored globally. This includes peatlands, mangroves, marshes, and high-altitude wetlands that play critical roles in water security and climate resilience.
Restoration projects can bring significant returns-enhanced water storage, fisheries recovery, and carbon sequestration-but they require substantial investment and long-term commitment.
Nepal’s Context
In Nepal, wetlands such as Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Rara Lake, and Beeshazar Lake provide essential habitats for migratory birds, fisheries, and local livelihoods. However, many are under pressure from encroachment, sand mining, invasive species, and changing rainfall patterns linked to climate change.
Nepal is a signatory to the Ramsar Convention and has designated 10 Ramsar sites. Still, experts note that stronger enforcement of conservation policies and community participation are crucial to safeguarding these fragile ecosystems.
Global Call to Action
The Global Wetland Outlook urges governments, businesses, and communities to adopt a dual strategy:
Conserve existing wetlands to avoid future high restoration costs.
Scale up restoration efforts where degradation is already severe.
The report emphasizes that investing in wetlands is not only an environmental imperative but also an economic one. Wetlands contribute billions of dollars annually through ecosystem services, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable livelihoods.
Looking Ahead
As the world faces escalating climate and biodiversity crises, wetlands are a frontline defense. Experts argue that decisions made now-whether to conserve or neglect these ecosystems-will determine the resilience of societies for generations to come.
