Restoring wetlands is crucial to meet SDG-targets

For at least seven out of United Nation's seventeen Sustainable development goals (SDG) the better management and restoration of wetlands is an essential strategy.

“No Sustainable Development Goals unless action is taken to reduce the deficit in natural infrastructure”, said director Jane Madgwick of Wetlands International on the occasion of the high-level UN platform debate on achieving the SDGs in New York on 21 April. Without investments in wetlands, the SDGs will not be achieved, she warned. 

Wetlands International published the policy brief ’Act now on wetlands for Agenda 2030’ that sets out the link between the UN's 2030 Agenda and the conservation and restoration of wetlands.

Strategy for vital wetlands
Wetlands International advocates the need to safeguard and restore wetlands to reduce CO2 emissions, protect cities and shores, maintain biodiversity, combat desertification, and provide clean water and food; all issues that are included in the SDGs.

Many of the SDG targets signal the need to safeguard and restore ecosystems and in many cases specifically wetlands as a vital strategy for a sustainable and secure world.

According to Wetlands International this gives all countries the responsibility to step up policies, investments and practices for wetlands and their services as an integral part of development and climate action. 

Make it happen
At the UN high-level platform debate Jane Madgwick lead a discussion on partnerships and took the opportunity to call upon action and yield the multiple dividends from vital wetlands.

“The global policy frameworks now recognize that harnessing the services of wetlands as natural infrastructure, yields multiple dividends in water and food security, disaster risk reduction, climate action and sustainable development", Madgwick claimed.

"Now it’s all about how to make it happen. There is an urgent need to build up technical and financial capacities and for political commitment from governments, private sector and civil society for implementation.”

Read details at : Wetlands International