2025 Global Wetland Outlook (GWO)

2025 Global Wetland Outlook (GWO): Recently, the 2025 Global Wetland Outlook (GWO), released by the Ramsar Convention Secretariat, has raised serious concerns over the alarming rate of wetland degradation in Africa, as among the most severely deteriorated in the world

• Key Highlights : Field surveys show actual wetland conditions are often worse than national estimates suggest.

o Across all six Ramsar regions, more countries reported wetland decline than improvement—most critically in least developed and lower-middle-income countries.

o Comparative Global Trends: North America & Oceania: Invasive species are the main threat.

- Europe: Prolonged drought is the primary concern.

• About Ramsar Convention: An international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands, also known as the Convention on Wetlands.

o Origin: Signed in Ramsar, Iran, on 2nd February 1971.

o World Wetlands Day: Celebrated every year on 2nd February to mark the signing of the convention.

o Membership: Has 172 Contracting Parties as of 2025.

• About Wetlands: Areas of marsh, peatland, or water (static or flowing; fresh, brackish, or saline). Includes marine water up to 6 metres deep at low tide.

o Act as ecotones—transitional zones between land and water ecosystems.

o Examples of Wetlands: Mangroves, Lake littorals (shoreline areas between highest and lowest water levels), Floodplains (adjacent low-lying river areas that flood periodically), Marshes and swamps.

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