CUIABÁ DECLARATION ON WETLANDS
Draft 4.0
This Draft Declaration was prepared by the scientific advisory committee of the 8th INTECOL Wetland Conference held from 20-25 July,
Cuiabá Declaration on Wetlands
The State of Wetlands and their Role in a World of Global Climate Change
This Declaration is directed to governments, international and national organizations, and decision makers, and calls attention to the ecological and legal state of wetlands and their importance for humans and biodiversity worldwide under the special consideration of global climate change scenarios.
Whereas:
1. Wetlands are situated at the interface between land on the one side and marine or fresh water ecosystems on the other. They cover a considerable part of the globe’s surface and comprise different ecosystems that are permanently or periodically wet, such as mangroves, tidal marshes, peat bogs, swamps, river floodplains, riparian zones, salt lakes, and others. Some of them are highly productive systems that are widely used by humans. Wetlands support people and biodiversity and they are part of our common future under global climate change.
2. The current lack of basic knowledge regarding the global extent of wetlands is unacceptable. Effective techniques for achieving a global wetlands inventory have been demonstrated. Systematically acquired spaceborne optical and microwave remote sensing data sets are essential to identify and characterize wetlands within the framework of the Ramsar Convention and for various other purposes.
3. Wetlands suffer a number of impacts from human activities, mainly from agriculture, including grazing, aquaculture, water regulation and infrastructure, waste disposal and invasive species. Peat bogs suffer from large scale peat extraction, river floodplains are affected by the construction of dams for hydropower generation and by lateral dikes that modify the water regime and the flux of dissolved and solid materials, and also disrupt the linkages along rivers and between rivers and their floodplains.
4. Freshwater biodiversity is declining faster than terrestrial or marine biodiversity, and wetland species are especially prone to decline and extinction.
5. Rising energy prices are leading to the large-scale cultivation of plants for bio-fuels. In addition to the problems of rising food prices, the increasing demand for bio-fuels will stimulate an expansion of energy-crop plantations at the cost of areas covered by natural vegetation. We call attention to the danger of direct negative impacts on wetlands by land reclamation and drainage, and to the indirect impacts caused increased inputs of sediments, fertilizers, and pesticides from surrounding croplands. Rising energy prices also stimulate the use of hydroelectric power. We call attention to the heavy impact of large and small hydroelectric power plants on riverine wetlands and the loss of benefits for the local population. Wise social policy decisions require sound cost-benefit analyses that environmental and social parameters in order to adapt these mega-projects to economically, ecologically and socially acceptable standards before construction is started, because mitigation of many negative side-effects is not possible.
6. Many wetlands also provide habitation and sustenance for many people. There are numerous wetland stressors that seriously affect the many important ecosystem services provided by wetlands, such as the storage and purification of water, recharge of subterranean aquifers, buffering of water discharge, maintenance of landscape heterogeneity and biodiversity, carbon storage, and production of renewable natural resources such as fishes, natural pasture, timber, wildlife, and others.
7. Global climate change scenarios for the next century project a global temperature increase of 2-6o C, a rise in sea level of 20-
8. Intact wetlands can buffer the impacts of global climate change through the water cycle and maintenance of biodiversity, and reduce negative economic, social and ecological effects.
9. Wetland conservation and restoration is a necessary means to reduced greenhouse gas emission. The importance of wetlands in the global carbon cycle needs to be better assessed and integrated into global climate models and political efforts to negotiate carbon trading.
10. Large-scale wetland destruction is continuing as a consequence of inadequate national development policies, lack of implementation of existing laws, and the lack of long-term land use planning that negatively affect wetlands on public and private property. Future changes in global climate will seriously exacerbate the current situation.
11. Worldwide, human population is increasingly concentrated in urban areas. Local and regional wetlands have an exceptionally high value for water storage, water purification and recreation, but they are also under increased threat by land reclamation and pollution.
12. A modern wetland policy based on sound scientific knowledge and able to reconcile economic development with environmental protection and social welfare is required in all countries. This policy should acknowledge the value of wetlands and their ecosystem services, as well as their importance for global biodiversity. Some countries have high standards for wetland management, restoration, and protection; however, many others are far behind.
13. There are 158 countries that are signatories to the Ramsar Convention that regulates the worldwide management and protection of wetlands. The convention requires that the signatories establish and implement a specific wetland policy, to prepare a national wetland inventory, and to maintain the ecological character of all wetlands through wise use.
Summary for press release:
Wetlands are at the interface between land and water, cover about 5% of the global terrestrial surface and are widely used by humans, support biodiversity, are a necessary part of our common future under global climate change. In some, but not all instances, wetlands provide flood protection, fiber and food, enhance water quality, and protect economic services. Their natural and ecosystem `services` are compromised in different ways at the local, regional and national level, through inappropriate landuse, nutrient over-enrichment, water management and storage, and climate change. There is unacceptable lack of knowledge about their areal extent and quality which can be remedied with existing technology and resources for research and management purposes. The Ramsar Convention, a global agreement of international significance can be, and often is, an effective policy instrument protecting wetlands, but is underutilized by the signatories and does not have enough participation worldwide.
Therefore:
1. We recommend that the contracting parties of the Ramsar convention and others support initiatives that take advantage of global remote sensing data sets and techniques to consistently and accurately map wetland extent, dynamics and variability. We encourage the providers of spaceborne remote sensing data sets to ensure the long-term continuity of these crucial information sources.
2. We call for the appropriate and effective protection measures that will quickly reverse the negative impacts on wetland quality and quantity, including from biofuel policy, inappropriate water management, landuse, and climate change.
3. We call attention to the urgent need to immediately intensify the various national and international efforts to study, protect and wisely manage all wetlands. We support increased funding of research and the implementation of scientific results that are urgently needed to reduce the vulnerability of wetlands to climate change, mitigate the drivers of climate change, and adapt to the consequences.
4. We recommend that wetland protection should given highest priority to maintain their services for the benefit of the local population.
5. We stress that joint efforts across political boundaries are needed to optimize all our efforts to stop and reverse the loss and degradation of wetlands. Sound policies and activities are needed now.
6. We call attention to the fact that many signatories of the Ramsar Convention have not yet fulfilled their requirement to establish and implement a specific wetland policy, to prepare a national wetland inventory, and to maintain the ecological character of all wetlands through wise use. We ask for immediate action from the respective governments to accomplish their agreements in the Ramsar Convention. We encourage non-member states to join the Ramsar Convention and to strengthen the global effort needed to sustainably manage wetlands.
Organization:
Information:
Centro de Pesquisa do Pantanal
Av. Fernando Correa da Costa,
Campus da UFMT – Bloco CCBSIII
Sala 210/213 – 1º Andar
CEP: 78060-900
Cuiabá - Mato Grosso - Brasil
Tel: +55 65 3615 8285
www.cppantanal.org.br
8thintecol@cppantanal.org.br
Photos: Izan Petterle
www.izanpetterle.com
