The world’s wetlands nature’s critical life-support systems are disappearing faster than any other ecosystem, placing trillions of dollars in ecosystem services and the wellbeing of billions at risk. That’s the central warning from the Global Wetland Outlook 2025 (GWO 2025), a sweeping new report released today by the Convention on Wetlands.
Drawing from the expertise of over 60 specialists across 16 countries, the report reveals that since 1970, 411 million hectares of wetlands equivalent to over half a billion football fields have been lost. That’s a 22% global decline, with remaining wetlands continuing to degrade under mounting human and climate pressures. Without urgent action, one-fifth of the world’s remaining wetlands could vanish by 2050.
“Wetlands bankroll the planet, yet we’re still investing more in their destruction than in their recovery,” said Dr. Musonda Mumba, Secretary General of the Convention on Wetlands. “The world is sitting on a $10 trillion opportunity. Restoring wetlands could unlock these benefits but we’re running out of time.”
Wetlands: Small in Size, Massive in Value
Covering just 6% of Earth’s surface, wetlands punch far above their weight. They provide services that include clean water, food security, carbon storage, flood control, and biodiversity support services collectively valued between $7.98 trillion and $39.01 trillion per year. These ecosystems support a wide range of livelihoods, particularly in agriculture, fisheries, and tourism.
Despite their importance, wetlands remain under threat particularly in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, where their loss disproportionately impacts local food systems and water security.
“Wetlands are not a marginal issue. They are foundational to water security, climate resilience, and the health of billions of people,” said Dr. Hugh Robertson, Chair of the Scientific and Technical Review Panel and lead author of the GWO 2025. “The scale of degradation is beyond what we can afford to ignore.”
Degradation More Dangerous Than Disappearance
While outright loss is alarming, the condition of existing wetlands is also deteriorating rapidly. The report finds that one in four remaining wetlands is in poor ecological health, with degradation outpacing conservation in most regions. The drivers are deeply interconnected: land-use change, pollution, hydrological disruption, invasive species, and climate change such as sea-level rise and prolonged drought are all contributing to a downward spiral.
These losses aren’t just environmental they’re deeply economic. The cumulative loss of wetland ecosystem services between 1975 and 2025 is estimated at $5.1 trillion, with inland marshes, peatlands, and lakes contributing most to the deficit.
Investment Gaps and the Cost of Inaction
While the need for large-scale restoration is clear, the economics point to a smarter path: conservation is significantly more cost-effective than restoration. Based on analysis of 49 studies across 185 sites, the annual cost of wetland restoration can range from $1,000 to over $70,000 per hectare, depending on the type and condition of the ecosystem. In contrast, preserving intact wetlands costs just a fraction of that.
To meet international biodiversity goals specifically Targets 2 and 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF) the world must restore at least 123 million hectares of wetlands, and possibly more than 350 million hectares if degraded wetlands are factored in. Additionally, 428 million hectares must be protected through conservation or other effective area-based measures (OECMs).
However, the required investment of $275 to $550 billion per year dwarfs current spending levels. Today, biodiversity conservation across all ecosystems accounts for just 0.25% of global GDP.
Case Studies of Hope
Despite the alarming trends, the report offers hope through compelling examples. In Zambia’s Kafue Flats, a $300,000 restoration project helped re-establish seasonal flooding and control invasive species. Today, over $1 million is invested annually to sustain ecosystems that support 1.3 million people, including fisheries valued at $30 million per year.
In East and Southeast Asia, the Regional Flyway Initiative is mobilizing $3 billion to protect over 140 critical wetlands used by 50 million migratory waterbirds and nearly 200 million people. Early projects are already active in Cambodia and China.
Four Pathways to Turn the Tide
To reverse wetland loss and scale up solutions, GWO 2025 outlines four strategic pathways:
Integrate Wetland Value into Decision-Making
Adopt tools like natural capital accounting and Earth observation to make wetlands central to land-use, climate, and economic planning.
Recognize Wetlands as Water Infrastructure
Incorporate wetlands into global water strategies to strengthen climate resilience and reduce disaster risks.
Embed Wetlands in Financing Mechanisms
Leverage carbon markets, blue bonds, biodiversity credits, and payment for ecosystem services (PES) to unlock new funding.
Mobilize Public-Private Investment
Align public policies with wetland-friendly private investment, eliminate harmful subsidies, and scale nature-based solutions.
The Road Ahead
As the world prepares for COP15 in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, later this month, GWO 2025 sends an unambiguous message: wetlands are not optional environmental features, but essential ecosystems whose survival underpins human prosperity and planetary health.
“We know what works, and we have the tools,” said Dr. Robertson. “But time is running out. Wetlands can’t wait—and neither can we.”
