Wetlands are one of the most important habitats that shorebirds rely on. Development, expanding agricultural, sea level rise, and varying weather conditions are all taking a toll on wetlands and the availability of habitat for shorebirds. However, knowledge about the status and trends of the world’s remaining wetlands is very patchy and limited.
To improve this knowledge, The Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS Ramsar Section), the World Wetland Network (WWN), and the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT), with the help of the Ramsar Convention Secretariat are conducting a citizen science survey of the state of the world’s wetlands. This survey will improve knowledge of wetlands and better inform wetland policy and decision-making.
This simple online-based questionnaire survey is open to anyone to submit. And that means YOU! This is your chance to contribute your voice to wetland conservation.
A similar survey was conducted in 2017, providing a local perspective from around the world on the status of wetlands, big and small. Over 600 responses to the survey, of which 541 were able to be used, from 92 countries in seven different languages. This gave us a great source of rich information, showing the knowledge and interest of local people about their wetlands. The complete report, A Citizen Science State of the World’s Wetlands Survey was published in the academic journal Wetlands. This report includes detailed methodology and analysis.
Most wetlands were reported to be in a fair state (45.7%) with a higher percentage in good state (30.2%) than in poor state (24.2%). Agricultural runoff, urban or industrial pollution, and species introductions standout as driving down the quality of wetlands. More encouragingly, the survey suggests that wetlands are benefiting from local community awareness, conservation measures, cultural values or traditions, tourism and forestry.
The wetlands covered in the survey may or may not be designated as Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. When designation was explored with statistical analysis results suggest that this status neither improves nor damages the wetland, indicating that it likely takes more than just recognition to conserve a wetland. In Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, in particular, the recognition of a wetland as important must also include community engagement, local cultural values, and biological management for successful conservation.
The 2020 survey will build on these results from 2017. The more respondents the better, as this will allow scientists to see change over time, improve the detail, and expand the geographic range. Participating is simple and requires no technical experiments. This survey relies on your understanding of the wetland, how it has changed, and how healthy it is. You will need to know the geographical coordinates of the wetland, and to be able to assess its condition. You will need to have on hand essential information including wetland location, size, and protected status; and then respond to multiple-choice tick-boxes about your understanding of how it has improved, stayed the same, or deteriorated. You will also have to answer questions about trends in the changes of the wetland over time.
The survey will close at the end of October and is available in English, Spanish, French, Arabic, Portuguese, and Simplified Chinese. The survey is open until the end of October. To complete: https://worldwetland.network/our-work/world-wetlands-survey/
Cover Photo: Baylands Nature Reserve, Palo Alto (CA). Photo: Monica Iglecia.
