Wetlands for Disaster Risk Reduction: Why protect wetland ecosystems?

“Well-managed wetlands make communities resilient in the event of extreme weather and help to minimize the damage from these hazards. Coastal wetlands such as mangroves protect against flooding and serve as buffers against saltwater intrusion and erosion.

Protecting wetlands will require building capacity for many to take action. Training and research are some of the areas to prioritize as we build capacity to conserve and protect wetlands.

Does the degradation of wetlands reduce their resilience against water hazards?

Degradation of wetlands reduces resilience against water-related hazards such as floods, droughts, and storm surges. Integrating wetlands as natural infrastructure for disaster risk reduction (DRR), alone or in conjunction with traditional “hard” infrastructure, can mitigate hazards and increase the resilience of local communities and those living across entire river basins or coastal zones. Therefore incorporating disaster risk reduction in wetlands management plans is ideal for reducing community vulnerability to disasters associated with wetlands degradation.

Actions for policymakers

1. Recognize the roles of wetlands in DRR, emphasizing the value of their wise use as a significant and cost-effective component of DRR strategies.
2. Embed wetland wise use within ecosystem-based DRR (eco-DRR) policies and programmes, and broader development plans, developed in the context of international processes such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and the Sustainable Development Goals.
3. Promote collaboration between the development, humanitarian, and environmental sectors to design and implement wetland-related solutions to increase resilience to disasters.
4. Emphasize within sectoral policies and programs, particularly those related to DRR, that the degradation of wetlands can cause disasters and amplify their impacts on water, food and energy security, and human health.
5. Recognize that ecosystem-based solutions alone may not address all forms and scales of disaster risks and that they can be applied together with other risk management measures such as early warning, evacuation and contingency planning, and traditional infrastructure such as dams, dykes, and seawalls.

The policy actions suggested can drive sustainable blue economies and enhance nature-based solutions.

Protecting or restoring wetlands can secure and regulate water supplies, support the production of forest products, and protect communities and infrastructure from floods, soil erosion, and landslides.

Nature-based Solutions involve working with nature, as part of nature, to address societal challenges, supporting human well-being and biodiversity locally. They include the protection, restoration, or management of natural and semi-natural ecosystems; the sustainable management of aquatic systems and working lands; and the integration of nature in and around our cities. They are actions that are underpinned by biodiversity and designed and implemented in a way that respects the rights, values, and knowledge of local communities and Indigenous Peoples.

Bibliography

NbS initiatives 2024

Reliefweb Reports 2023-2024

Kumar, R., Tol, S., McInnes, R. J., Everard, M. and Kulindwa, A.A. (2017). Wetlands for disaster risk reduction: Effective choices for resilient communities. Ramsar Policy Brief No. 1. Gland, Switzerland: Ramsar Convention Secretariat.

Dr. Taddeo Rusoke is a multiple award-winning Sustainability Scientist, Senior Fellow, and Researcher. He is the current executive director of Wildlife Clubs of Uganda. Contact: [email protected] www.wildlifeclubsofuganda.org