Contracting Parties and observers to the Convention on Wetlands met in Wuhan, China and Geneva, Switzerland from 5 to 13 November for the 14th meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP14).
With the theme: ‘Wetland Action for People and Nature’, COP14 saw representatives from 146 Contracting Parties and 55 observer organizations convene to negotiate 24 draft resolutions aimed at strengthening Parties’ conservation and wise use of all wetlands.
A summary of the events in November have now been published by the Ramsar secretariat and a précis is brought together here:
The Wuhan Declaration: reaffirming the urgency to act for wetlands
On 6 November, the day before negotiations began, the COP14 host country convened a High-Level Ministerial Segment, which saw 24 ministers and ambassadors highlight achievements and priorities in their wetland conservation agendas. The session closed with the ministers and ambassadors adopting the Wuhan Declaration: a statement of political will to mobilize more resources for wetland conservation; integrate wetland protection and conservation into sustainable development, climate and biodiversity plans and national policies; and support stronger protection of wetland protection through legislation.
Setting the scene for negotiations, the Declaration acknowledges the urgency to halt and reverse wetland loss as the most vulnerable of ecosystems, with the strongest values for climate mitigation, adaptation, biodiversity and sustainable development.
Wetland action for climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience
Overlapping with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, COP14 saw Parties putting the need to enhance wetland conservation for climate on the agenda.
Integrating wetland conservation into sustainable development strategies
Recognizing the breadth of ecosystem services provided by wetlands including water and food security; hydrological and climate regulation, Parties adopted a resolution encouraging Parties to integrate wetland conservation, restoration, sustainable management and wise-use actions into national sustainable development strategies.
Stronger multilateral collaboration to mainstream wetland conservation
To enhance wetland contributions for global climate, biodiversity and sustainable development agendas, COP14 resolutions made frequent reference to the need for the Convention to strengthen cooperation with related multilateral organizations and agreements.
A call to connect with youth
The first of its kind, Parties to the Convention on Wetlands adopted a resolution to strengthen the participation of young people and other under-represented groups in the Convention on Wetlands.
A new Ramsar Regional Initiative for mangroves
Recognizing the importance of mangroves for biodiversity, carbon capture and coastal protection, Parties adopted a resolution recognizing that a Ramsar Regional Initiative focused on mangroves and coastal blue carbon ecosystems can build regional cooperation for conserving these ecosystems. The Parties’ proposal to establish a new International Mangrove Centre will be considered at the next meeting of the Standing Committee.
The full version of this summary can be found on the Ramsar site here. All final resolutions adopted at COP14 will be found here.