LAUSR

Wetlands (including marsh, fen, peatland, lakes, rivers, tidal areas and shallow coastal zones) are amongst the most biodiverse and economically valuable ecosystems (Russi et al., ; Costanza et al., ). They are also some of the most imperilled, with continuing declines in area, quality and benefits to people (Gardner et al., ). Recent estimates suggest an % global decline in natural wetland area since pre-industrial times (Davidson, ), losses that persist into the current decade across all continents (Dixon et al., ). That wetlands are often in areas of high agricultural productivity or high development pressure—such as coastal areas—has not helped their cause. Yet ultimately wetland loss is a result of a combination of neglect, ignorance and land-use choices that don’t fully recognize wetland values, including water and food security and human health. This issue ofOryx delves into the problems confronting a wide range of wetland-dependent species. Small, fragmented, isolated wetlands are the last refuge for some: for the range-restricted Dades trout in Morocco climate change is likely to reduce suitable habitat (Clavero et al., ), and in Asia once-common otters (Li & Chan, ) and fishing cats (Thaung et al., ) persist only in remnant populations that often lie outside protected areas. Relationships between local communities, wetlands and wildlife are often complex. Use of wetland resources can be a safety net for the poorest households yet rising household income can lead to greater resource extraction and wetland degradation (Scales et al., ). Human use of wetlands can bring wildlife into conflict with people. Swamp deer in northern India (Paul et al., ), marsh deer in South America (Iezzi et al., ), and crocodiles in the Sundarbans (Das & Jana, ) have all been persecuted. Other species are affected by humanfacilitated invasive species: the Vulnerable reticulated flatwoods salamander has declined as a result of feral swine invading its wetland breeding grounds (Jones et al., ). Others have been squeezed out: the Critically Endangered Aloatra lemur has been pushed to the brink by the conversion of its marshland home for rice cultivation (Waeber et al., ). Nevertheless, sustainable wetland management can create positive conditions for wildlife. Incentive-based conservation agreements in Colombia have helped to protect threatened Amazonian fish (Mora et al., ), and locallymanaged harvesting of saltwater crocodile eggs in northern Australia has reduced offtake compared with external commercial operations (Corey et al., ). Long-term monitoring can also help determine appropriate management interventions. Canova & Balestrieri () used such an approach to reveal how dredging influenced the breeding cycle of the Italian agile frog. Restoration is an increasingly important tool for wetland conservation. In Cambridgeshire the Great Fen, one of the most ambitious ecological restoration projects in Europe, is returning drained fenland to its former inundated glory, and wildlife is thriving. Yet even artificial wetlands, which have increased markedly as natural wetlands continue to decline (Davidson et al., ), can provide valuable wildlife havens. In one uplifting example, a threatened frog that was presumed extirpated from southern California was rediscovered in artificial ponds on a former trout farm (Backlin et al., ). When things become critical, ex situ captive breeding and later reintroduction may be required (Biega & Martin, ). The plight of wetlands is championed internationally by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance. Originally signed in , it provides a framework for national action and international cooperation in the conservation and wise use of wetlands (Finlayson et al., ). Signatories commit to incorporating wetland conservation and wise use into their national development through appropriate policies and actions, and to maintaining the ecological character of designated Ramsar sites, of which there are currently c. ,. Reports from Contracting Parties suggest that designated Ramsar sites are in better condition than others, yet information from the last round of national reporting indicates that % of the global area under Ramsar site designation is deteriorating. If this is the case for the c. % of the world’s estimated million km of wetlands that have been Ramsar designated (Davidson et al., ), it is little wonder that other wetlands are being destroyed or degraded. Only about half of all Contracting Parties have a national wetland policy. Less than half have a comprehensive national wetland inventory. With respect to threats, only % of Contracting Parties have inventoried invasive species in wetlands and only a third have established national policies MATT WALPOLE Fauna & Flora International, Cambridge, UK E-mail [email protected]