Intertidal wetlands and associated coastal habitats provide critical ecosystem services. They are home to waterbirds, fishes, turtles and marine mammals; provide food and sustenance to coastal and urban communities; regulate climate and function as buffer against tidal events. The proximity of intertidal wetlands to coasts makes these wetlands and dependent habitats vulnerable to coastal developments activities, which result in damaged habitats and loss of ecosystem services.
Eroded dikes at Manila Bay. Photo by: Wetlands International/Annadel S. Cabanban
The Government of the Philippines has submitted draft Resolution 18.22 on promoting the conservation and wise use of intertidal wetlands and ecologically-associated habitats to 13th COP which has the support from a number of Parties.
The event will also explore how the proposed global coastal forum (GCF) can provide a new mechanism to support efforts to restore coastal wetlands and strengthen their management world-wide. The draft Resolution contributes to Target 6 of Ramsar’s Strategic Plan 2016-2024, several Aichi Targets, Convention on Biological Diversity, several Sustainable Development Goals, and the Paris Agreement on climate.
Time and place: 13:15 – 14:30, Room 5A
The side-event is co-organised by Wetlands International and BirdLife International with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources of the Philippines.
See the full list of all our events at Ramsar COP 13 here.