Global Nature Foundationthe reference entity, claims a Wetlands Observatory and presents the ‘First report on wetlands and their threats‘, with conclusions such as that the Spanish Inventory of Wet Areas (IEZH) ignore 8 out of 10. Spain is the third country in the world in terms of numbers wetlands of international importance, but does not have an updated digital cartography that would allow us to know its location and status.
Loose wetlands They are disappearing three times as fast as the forests. These ecosystems, on which 40% of the world’s plant and animal species depend, supply water to the underground aquifers, their vegetation filters pollutants and turns the water into drinkable water, they prevent droughts and floods, and they are carbon sinks, which is : they are great allies against climate change.
In addition, they provide the livelihoods of a billion people and help feed the world. “We know that it is necessary to ensure the restoration and preservation of the wetlands in the national debate, and urgently.
That is why we are producing this report, in which we powerfully demonstrate that the Wetlands Observatory It is more necessary than ever: we need to know what we have, what has been destroyed; It is the only way to have a route that will allow us to recover them in the medium term,” said Eduardo de Miguel, pointing out.
The report that De Miguel refers to is the ‘First report on wetlands and their threats‘ by Global Nature Foundationwhich will be presented at the next international conference “Conservation and management of wetlands in the face of climate change” which is celebrated in Valencia between February 14 and 16.
This text is based on a study that Global nature was carried out together with Datadista and reflects the current one Spanish inventory of wet zones (IEZH), the most important tool for their conservation, leaves out eight out of ten wetlands.
“The first difficulty for preserve wetlands It lies in the fact that Spain does not know exactly what it has or what its situation is. Without one Spanish inventory of wetlands is complete, there is no digital mapping of wetlands or recognition of their existence.
And knowing is the key to nature conservation,” explains Eduardo de Miguel, who assures that the autonomous communities “do not carry out correct inventories” and cites examples such as Extremadura, the Canary Islands or Cantabria, in which “an inventory is not even published. “, despite being mandatory since 2004, as established by Royal Decree 435/2004.
According to official data, Spain is the third country in the world in terms of the number of wetlands of international importance, but it does not have updated digital cartography that would allow us to know its location and status. Currently it is only possible to officially… conservation status of wetlands that lie within the IEZH, i.e. 1,352 wetlands. In that sense, the numbers are clear: 47% of wetlands included in the catalog are in an unfavorable conservation status or have disappeared. “We don’t know how many people are in the destruction phase. It is an alarming situation,” said Eduardo de Miguel.
Union, the key to the future Wetlands Observatory
Both the x-ray and the let us know that you have completed Global Nature, the only Spanish entity with international RAMSAR recognition, are transparency tools that highlight the urgent need to improve knowledge of the state of these ecosystems and understand how to plan recovery. “This document is just a first step and now we need to involve others, join forces with other major players and shape a solid commitment for the future that will then be implemented. Wetlands Observatory‘Adds De Miguel.
“We have been saying for decades that we have lost 60% of our energy wetlands and bearing in mind that the destruction of ecosystems is a factor favoring the emergence of diseases; Its conservation and restoration is closely linked to human health and well-being,” added the entity’s director.
For Global naturethe main causes of destruction of wetlands In Spain it concerns the excessive withdrawal of water for irrigation or the pollution of the water itself. “We have almost quadrupled the consumption of groundwater for irrigation in the last twenty years,” De Miguel illustrates.
Global Nature Foundation advocates a Wetlands Observatory
Global nature is to define Wetlands Observatory as “a joint solution, essential for the conservation and restoration of our wetlands, supported by a knowledge base that allows it to be configured as a tool for transparency and decision-making, providing a repository for the scientific community as well as managers and the interested population of living information; one that grows and evolves with new contributions.” The aim of the entity is “to network with different entities from a broader perspective than the traditional one, which includes science, the environment and social and economic aspects.”
Moreover, they add that the Wetlands Observatory It will also be an option for community participation and involvement in the conservation of these ecosystems. “We know that through citizen participation tools it is possible to reach local people so that the people living near these ecosystems participate in their conservation.”