Inter-convention synergies: Ramsar, biodiversity and climate change

ALTHOUGH addressed separately in international law, the concept of wetlands per Ramsar Convention (mangroves, rivers, lakes, peatlands, rice paddies, fishponds, etc.); biodiversity (conservation of species of plants and animals for food security, availability, accessibility, affordability, among others); and climate change (global warming, sea level rise, droughts, heat waves, wildfires, floodings, outbreak of infectious diseases, among others) are interdependent, interacting with one another. Their interrelationship is manifest in the way wetland resources and services are affected by climate change and, in turn, by the fact that while climate change is a major threat to biodiversity, destruction of biodiversity contributes to climate change to a great extent.

Scientific reports show that changes in climate have exerted additional pressure and have already affected biodiversity, which by itself can help build ecosystem resiliency and help to mitigate the effects of climate. An example is deforestation, to which is attributed one-fifth of total greenhouse gas emissions. Halting deforestation and preserving biodiversity are ways of developing carbon sinks which can contribute significantly to climate change mitigation. In the same way, serious international environmental concern has been fueled by reports of the degradation of peatlands and other wetlands in many parts of the world due to drainage and fires with associated impacts on greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity conservation.