Paludiculture offers bankable reasons for protecting and restoring our wetlands.
South Sudan And concerted opposition from Wetlands International and others helped dissuade South Sudan from resuming construction of a canal to divert the River Nile away from Africa’s second largest freshwater wetland, the Sudd. The idea was to reduce evaporation in the swamp and so release more water for agricultural irrigation, both locally and downstream in Egypt. But draining the Sudd would have decimated wildlife, altered local climate, and wrecked millions of livelihoods that depend on the swamp. “The Sudd needs to be recognised as a massive natural asset, vital to future peace and prosperity” , said CEO Jane Madgwick, before the plan was put on hold. “Its loss would permanently undermine the climate resilience of the region.” Paludiculture Luckily, there is good news for those seeking to end the constant battles for water between wetlands and agriculture. Researchers at Wetlands International, the Greifswald Mire Centre and elsewhere are developing and promoting ways of farming within wetlands, particularly peatlands, known as paludiculture. In July 2022, we took German parliamentarians to see an EU- funded project near Malchin in Northeast Germany, where farmers cultivate Typha, a flowering wetland plant also known as cattail or bulrush, which can be sold to make construction materials such as boards and insulation. Other potential high- value paludiculture activities include harvesting peat moss, for use in horticulture as an alternative to mining fossil peat, and herding water buffalo. The parliamentarians concluded that such commercial wetland activities could be vital in meeting targets for conserving and rewetting peatlands to be set by the new EU Natural Restoration Law. Paludiculture may not feed the world any time soon, but it offers good bankable reasons for protecting and restoring our wetlands. Climate change Meanwhile, there are wider issues in the agricultural and food systems that urgently need to be addressed. Climate change is affecting food and water security. If we want to transform food and agricultural systems to become more resilient and reduce their environmental and climate footprints, we need to connect these efforts to the conservation, sustainable use and restoration of wetlands. For this, a better integration of the different policy agendas is necessary. In 2022, during UN climate negotiations at COP27, we engaged in events aimed at accelerating action on the food system, water and climate, and in doing this, also enabling global biodiversity recovery. Our work in Ethiopia’s Ziway-Shalla basin shows on a small scale what is needed – and what can be achieved. The good news is that solutions exist. What we need now is to scale up impact.
HEA-JIN PARK COMMUNICATION OFFICER
I am Hea-Jin Park, the Communication Officer at Wetlands International Japan. My primary role involves creating content to raise awareness about Japan’s Ramsar sites and World Wetlands Day, as well as managing social media platforms. Prior to joining Wetlands International in April 2021, I worked for seven years as a publishing editor in South Korea. In 2018, I relocated to Japan and pursued studies in Ecological Democracy at the graduate school of Environment and Society. It was during this time that my interest in wetlands grew through involvement in local community activities and collaborations with civic groups across borders to restore the population of the endangered Black-faced Spoonbills, which breed in Korea and winter in Japan and Taiwan. Wetlands International’s dedication to sustaining and restoring wetland ecosystems strongly resonates with me. I firmly believe that safeguarding these vital habitats is essential for biodiversity conservation and the well-being of local communities. I am enthusiastic about being part of this important mission. Additionally, as a bird enthusiast, I feel fortunate to have numerous opportunities to visit wetlands worldwide. One of the highlights of 2022 was the YouTube Wetland Contents Development project. In collaboration with the Ramsar Regional Center - East Asia, we partnered with various YouTube creators from diverse fields to showcase Japan’s rich and diverse wetlands and their beautiful wildlife from their unique perspectives. The 12 video clips generated a total of over 87,000 views, significantly raising awareness about the importance of wetlands. Undoubtedly, effective communication and engagement with various stakeholders play a critical role in the conservation and restoration of wetlands at a significant scale. This involves forging strong partnerships with local communities, governments, NGOs, and private sector organisations. Throughout this process, it is crucial to foster an understanding and respect for diversity, just as we value the importance of biodiversity.
Paludiculture in Bederkesa, Germany
Underwater life, Japan
Wetlands International Annual Review 2022
Wetlands International Annual Review 2022
42
43
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online