Wetlands and peatlands for disaster risk reduction

In the face of growing climate change–related threats and increasing pressures from human activities, the regional Wise Use of Caribbean Wetlands project is supporting government and civil society to strengthen the management and monitoring of wetlands.

This compendium documents 20 best-practice cases related to rangelands and wetlands from across the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH), organised around technological innovation, ecosystem restoration and nature-based solutions.

As climate change and urbanization intensify flooding in Rwanda, the capital of Kigali has embraced nature-based solutions. The city is restoring and reshaping 18,000 acres of degraded wetlands, planting native species to filter and slow runoff.

The man-made wetlands and ponds can help prevent flooding in homes and buildings, and return cleaner water to the ocean.

Within this framework, wetlands and other ecosystems have emerged as critical components for reducing disaster risks while providing wider environmental and social benefits.

177 out of 193 UN Member States have peatlands - critical carbon sinks and biodiversity hotspots, yet agriculture, urbanization, deforestation, and industrial activities put them - and the essential ecosystems services they provide - at risk everywhere.

This guide is an assessment methodology for integrated site-level climate risk assessment and adaptation planning.

Adding multiple smaller wetlands to the landscape can make large reservoirs more effective at flood control, according to a new study from Tulane University published in Environmental Research Letters.

The report of the event focuses on the pressing need to upscale wetland solutions for disaster risk reduction. The session featured prominent speakers who offered valuable insights into the potential of wetlands as nature-based solutions (NbS).

“Peat subsidence” is the downward movement of the Earth's surface due to the removal of subsurface earth materials. Peat subsidence triggers environmental problems and increases carbon dioxide emissions. Finding ways to save peatlands is crucial.