The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity for Water and Wetlands 

The Ramsar Secretariat, in partnership with the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP),  International Union for the Conservation of  Nature (IUCN) Wetlands International, The Convention on Biological Diversity, (CBD), the Helmholtz Centre for Environental Research (UFZ) and the UNEP TEEB Office, have produced a report that builds on the TEEB approach to generate a better understanding of the ecosystem service values of water and wetlands and encourage improved decision making and business commitment for their conservation, investment and wise use.

Content Table

• The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity for Water and Wetlands 
  • Introduction
  • Click here to download the full PDF of this report
  • Related Publications
  • References

Introduction

Wetlands are essential in providing water-related ecosystem services, such as clean water for drinking, water for agriculture, cooling water for the energy sector and regulating water quantity (e.g. flood regulation). In conjunction with their role in erosion control and sediment transport, wetlands also contribute to land formation and therefore resilience to storms. Moreover, they provide a wide range of services that are dependent on water, such as agricultural production, fisheries and tourism.

Notwithstanding the high value of the ecosystem services that wetlands provide to humankind, wetlands continue to be degraded or lost due to the effects of intensive agricultural production, irrigation, water extraction for domestic and industrial use, urbanisation, infrastructure and industrial development and pollution.

The TEEB for Water and Wetlands report presents insights on both critical water-related ecosystem services and on the wider ecosystem services from wetlands in order to encourage additional policy momentum, business commitment, and investment in the conservation, restoration, and wise use of wetlands. The report seeks to present how recognizing, demonstrating, and capturing the values of ecosystem services related to water and wetlands can lead to better informed, more efficient, and fairer decision making. 

Click here to download the full PDF of this report

Click here to download the full PDF of this report

Related Publications

References

The development of this report has been initiated by the Ramsar Convention Secretariat, and was financially supported by the Norwegian, Swiss and Finnish Governments and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Image is courtesy of the Global Water Forum - http://www.globalwaterforum.org/resources/images/