A Call for the EU: Leading the Way with Wetland Partnerships globally

Wetlands—including peatlands, mangroves, rivers, lakes, salt marshes, and seagrass beds—are vital for biodiversity and form a cornerstone of the EU Water Strategy. They deliver essential provisioning, regulating, and cultural services that support sustainable urban development, resilient agriculture, and effective climate adaptation. As natural infrastructure, wetlands help secure water‐wise and biodiverse futures, both within Europe and across borders, by fostering transboundary cooperation and contributing to global sustainable development.

Europe has lost 80% of its wetlands over the past century, while a 20% global decline has occurred since 1700. Restoring these landscapes is crucial for meeting key EU frameworks—such as the Water Framework Directive, Floods Directive, Common Agricultural Policy, and the Habitats and Birds Directives—as well as international commitments like the Sustainable Development Goals, Paris Agreement, and Global Biodiversity Framework. Recent studies (e.g., the UN and World Economic Forum’s “State of Finance for Nature”) emphasize the need to triple global investments in nature-based solutions—from $133 billion to $536 billion annually by 2050. With wetlands delivering an estimated $47.4 trillion in services yearly, scaling up investments is a strategic and economic imperative.

The EU Wetland Partnerships Initiative as a new Global Gateway Flagship represents an opportunity for the EU to reinforce its global leadership in climate action, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development. This initiative could become a key case for the international dimension of the EU Water Strategy. It would align EU interests with international development goals by leveraging wetlands' potential for economic resilience, poverty reduction, and social inclusion while fostering sustainable trade, green investment, and transboundary cooperation.

The initiative would strengthen economic cooperation and human development by addressing climate vulnerabilities and socioeconomic disparities, reinforcing the EU’s role in promoting geopolitical stability, sustainable trade, and green diplomacy. Formalized partnerships through Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with non-EU countries—especially those committed to global climate and biodiversity goals under initiatives like the Freshwater Challenge and Mangrove Breakthrough—can create a lasting framework for environmental and social sustainability across borders. The initiative could be discussed at the Global Gateway Forum in June, featured as an outcome of the EUCELAC Summit in October, and officially launched at the UNFCCC Climate COP in Brazil. Critical wetland regions such as the Pantanal (Brazil) and the Inner Niger Delta (Mali) are prime candidates for pilot projects, given their transboundary importance, rich biodiversity, and role in sustaining local economies.

By aligning wetland conservation with the EU Water Strategy’s priorities, the EU can protect these ecosystems domestically and set an exemplary course for global water governance. Visionary leadership and sustained investment will transform wetlands into powerful agents of change—ensuring water security, resilience, and international cooperation for peace and sustainable development