Reframing the human–wetlands relationship through a Universal Declaration of the Rights of Wetlands

Abstract

The proposed Universal Declaration of the Rights of Wetlands is consistent with the principles of the rights of Nature, and reframes the human-wetlands paradigm away from one of degradation and loss to one of ecological sustainability that supports the Web of Life and continued delivery of Nature's contributions to people. Given the significance of the role of wetlands in reversing climate destabilisation and biodiversity degradation and loss, the paradigm shift engendered by a Declaration opens new possibilities to align wetlands, climate, and biodiversity policy, consistent with the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2021) proposals, to guide effective governmental and non-governmental mechanisms. Widening the acceptance of the concepts presented in the Declaration is part of a process to reframe human-wetlands relationships, and is ongoing and iterative.

Shifting the Paradigm: A Society of Wetland Scientists Rights of Wetlands Initiative

“…The Society of Wetland Scientists provides a unique and essential venue for wetland scientists and others interested in wetlands to meet and collaborate, whether in person at meetings, through Chapter, Section, and Committee activities, through the writing of articles in journals, including in Wetlands and Wetland Science & Practice, or, as has become the new norm, on various digital platforms. As a result of a years' long ongoing discussion around the global challenges of climate change (Finlayson et al 2017, Finlayson et al 2019, Finlayson et al 2020b), biodiversity loss (IPBES 2019, Trisos et al 2020) and the degradation and loss of wetlands…”

“…Gillian T. Davies 1,2 ,C. Max Finlayson 3,4 , William R Moomaw 2,5,7 , and Nick Davidson Davidson et al 2020), that has been occurring largely through the SWS Climate Change and Wetlands Initiative (Finlayson et al 2020a) and the Ramsar Section (Simpson et al 2020, Fennessy et al 2021, a group of wetland and climate scientists and attorneys identified the need for a new approach to wetland conservation, protection and restoration if we are to turn the tide against the multiple global crises that we face.…”

“…The preamble and proposed Universal Declaration of the Rights of Wetlands from Davies et al (2020) are included in the Appendix to this article. Ramsar Section board members have worked with Declaration article authors to plan symposia and co-author additional articles (Simpson et al 2020, Fennessy et al 2021) on the topic.…”

“…R ecognizing the failure of past efforts to turn the tide of wetland degradation and loss (Ramsar Convention on Wetlands 2018, Davidson et al 2020) and responding to the ongoing global crises of climate destabilization and biodiversity degradation and loss (Moomaw et al 2018, IPBES 2019, Ripple et al 2020, Bradshaw et al 2021, Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS) members and others, largely through Ramsar Section and the SWS Climate Change and Wetlands Initiative discussions, articles and symposia, have recognized the need for new approaches (Simpson et al 2020, Fennessy et al 2021, and the responsibility that scientists have for responding to these global crises (Ripple et al 2017, Ripple et al 2020. The growing Rights of Nature movement (Koons 2012, Cullinan 2011), led by non-governmental organizations, Indigenous peoples, and local communities (Pecharroman 2018, Studley and Bleisch 2018, Wilson and Lee 2019, provides a model that could lead to a fundamental change in outcomes based on a paradigm shift in our ethical and legal thinking.…”

Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands – part 2

“…In fact, as expressed by Kumar et al (2021), there is a case for transitioning the Convention from one that addresses the ecological character of wetlands to one that addresses the character of wetlands, including the social and cultural alongside the ecological elements that characterise and maintain our healthy wetlands. Further proposals include reframing the relationships between people and wetlands through statements about the rights of wetlands (Finlayson et al 2022b).…”