INTRODUCTION

Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems on the planet. In addition to supporting exceptional levels of biological diversity, the ecosystem services provided by wetlands contribute to natural disaster prevention or mitigation, poverty reduction, socio-economic development, and water and food security; positively contributing to human health and well-being. However, with changes in climatic factors wetlands is lost and/or degraded at an alarming rate.

It is the most threatened ecosystems worldwide, as clearly demonstrated by the tremendous deterioration and loss of small and medium-sized wetlands all over the globe. The change in the climatic factors, lack of integration among the stakeholders, lack of a catchment-wide approach to wetland management, and lack of enforcement of existing legal provisions to safeguard wetlands and their resources, are some of the factors which contribute to the continuing loss and degradation of wetlands. This conference will present an opportunity for a series of actions that can be taken by wetland practitioners and stakeholders, to stem the continued losses and degradation of wetlands.