Increasing recognition of the value of urban wetlands for flood mitigation and a host of other co-benefits could usher in a new era of management that benefits city communities and their environments.
Background
Wetlands in and around urban settlements have historically been considered impediments to development. Drainage, filling in and pollution have long been a feature of urbanization, both planned and otherwise. But wetlands are often what makes living possible for residents. The most important of these benefits may be mitigation of floods through the absorption of rainwater, which would otherwise flow as run-off on the impervious surfaces typical of cities – 2021’s flooding in New York highlighted the high human and financial toll that extreme events may increasingly have for cities in the future. Urban and peri-urban wetlands also play a key role in improving the quality of municipal water, regulating climate, supporting the production of food, conserving biodiversity and providing space for recreation and leisure. However, these benefits are often overlooked and poorly integrated into urban planning and management.
Innovation
WLE has supported much-needed biophysical research that provides evidence of the role wetlands play in the hydrological cycle, and thereby urban and peri-urban communities and the health of their environments. Work on the Zambesi River Basin, the largest in the Southern African Development Community, and Kenya’s Upper Tana River Basin, highlights the value of ‘natural infrastructure’ such as floodplains, mangroves and lakes in providing ecosystem services and protecting communities from extreme weather events. It also illustrates the complexity involved in predicting the functions of wetlands, which tend to be context-specific.
WLE helps urban planners and managers to understand these contexts. As one of 18 cities that were declared Ramsar Wetlands Cities in 2018, Colombo showcases the value of researcher involvement in planning, strategy and management for urban wetlands. The International Water Management Institute (IWMI), supported by WLE, is a member of Sri Lanka’s National Wetland Steering Committee. IWMI is consulted on policy-level discussions and works closely with government institutions to conserve wetlands.
Impacts
IWMI supported Colombo’s designation as a Ramsar city, in part by building the evidence base to make the case for its designation. It has played an important role as a facilitator, bringing together siloed institutions in Sri Lanka. It also helped the 18 Ramsar cities share experiences through capacity-building workshops, for instance in Colombo and in Vientiane, Laos – where 40 planners were presented with the Colombo ‘success story’.
WLE-supported research from Kolkata, India, provided ‘wise use’ recommendations for urban and peri-urban wetlands, drawing on the Ramsar Convention’s principles. WLE has contributed to the shift in interpretation of ‘wise use’ over the years, towards sustainable use by and for communities and for biodiversity.
Challenges
Buy-in from policymakers has been high, as the example of Sri Lanka demonstrates. But the lack of quantitative data on hydrological processes, particularly in the tropics and in developing countries, makes it challenging for decision makers to incorporate integrated wetland management in specific contexts. Wetland resources are still undervalued and are often perceived as obstacles to development. Strategic wetland policies may be in place but the lack of an operational management framework poses a challenge. There is an urgent need to mainstream and streamline wetland management across government departments, working with stakeholders to disseminate information and guidance that will incorporate wetland ecosystems into policy and planning in light of the continued expansion of cities against a backdrop of changing climatic conditions.
Next steps
A promising example of stakeholder engagement, resilience building and government commitment is the Darwin Initiative, funded by the United Kingdom’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Supported by the British High Commission in Sri Lanka, it has great potential to promote community best practices and citizen science for wetland management. This aligns with the country’s ongoing efforts to maintain its capital city’s status as a Ramsar Wetland City, and set an example for urban centers across the world.
