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 \u2013 2021\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a>, the largest in the Southern African Development Community, and Kenya\u2019s Upper Tana River Basin<\/a>, highlights the value of \u2018natural infrastructure\u2019 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n WLE helps urban planners and managers to understand these contexts. As one of 18 cities that were declared Ramsar Wetlands Cities<\/a> 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\u2019s National Wetland Steering Committee. IWMI is consulted on policy-level discussions and works closely with government institutions to conserve wetlands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n