ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has reaffirmed its commitment to the conservation and sustainable management of wetlands on the occasion of World Wetlands Day, observing that these ecosystems are vital not only for biodiversity but also for livelihoods, climate resilience and cultural heritage.
Marking the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands, also known as the Ramsar Convention, in 1971, the statement recalled that Pakistan is a signatory to the landmark agreement, which promotes the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands for present and future generations.
Referring to the World Wetlands Day 2026 theme, “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage,” the statement highlighted that wetlands are living cultural landscapes shaped over centuries by local communities. Across Pakistan, traditional knowledge and practices linked to wetlands have supported livelihoods, food security, biodiversity conservation and a balanced relationship with nature.
The statement stressed that healthy wetlands play a crucial role in reducing floods, protecting coastlines, sustaining livelihoods and cutting emissions. Neglecting these ecosystems multiplies climate-related losses, while their restoration delivers high returns for resilience, the economy and ecology. Despite contributing minimally to global emissions, Pakistan remains among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, with wetlands serving as frontline defenders against floods, droughts, heatwaves and sea-level rise.
Pakistan’s diverse wetlands — including riverine floodplains, alpine and glacial lakes, inland wetlands, and coastal and mangrove ecosystems — were described as critical for climate adaptation, water regulation and disaster risk reduction. However, many of these ecosystems are under increasing stress due to erratic monsoons, glacial melt variability, heatwaves, shrinking flood buffers and climate-amplified pollution.
Sindh was noted as bearing a disproportionate burden, with the Indus Delta and mangrove forests facing salinity intrusion, coastal erosion and the loss of fish breeding grounds. Inland wetlands such as Keenjhar, Haleji and Manchar lakes are experiencing reduced freshwater inflows, prolonged droughts and rising pollution levels, threatening fisheries, drinking water supplies and migratory bird routes.
The statement emphasised that for millions of Pakistanis, wetlands are an integral part of daily life, providing fish, grazing lands, vegetation for shelter and fuel, and natural protection during floods and water shortages. Degradation of wetlands, it warned, leads to loss of income, higher food costs, unsafe water and increased vulnerability to climate extremes.
Highlighting wetlands as cost-effective climate solutions, the statement noted their ability to absorb floods, store carbon — particularly mangroves — and protect coastlines naturally, reducing the need for costly disaster recovery. Integrating indigenous and community knowledge into sustainable wetland management was described as essential for achieving Pakistan’s climate and biodiversity goals.
The statement also underlined the importance of responsible transboundary water cooperation, reiterating Pakistan’s concerns over unilateral actions by India affecting the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960. It warned that suspending treaty mechanisms and hydrological data sharing undermines trust at a time when climate pressures demand greater cooperation. The use of water as a tool of coercion or conflict, it said, must be rejected.
Calling on citizens, particularly youth, local communities and policymakers, the statement urged collective action to protect and sustainably manage wetlands as vital cultural and ecological assets. It concluded that safeguarding wetlands is not only an environmental obligation but also a matter of public welfare and national resilience, adding that Pakistan will continue to advocate for climate justice through the protection of ecosystems that protect people.
