Africa wetlands vital ecosystems that sustain millions of lives, are rapidly deteriorating due to unchecked urbanisation, industrial expansion, and infrastructure development, according to the 2025 Global Wetland Outlook released by the Ramsar Convention. The report paints a bleak picture of the continent’s wetland health, placing it among the most degraded globally.
Despite being essential for food, water, flood control, and climate resilience, wetlands in Africa particularly in nations like South Africa are degrading at a pace faster than restoration efforts can keep up. “South African wetlands continue to degrade faster than investment in their rehabilitation,” the report noted, pointing to a broader pattern of ecological decline throughout the continent.
While wetlands across all regions are under pressure, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean are experiencing the most widespread deterioration, contrasting with relatively better trends in Europe, North America, and Oceania. In Africa, urban growth, heavy industry, and expanding infrastructure are cited as the three major drivers of loss. Meanwhile, drought tops the list in Europe, and invasive species are a greater concern in developed regions like North America and Oceania.
The GWO 2025 emphasizes that the economic condition of a country strongly influences the state of its wetlands. Least developed and lower-middle-income nations report more wetlands in poor condition, while upper-middle-income and developed countries fare comparatively better. This disparity points to the urgent need for international support and financing mechanisms tailored to low-income regions.
The estimated median value of ecosystem services provided by Africa’s wetlands in 2023 stood at $825.7 billion, significantly less than Asia’s $10.5 trillion and the global total of $39 trillion. Yet, this figure underlines the immense potential of wetlands as economic engines for communities. In Zambia’s Kafue Flats, a modest $300,000 restoration project revived biodiversity and supported over a million people, yielding artisanal fisheries worth $30 million annually.
Experts are calling for immediate, coordinated action. Zimbabwe’s Environment Minister Evelyn Ndlovu stressed the need for cross-border conservation strategies and greater community engagement.
Musonda Mumba, Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention, warned that losing wetlands is costly not just to nature but to livelihoods. She presented a new report at the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN-20) in Nairobi, urging African nations to value, conserve, and finance wetlands. “Restoring degraded wetlands could unlock enormous socio-economic benefits for rural communities and support Africa’s green transition,” she noted.
The continent vulnerability to climate shocks is intensified by wetland degradation. Anthony Nyong of the African Development Bank said, “Degrading wetlands weakens our economies, increases climate vulnerability, and drives up disaster spending. But investing in them creates jobs and builds resilience.”
Wetlands currently cover 1,425–1,800 million hectares globally just six per cent of the Earth surface but deliver ecosystem services valued at 7.5% of global GDP. Since 1970, however, 411 million hectares of wetlands have been lost a 22% global decline. This staggering figure reflects a growing planetary crisis.
With the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Ramsar Convention (COP15) set to begin on July 23 in Zimbabwe, the findings of the GWO 2025 will likely dominate discussions. Leaders and environmentalists are expected to push for stronger commitments, restoration financing, and better integration of wetland values into national economic accounts.
Unless bold action is taken Africa wetlands long a shield against floods and droughts risk becoming casualties of rapid development and neglect, with consequences that could ripple far beyond the continent.