Source: WBCSD

Around the globe, wetlands are areas of outstanding value to society, particularly for their role in supplying and regulating water. The world’s future food and energy security depend on them. Business and industry is growing increasingly concerned about water security. There are many examples of how this can be done. So why are we destroying wetlands even faster than tropical rainforests? How can we share the costs and benefits of wisely used wetlands? During an international event co-hosted by Wetlands International, WBCSD and the City of Rotterdam, experts from business, governments and NGOs searched for new ways to turn the tide – and found surprising ways to do so.

Green and grey delta planning: the Dutch Delta Works

Delta Commissioner Wim Kuijken highlighted the role that ecological restoration can play in the Netherlands Delta Programme. The natural safety measures and environmental services provided by wetlands can make important contributions, such as reducing the risk of flooding while providing clean drinking water and space for nature. Innovative thinking like the Dutch initiative, Building with Nature also has a key role to play in delivering future ecological and economic benefits.

Greening our city planning

Alexandra van Huffellen, Vice-Mayor of Rotterdam states: “Cities such as Rotterdam are addressing sea level rise and drinking water protection in ways that protect and restore natural water infrastructure”. The creation of the 1000 hectare Eiland IJsselmonde wetland and solutions such as floating buildings, green facades and roofs were presented as novel examples of combating flooding problems that will be posed by climate change.

Counting what we have

Water is often a subject of conflict. Resolving these often boil down to a question of cost and benefit. The benefits of wetlands are well documented; see the recently launched TEEB report on Wetlands and Water. However, there is no currency to represent wetland ecosystems; a key barrier to good decision-making. In Loktak Lake (India), Wetlands International calculated that for every rupee of electricity produced by a hydropower dam, four rupees were lost to local communities in agriculture and fisheries. This is now driving a fundamental rethink of how to manage the dam. Having a way to express the value of water makes the case for better wetland management a lot stronger.

A need for champions

A key enabler identified at the event was the need for more champions: people who can communicate the benefits of preserving and restoring wetlands to different stakeholders. Champions at all levels of society, from grassroots to royals are needed; a community chief who leads his people, a crown prince who puts the issue on the public agenda, a captain of industry who promotes green solutions to water problems, and mayors who inspire other cities. In short: people are needed who open doors and who find a listening ear at all levels of society.

Partnerships are key

New and surprising partnerships between businesses, finance, universities and NGOs are a key strategy to create new opportunities. But researchers, NGOs and professional lobbyists don't speak the language of business. Well targeted development cooperation and investment in green and hybrid infrastructure is necessary instead of following traditional hard engineering solutions. External financiers are needed to invest in sustainable solutions to water problems – so the environmental sector needs to learn how to speak their language.

Green jobs

An essential part of the campaign will be to partner with business and investors to drive action on behalf of water infrastructure. Protecting and restoring wetlands can be an engine of green job creation. Take the idea from knowledge foundation Deltares for Lake Victoria in Kisumu Bay, Kenya, where excess nutrients are causing the invasive water hyacinth to grow unchecked, threatening the ecological health of the lake. The solution: restoring the wetlands. Ask the local population to harvest the hyacinth and sell it to a biofuel plant, which produces energy out of the hyacinth. At the same time, working with hotels to stop the discharge of nutrient-rich waste into the lake, and instead sell it to the biofuel plant. Additionally, restoring the ecological functions of the wetlands to filter pollutants based on the Building with Nature program. All of this is based on a business model 'Nafanya Maisha' which in turn is based on the 'Big Water' model. Investors are being approached to finance this truly innovative idea.

Sharing is essential

Frequently, successful green solutions are not copied and replicated elsewhere. Too many opportunities are being lost this way. Successful solutions need to be shared worldwide. As one delegate put it: “We need to move from islands of success to oceans of change”. The upcoming ´Get the solutions flowing´ campaign aims to create a major ripple effect in governments, business and NGOs to put wetlands at the centre of solutions.

More information:

Get the solutions flowing campaign