Authors: Wallnöfer, Isabel; Salathé, Tobias ;

The Convention on Wetlands is an international legal treaty signed by 172 countries with the mission to conserve and wisely use all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation. It brings together scientists with policymakers and offers tools for various topics, e.g. floodplain and peatland restoration or wetland management. Worldwide, a network of over 2,400 wetlands of international importance has been established. The first Global Wetlands Outlook, published in 2018, provided the opportunity to promote our increased understanding of wetlands, while reporting on their status, trends and pressures. Findings, such as the fact that 25% of over 19,500 wetland-dependent species are threatened with extinction, constituted a global wake-up call. For the Convention’s 50th anniversary in 2021, the Global Wetlands Outlook Special Edition was prepared. It draws on more than 30 major global and regional assessments and other recent scientific findings, and underlines the importance of wetlands for human health in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Failure to meet the Aichi Targets and slow progress on the Sustainable Development Goals show that new approaches are needed. Researchers are encouraged to engage actively with the experts of the Ramsar Scientific and Technical Review Panel at national, regional and international levels.