Safeguarding and restoring wetlands for people and nature

Wetlands are lands that are covered with water seasonally or completely throughout the year. Wetlands are natural or man-made. Wetlands are freshwater, estuarine, or marine.

Some examples of natural wetlands are rivers, lakes, swamps, marshes, peatlands, ponds, mangrove forests, seagrass meadows, and reef flats. Meanwhile, some examples of man-made wetlands are dams, rice-fields, and fishponds.

Wetlands are important to the well-being of people. They regulate the water cycle that provides water for domestic uses, farming, and industrial uses. Healthy wetlands reduce the risk of riverine and coastal flooding. Wetlands are habitats of biodiversity and support resident and migratory species. Wetlands, particularly coastal wetlands, provide coastal protection and support to coastal aquaculture and fisheries. Wetlands are key ecosystems in the nexus of climate, food, and nature.

Wetlands International Philippines is part of the global network of Wetlands International, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the conservation and restoration of wetlands. Our vision is a world where wetlands are treasured and nurtured for their beauty, the life they support and the resources they provide.