World Wetlands Day brings a reminder that 64% of the world’s wetlands have already disappeared - every year we lose 1% of those remaining: they are drained, polluted or removed completely. Better protection, restoration and sustainability of wetlands is crucial to maintain their important economic, social and cultural functions.
Many wetlands in the EU’s Eastern Partner countries play – directly or indirectly - an essential role for the quality of life of local people and of economic activities. The EU4Environment Water Resources and Environmental Data programme supports governments and national agencies in better managing surface, ground- and coastal waters and thus improving the environmental health by reducing and ending over-exploitation, pollution and destruction. Wetlands are special water bodies with multiple beneficial functions, such as balancing the water table during climate change, retaining flood waters, recharging groundwater, producing timber, fish and game, serving for recreation and outdoor education, or as breeding site for rare birds and insects. The state of wetlands thus indicate how well people live and work with nature.
Here are diverse examples of wetlands that are subject of improved management action in the scope of the EU4Environment Water & Data programme:
Armenia
- Lake Sevan: https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/620
- Khor Virap: https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/1989
Georgia
- Rioni river delta: https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/893
Moldova
- Lower Prut floodplain: https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/1029
Ukraine (prewar situation)
- Dnipro delta near Kherson: https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/767
- Islands in the Lower Dnipro reservoir near Zaporyshia: https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/2282
- Prypiat River Floodplains: https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/776
Discover more about the many benefits of wetlands:
