Topic: 2025-Conserving Wetlands
Country: South Africa
Delegate Name: Quynh Song
Committee: IUCN
Topic: Conserving Wetlands
Country Represented: South Africa
Delegate: Quynh Song
School: Greenhills School
Thousands of animal and plant species are threatened by the worldwide disappearance of wetlands. Around 25% of all wetland species are pressured to extinction. Not only are wetlands important stores of carbon, they are valuable for human health and livelihood due to the provision of food, water, and natural resources to communities globally. Wetlands have been severely degraded due to climate change and human activities like damming, pollution from agricultural runoff and industrial discharge, and land conversion of wetlands to infrastructure and urban development.
South Africa is working toward better conservation practices, and has made significant steps in combating these impacts through programs like Working for Wetlands. While there is no stand alone policy for wetland conservation, in 2002 Working for Wetlands was formed and has created over 23,000 jobs that employ people locally and has helped rehabilitate over 1,000 wetlands since. In 1975, South Africa joined the Ramsar conference that first started in 1971 and has subsequently reserved 31 Ramsar sites that protect national wetlands.
As we recently passed World Wetlands Day on February 2nd proclaimed by the United Nations Resolution of 2021, countries need to come together to oppose this destruction. In 2002, resolutions adopted for peatlands to enhance global awareness and action for wetland conservation were recognized in the United Nations Environment Assembly. South Africa is excited to work with many and has various proposals for resolutions on the topic of conserving wetlands, such as increased international funding, particularly through the Green Climate Fund to support developing countries in conservation and restoration projects. It encourages the committee to establish an international monitoring framework under UNEP to track wetland degradation and enforce these efforts. The IUCN should collaborate with governments to develop stricter conservation policies and facilitate international partnership through regional meetings. These regional workshops can be a place for nations to share their best practices and establish joint initiatives aimed to benefit ecosystems worldwide. Additionally, South Africa stresses the importance of local community involvement through education programs, sustainable agriculture policies, and possible financial incentives. The South African delegation believes that with these proposed resolutions, the IUCN can help restore wetlands and conserve those under threats internationally.
Works Cited: https://www.ramsar.org/sites/default/files/documents/library/4th_strategic_plan_2022_update_e.pdf
https://www.dffe.gov.za/wwd2025
https://www.ramsar.org/country-profile/south-africa
https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/drive-protect-worlds-wetlands-gains-momentum
https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/n21/238/18/pdf/n2123818.pdf
https://www.ramsar.org/sites/default/files/documents/library/xiv.16_national_strategies_e.pdf
https://www.ramsar.org/cop14-resolutions
https://www.iucn-uk-peatlandprogramme.org/projects/working-wetlands-south-africa?destination=/projects-map%3Fsearch%3Dsouth%2520africa
