Topic: 2025-Conserving Wetlands
Country: Ukraine
Delegate Name: Gavin O’Meara
Committee: IUCN
Topic: Conserving Wetlands
Country: Ukraine
School: Forest Hills Central High School
Wetlands are areas around the globe with soil covered or saturated with water, and they are in grave danger. Wetlands have been disappearing around the globe because of the effects of global warming, resource depletion, and chemical runoff. The UN has passed the Ramsar resolution which allows countries to request Ramsar Advisory Missions (RAMs) among other protective measures to preserve wetlands (Ramsar 2018).
Ukraine has many wetlands across its vast landmass and has taken many protective measures to preserve these important and unique ecosystems. Ukraine is a proud signatory of the Ramsar Act and has 50 wetlands certified by Ramsar (UNCG 2024). Ukraine also monitors and comments on the Ecological Integrity Assessment (EIA) of its peatlands, and an EIA is a way of describing the current condition of different wetlands (NatureServe).
Ukraine would be amendable to upholding current wetland preservation legislation in the UN but advocates for an increase in the protection of wetlands. Ukraine uses RAMs often and relies on the aid of the UN to help preserve the ecological integrity of its wetlands. With Ukraine engaged in conflict with the Russian Federation, Ukraine is relying on the efforts of the UN for the preservation of its ecosystem. Without the continued support of the UN, Ukraine and many other countries would slowly lose the diversity provided by these vital wetlands, and the world would become overwhelmed with carbon emissions.
References
Ecological Integrity Assessment – Wetlands | NatureServe. (n.d.). Www.natureserve.org. https://www.natureserve.org/projects/ecological-integrity-assessment-wetlands
Ramsar. (2018). Homepage | Ramsar. Ramsar.org; Ramsar. https://www.ramsar.org/
Wetlands – Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group. (2024, March 6). Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group; UNCG. https://uncg.org.ua/en/wetlands/
