Ramsar Briefing Note

7
Convention
on Wetlands

Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity

Framework: Upscaling wetland
conservation, restoration and wise
use through National Biodiversity
Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs)
1. Introduction
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity and wise use in all countries, and for
This briefing paper for Framework (KM-GBF) was adopted by 192 cross-government, society-wide approaches.
Contracting Parties to the countries at CBD COP15 in December 2022. The KM-GBF also has a strong focus on
Convention on Wetlands It contains 4 goals and 23 targets to halt addressing the direct and indirect drivers of
has been prepared by the and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. nature and wetland loss, action by business
Scientific and Technical and finance, and the role of Indigenous
Review Panel (STRP) Wetlands are explicitly included in KM-GBF
Peoples and local communities (IPLCs).
under its workplan 2023- Target 2 on restoration, and Target 3
2025, as part of Task 5.2 on protected areas (the “30x30 target”) The opportunity now is to secure
Guidance to support global through wording on inland water, and the essential inclusion of ambitious
implementation of the coastal and marine ecosystems. This is wetland targets and policies in
Kunming-Montreal Global an excellent outcome for wetlands and National Biodiversity Strategies
Biodiversity Framework for the nature and people who depend on and Action Plans (NBSAPs), to meet
wetlands, in collaboration
them. Many other KM-GBF targets are commitments under the Convention
with the International
critically important for wetlands too; these on Biological Diversity (CBD) and
Organization Partners
(IOP) of the Convention are included in this briefing paper. under the Convention on Wetlands, as
and in consultation with a designated lead partner on wetlands and
The KM-GBF provides a powerful new global
the Secretariat. work on inland water biodiversity for the
opportunity for the rapid upscaling
CBD (CBD Decision III/21).
of wetland conservation, restoration

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 2. National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans
(NBSAPs) and national targets
Countries are already progressing • National monitoring, reviewing
the revision and update of NBSAPs, and assessment: using the KM-GBF’s
Role of Wetlands in setting out how they will contribute headline indicators as well as a selection
NBSAPs: The briefing
to each of the KM-GBF targets between of component, complementary and other
paper underscores the
now and 2030. The first round of updated national indicators.
importance of integrating
NBSAPs, with a focus on national targets,
ambitious wetland targets Convention on Wetlands COP14
and policies into National must be submitted before CBD COP16 in
Resolution XIV.6 encourages Contracting
Biodiversity Strategies and October 2024, where they will be reviewed.
Parties to “enable the adequate recognition
Action Plans (NBSAPs).
CBD Decision 15/6 includes guidance on of wetlands in the goals, targets and
This integration is crucial
what NBSAPs should contain and how they indicators of the post-2020 Global
to meet commitments
under both the Convention should be revised. The guidance emphasizes Biodiversity Framework”, and also urges
on Biological Diversity the importance of synergies with other Contracting Parties to establish national
(CBD) and the Convention Conventions and the whole of society collaboration mechanisms between MEA
on Wetlands. approach, stating that NBSAPs should focal points. This aligns with CBD Decision
include actions from other multilateral 15/6 which encourages countries to set up
environmental agreements (MEAs), a national coordination mechanism
with explicit reference to the including representatives of different
Convention on Wetlands. Developing ministries, focal points of other relevant
robust national targets for wetlands MEAs, IPLCs, NGOs and others - and to
conservation, restoration and wise include this in their NBSAPs. IOPs stand
use is crucial. ready to contribute to, support, or facilitate
such coordination at national level.
The document states that NBSAPs should
contain three common key elements: The content of NBSAPs will determine
priorities for funding at the national and
• National targets addressing or
international level. This is another reason
contributing to each of the goals and
why it is important for wetlands to feature
targets in the KM-GBF;
strongly in NBSAPs. Countries, with support
• Concrete actions, policies and of the GEF Early Action Support and
programmes to meet national targets NBSAP Accelerator Partnership, and
and contribute to global goals and via UNDP and UNEP, will produce national
targets, including spatial, temporal and biodiversity financing plans alongside their
financial aspects; NBSAPs.

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 3. How wetlands should feature in NBSAPs
As a priority, wetlands need to feature effective management, contributing to
strongly in all NBSAPs in the following the conservation of at least 30 percent of
ways: terrestrial, inland water, and of coastal
and marine areas, especially areas of
• Target 1 on spatial planning:
particular importance for biodiversity
NBSAPs should identify wetlands that
and ecosystem services. National targets
count as “areas of high biodiversity
here should be in hectares for wetlands,
importance, including ecosystems
and in kilometres for rivers, and include
of high ecological integrity”, and set
management plans.
out how biodiversity-inclusive spatial
planning will ensure better protection of • NBSAPs should include actions to
wetlands. address the drivers of wetland
loss and degradation.
• Target 2 on restoration: NBSAPs
should include ambitious national • NBSAPs should have a range of
targets (in hectares, and kilometres for wetland-relevant indicators to
rivers) and plans for wetland restoration, monitor progress for each target.
contributing to the restoration of at
All types of wetlands in a country should
least 30 percent of areas of degraded
be considered in the process of updating
terrestrial, inland water, and coastal
NBSAPs. The Convention on Wetlands
and marine ecosystems globally by 2030.
definition of “wetland” has been adopted by
• Target 3 on conservation: NBSAPs the CBD. This includes but is not limited to:
should include specific targets and plans rivers, floodplains and river basins; lakes;
for increasing the area of inland, as peatlands; marshes and swamps; tidal
well as marine and coastal, wetlands flats; saltmarshes; sea grasses in deltas and
in protected areas and other effective along the coast; and mangroves. Wetlands
area-based conservation measures identified as critically important sites for
(OECMs), including Wetlands of biodiversity and ecological connectivity
International Importance and their should feature strongly in NBSAPs.
© Teofilo Narvaez / pexels.com

© Евгений Карепанов / pexels.com

 There are also many other KM-GBF including through the Wetland City
targets that require consideration of Accreditation scheme.
wetlands, and where wetlands make a
• Target 15 on business and
critical contribution to delivery. Therefore,
financial institutions: Mandatory
countries are encouraged to include
disclosure of impacts and dependencies
wetlands and other aspects of wetland wise
on biodiversity and shifting to nature
use in other parts of their NBSAPs. For
positive as part of NBSAPs should
example:
incorporate impacts on wetlands,
• Target 4 on species: NBSAPs should particularly Wetlands of International
include recognition of wetlands as Importance, including through supply
critical habitats essential to halt species chains.
extinction.
• Target 18 on reducing harmful
• Target 7 on pollution: NBSAPS subsidies: NBSAPs should identify
should include action to dramatically and include plans to reduce subsidies
reduce pollution of wetlands. and financial flows that are harmful to
wetland ecosystems.
• Target 8 on climate: NBSAPs should
include wetlands as premium nature- • Target 19 on increasing finance:
based solutions, or ecosystem-based funding for the delivery of the KM-GBF
approaches, critical to climate resilience, should prioritize adequate investment in
adaptation and mitigation; the role wetland conservation and restoration.
of wetlands in disaster risk reduction
The Convention on Wetlands also supports
(DRR); and actions to minimize negative
Targets 20 and 21 on supporting
impacts of climate action on wetland
capacity development and providing
ecosystems and biodiversity.
the best available data, information,
• Target 10 on productive land: and knowledge for decision-makers.
NBSAPs should recognize wetlands as Several tasks in the Scientific and
productive systems and should include Technical Review Panel (STRP)
sectoral policy interventions and other workplan 2023-2025 promote
KM-GBF Adoption and policy actions to shift to sustainable mainstreaming wetlands into KM-GBF
Targets for Biodiversity: agriculture, forestry and fisheries implementation and NBSAPs, including
The Framework, adopted management designed to protect and submission of wetlands in indicators to
by 192 countries, aims restore wetlands. the expert group on the KM-GBF indicator
to halt and reverse and monitoring framework, guidance on
biodiversity loss by 2030 • Target 11 on ecosystem services:
Wetlands of International Importance as
through 4 goals and NBSAPs should include wetlands for
OECMs, and a global assessment of the gaps
23 targets. Wetlands their provision of ecosystem functions
in the network of Wetlands of International
are explicitly included and services, protection from disasters,
Importance, and synergies with global
in Targets 2 and 3, and as an effective nature-based
climate and biodiversity goals.
emphasizing their solutions.
importance in the global The text of all 23 KM-GBF targets is
biodiversity context. • Target 12 on urban green and
available here.
blue space: NBSAPs should include
ambitious plans for urban wetlands

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 4. How Convention on Wetlands focal points can engage
with the NBSAP process
1. Connect with your CBD focal v. assessments of ecosystem services
point. Each Party to the CBD should of wetlands;
have identified a national plan for
vi. systematic conservation planning
updating biodiversity targets, strategies,
analyses for freshwater and
and action plans. Regular discussions
coastal ecosystems, among others;
on the state of wetlands and their
and
inclusion in national plans will be
crucial for achieving the targets of the vii. alignment of wetland conservation
KM-GBF at a national level. and restoration actions
(particularly of coastal blue carbon
2. Connect with your GEF focal
ecosystems) as part of climate
point. Ensuring that wetlands are well-
change adaptation and mitigation,
incorporated into NBSAPs will help
including in Nationally Determined
determine priorities for funding at a
Contributions (NDCs), National
national level. The ecosystem services of
Adaptation Plans (NAPs), or
wetlands cut across biodiversity, climate
disaster risk reduction (DRR) plans.
change and sustainable development
and national GEF prioritization should 4. Join the NBSAP forum, which is a
reflect this. mechanism to find tools and materials
© Dominik / pexels.com
to support the development of NBSAPs.
3. Review existing wetland
conservation or restoration 5. Reach out to IOPs working in
policies and plans at the national your country. They can support in
scale that can be included in the development of national targets,
updates to the NBSAP. These may including identification of priority
cover: wetlands and policies; supporting the
aggregating the number of kilometers
i. establishment of national wetland
of rivers or of hectares of inland waters
inventories;
that are planned to be conserved or
ii. commitments to restore a given restored and ensuring those combined
number of kilometers of rivers or contributions are added to the NBSAP.
of hectares of inland waters; IOPs may be able to assist with
coordination between focal points and
iii. identification of freshwater, coastal
in other ways too. For further assistance
and marine Key Biodiversity
or inquiries about developing national
Areas;
targets, identifying priority wetlands,
iv. development of river or lake basin policies, and coordinating between focal
management plans; points, please do not hesitate to reach
out to the IOPs working in your country.

Acknowledgements
Preparation of this briefing paper was led by Sevvandi Jayakody (STRP), Megan
Eldred (BirdLife International) and Laura MacKenzie (Wetlands International).

The views and designations expressed in this publication are those of

its authors and do not necessarily represent the views of parties to the
Information about the Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP) can
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The Convention on Wetlands
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