Wetland Wildlife Welfare and Conservation

Wetlands support extraordinary biodiversity and are among the most rapidly declining habitats globally — with significant implications for the millions of animals that depend on them.

Key Facts

Wetlands have declined by 35% globally since 1970 — three times faster than forests
UK wetlands have declined by 75% since 1850; river floodplains are among the most threatened habitats
Wading birds including lapwing, redshank, and snipe have declined by 50-80% in many regions
Beavers and otters are keystone species in wetland ecosystems and are indicators of wetland health
Wetland restoration provides benefits for wildlife welfare including flood-control, water purification, and carbon storage

Welfare Considerations

Wetland loss causes chronic welfare harm to millions of animals through habitat fragmentation, reduced food availability, and forced movement into unsuitable areas. Wading birds whose floodplain nesting sites have been drained must travel further to find breeding habitat, reducing breeding success and causing chick starvation when food becomes scarce. Restored wetlands rapidly become refuges for wildlife — drainage reversal, scrape creation, and seasonal flooding are all effective restoration tools. Wetland conservation is one of the highest-impact actions available for improving biodiversity and wildlife welfare simultaneously.

What You Can Do

Support wetland conservation organisations including Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust
Advocate for planning policies that protect and restore floodplains and wetlands
Volunteer for wetland creation and management projects in your area
Visit wetland nature reserves to understand the habitats and the species they support
Support agri-environment schemes that fund wetland restoration on farmland