Wetland Habitats and Wildlife Welfare

Wetlands support extraordinary wildlife diversity and provide welfare benefits through habitat, food, and protection for millions of animals threatened by drainage and pollution.

Key Facts

Wetlands cover only 6% of Earth's surface but support 40% of all plant and animal species
50% of global wetlands have been lost since 1900 to drainage, development, and agriculture
Wetland loss affects millions of migratory birds, amphibians, fish, and mammals
Restored wetlands recover biological communities significantly within years to decades
The Ramsar Convention protects internationally important wetlands across 170 signatory nations

Welfare Considerations

Wetlands provide irreplaceable welfare benefits for millions of animals through food availability, habitat, breeding sites, and protection from predation and weather extremes. Wetland loss forces animals into marginal habitats where food scarcity, exposure, and predation cause chronic welfare suffering. Migratory birds that depend on wetland stopover sites suffer population declines that affect billions of individual animals. Amphibians, among the most welfare-stressed wildlife groups globally, depend on wetlands for breeding and development. Wetland restoration provides measurable benefits for wildlife welfare at landscape scales, making it one of the highest-leverage conservation investments available.

What You Can Do

Support wetland conservation and restoration organizations through donations
Advocate for stronger wetland protection in land use planning and development regulations
Oppose drainage and development of natural wetlands in your community
Practice responsible recreation in wetland areas to minimize wildlife disturbance
Plant wetland vegetation in any water features on your property to support local wildlife