Scientists Warn: 20% of Wetlands at Risk of Disappearing by 2050

Scientists from Tomsk University in Russia have warned that about 20% of the world's wetlands could disappear by 2050, posing a severe threat to one of the most fragile and valuable ecosystems on Earth.

The study explained that wetlands, which include swamps, lakes, rivers, coastal areas, and artificial water reservoirs, play a crucial role in climate stability, biodiversity preservation, providing clean water, and protecting land from flooding, as well as being massive carbon stores.

A report from the Wetlands Convention confirmed that humanity has lost about 22% of these lands since 1970, equivalent to 411 million hectares, and if this rate continues, about 20% of the remaining wetlands will disappear by the middle of this century.

Dr. Irina Volkova, an associate professor at the Biological Institute of Tomsk University, stated that wetlands, although they cover only about 6% of the Earth's surface, contribute more than 7.5% of the global GDP, and they contain twice the amount of carbon found in forests, contributing to the cooling of the global climate through the accumulation of carbon in peat deposits over thousands of years.

The Vasyugan Swamp in Western Siberia stands out as one of the largest peatlands on Earth, making it particularly important environmentally and economically.

Experts point out that protecting wetlands is both an environmental and economic necessity, calling for international cooperation and the employment of scientific innovations in conservation strategies to prevent climate instability, loss of water resources, and increased catastrophic flooding.