Extensive global wetland loss over the past three centuries

Fluet-Chouinard, Etienne; Stocker, Benjamin D.; Zhang, Zhen; Malhotra, Avni; Melton, Joe R.; Poulter, Benjamin; Kaplan, Jed O.; Klein Goldewijk, Kees; Siebert, Stefan; Minayeva, Tatiana; Hugelius, Gustaf; Joosten, Hans; Barthelmes, Alexandra; Prigent, Catherine; Aires, Filipe; Hoyt, Alison M.; Davidson, Nick; Finlayson, C. Max; Lehner, Bernhard; Jackson, Robert B.; McIntyre, Peter B.

doi:https://open-science.canada.ca/handle/123456789/2497

Extensive global wetland loss over the past three centuries

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dc.contributor.author: Fluet-Chouinard, Etienne; Stocker, Benjamin D.; Zhang, Zhen; Malhotra, Avni; Melton, Joe R.; Poulter, Benjamin; Kaplan, Jed O.; Klein Goldewijk, Kees; Siebert, Stefan; Minayeva, Tatiana; Hugelius, Gustaf; Joosten, Hans; Barthelmes, Alexandra; Prigent, Catherine; Aires, Filipe; Hoyt, Alison M.; Davidson, Nick; Finlayson, C. Max; Lehner, Bernhard; Jackson, Robert B.; McIntyre, Peter B.
dc.date.accepted: 2022-11-17
dc.date.accessioned: 2024-05-15T12:55:14Z
dc.date.available: 2024-05-15T12:55:14Z
dc.date.issued: 2023-02-08
dc.date.submitted: 2022-01-18
dc.description - en: Wetlands are among the most threatened ecosystems in the world. About 3.4 million square kilometers, or 21% of the extent of wetlands has been converted, degraded or lost globally since 1700, less than previously thought. However, several regions and certain wetland types are under severe pressure. For example, floodplains in temperate zones have largely converted to agriculture, while peatlands in boreal and arctic regions have been largely spared. Despite global conversion rates declining in recent decades, reclamation is nevertheless progressing in certain regions, notably in Indonesia, where tropical peatlands are converted to intensive cultivation. More than 40% of global losses occurred in the five countries with the largest losses: the United States, China, India, Russia and Indonesia. With improved estimates of the wetland loss, a more judicious prioritization of wetland conservation and restoration measures can be pursued.
dc.description.abstract - en: Wetlands have long been drained for human use, thereby strongly affecting greenhouse gas fluxes, flood control, nutrient cycling and biodiversity. Yet, the global extent of natural wetland loss remains remarkably uncertain. Here, we reconstruct the spatial distribution and timing of wetland loss through conversion to seven human land uses between 1700 and 2020 by combining national and subnational records of drainage and conversion with land-use maps and simulated wetland extents. We estimate that 3.4 million km<sup>2</sup> (C.I. 2.9 - 3.8) of inland wetlands have been lost since 1700, primarily for conversion to croplands. This net loss of 21% (C.I. 16 - 23%) of global wetland area is lower than suggested previously by extrapolations of data disproportionately from high-loss regions. Wetland loss has been concentrated in Europe, the United States, and China, and rapidly expanded during the mid-20th century. Our reconstruction elucidates the timing and land use drivers of global wetland losses, providing an improved historical baseline to guide assessment of wetland loss impact on Earth system processes, conservation planning to protect remaining wetlands, and prioritization of sites for wetland restoration.
dc.description.fosrcfull - en: This version of the article has been accepted for publication, after peer review (when applicable) and is subject to Springer Nature’s <a href="https://www.springernature.com/gp/open-research/policies/accepted-manuscript-terms">AM terms of use,</a> but is not the Version of Record and does not reflect post-acceptance improvements, or any corrections. The Version of Record is available online at: <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-05572-6">https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-05572-6</a>
dc.description.fosrcfull-fosrctranslation - fr: Cette version de l'article a été acceptée à des fins de publication suite à une évaluation par les pairs (le cas échéant) et est soumise aux <a href="https://www.springernature.com/gp/open-research/policies/accepted-manuscript-terms">conditions d'utilisation des manuscrits acceptés </a>de Springer Nature. Ce n'est pas la version publiée puisqu’elle ne reflète pas les améliorations postérieures à l'acceptation, ni les corrections. La version publiée est disponible en ligne à l'adresse suivante : <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-05572-6">https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-05572-6</a>
dc.description.fosrctranslation - fr: Les milieux humides sont parmi les écosystèmes les plus menacés du monde. Environ 3,4 millions de kilomètres carrés, ou 21% de l’étendue des zones humides a été convertie, dégradée ou perdue sur la planète depuis l’an 1700, moins qu’estimé auparavant. Cependant, plusieurs régions et certains types de zones humides ont subies de fortes pressions. Par exemple, les plaines inondables des zones tempérées ont été durement touchées, alors que les tourbières des régions boréales et arctiques ont été largement épargnées. Même si la conversion et dégradation des milieux humides ont ralenti à l’échelle de la planète, elles progressent néanmoins toujours dans certaines régions, notamment en Indonésie, où des tourbières tropicales sont converties en cultivations intensives. Plus de 40 % des pertes mondiales sont survenues dans les cinq pays affichant les pertes les plus importants, à savoir les États-Unis, la Chine, l’Inde, la Russie et l’Indonésie. Grâce à ces estimés plus détaillés sur la perte de milieux humides, une priorisation plus judicieuse des mesures de conservation et de restauration des milieux humides peut être accompli.
dc.identifier.issn: 0028-0836; 1476-4687
dc.identifier.uri: https://open-science.canada.ca/handle/123456789/2497
dc.language.iso: en
dc.publisher: Springer Nature
dc.relation.isreplacedby: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-05572-6
dc.rights.openaccesslevel - en: Green
dc.rights.openaccesslevel - fr: Vert
dc.subject - en: Land; Nature and environment; Science and technology
dc.subject - fr: Terres; Nature et environnement; Sciences et technologie
dc.subject.en - en: Land; Nature and environment; Science and technology
dc.subject.fr - fr: Terres; Nature et environnement; Sciences et technologie
dc.title - en: Extensive global wetland loss over the past three centuries
dc.type - en: Accepted manuscript
dc.type - fr: Manuscrit accepté
local.article.journaltitle: Nature
local.article.journalvolume: 614
local.pagination: 23 pages
local.peerreview - en: Yes
local.peerreview - fr: Oui

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