Extensive global wetland loss over the past three centuries
- Language of the publication
- English
- Date
- 2023-02-08
- Type
- Accepted manuscript
- Author(s)
- 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.
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
Abstract
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 km2 (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.
Plain language summary
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.
Description
This version of the article has been accepted for publication, after peer review (when applicable) and is subject to Springer Nature’s AM terms of use, 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: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-05572-6
Subject
- Land,
- Nature and environment,
- Science and technology
Pagination
23 pages
Peer review
Yes
Open access level
Green
Identifiers
- ISSN
-
0028-0836
- 1476-4687
Article
- Journal title
- Nature
- Journal volume
- 614
- Accepted date
- 2022-11-17
- Submitted date
- 2022-01-18
Relation
- Is replaced by:
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-05572-6