Why the wetlands ecosystem is disappearing—and how most people don’t even notice

Author: Murat Gungor, Website and Online Strategy Consultant   |   February 6, 2026

Musonda Mumba

Photo credit: UNCCD/G20 Global Land Inititative

Dr. Musonda Mumba, Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, explores the critical role wetlands play in our planet’s health, economies and everyday lives. From mangroves, peatlands, rivers, and coral reefs to rice paddies and glacial wetlands, Dr. Mumba explains what wetlands really are—and why we’ve lost over 70% of them globally since the 1970s, at a rate three times faster than forests. Dr. Mumba explains that wetland restoration is not about “controlling” water, but working with natural systems, local communities, and long-standing governance structures to restore wetlands at scale.

What you’ll learn in this eposide

  • What counts as a wetland (natural and artificial) and why wetlands are disappearing so fast
  • The link between wetlands, food systems, and climate change
  • Real-world examples like the Aral Sea, Lake Chad, and the River Po
  • How wetland loss impacts water security, economies, and conflict
  • The role of Ramsar, governments, and Indigenous knowledge in restoration

Wetlands regulate climate, support biodiversity, provide clean water, enable food production, and sustain entire economies. As Dr. Mumba explains, protecting and restoring them isn’t optional—it’s essential for our future.

Listen to the podcast