IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jlands/v11y2022i9p1526-d911121.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Wetlands Paradigm Shift in Response to Changing Societal Priorities: A Reflective Review

Author

Listed:
  • Edward Maltby

    (Department of Wetland Science, Water and Ecosystem Management, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK)

Abstract

This paper reviews some of the key influences that wetlands have had on the development of human society together with the history of wetland use, conservation and management in the context of changing human interactions from prehistoric to modern times. It documents the origins of the Ramsar Convention and the changes in the criteria for defining wetlands of international importance from an emphasis on migratory birds to those of wider functional importance contributing to community well-being. This led to a significant increase in the number of signatories from developing countries The change in scientific emphasis from ecology to ecosystems (and ecosystem services) is identified as a key element of the wetland paradigm shift, which has occurred in the last half century and renewed the recognition of the importance of the natural capital of wetlands. It represents a change in research agenda from what wetlands are to what wetlands do. Modification of the Ramsar wise use concept is documented, and evolution of wetland assessment methods is traced in relation to policy development and the need for a strong science evidence base to improve decision-making connected with wetland conservation and management. The author also addresses the significance of wetland economic valuation and biodiversity issues, transboundary water management with particular reference to the marshlands of Mesopotamia (southern Iraq), conflict, and human livelihood issues. Examples are given of the drive towards wetland restoration in different countries, and at different scales, with awareness of the extraordinarily high costs associated with major schemes such as the Florida Everglades which may prohibit replication in other parts of the world. Adoption of the Ecosystem Approach and the “Wholescapes” concept are seen as important in the future management of wetland ecosystems. The wide-ranging interactions within the structure of a new wetland paradigm are summarized diagrammatically. An examination of current societal priorities and challenges resulting from the nexus of issues arising from food production, energy, water, and environmental change and health suggests both significant threats to wetlands, but also some opportunities for these ecosystems to play a part in sustainable solutions contributing to human well-being. The paper concludes with an endorsement of a new World Charter for wetlands but emphasizes the vital importance of partnership working and the key engagement of local communities to make any new initiative for enhanced protection and management of wetlands to work on the ground. Key challenges facing wetland science are identified, but it is the realization that healthy wetland ecosystems are a significant contributor to human and societal well-being that underpins the paradigm shift in research, management and policy needs.

Suggested Citation

  • Edward Maltby, 2022. "The Wetlands Paradigm Shift in Response to Changing Societal Priorities: A Reflective Review," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-42, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:11:y:2022:i:9:p:1526-:d:911121
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/9/1526/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/9/1526/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Phoebe R. Maund & Katherine N. Irvine & Jonathan Reeves & Emily Strong & Ruth Cromie & Martin Dallimer & Zoe G. Davies, 2019. "Wetlands for Wellbeing: Piloting a Nature-Based Health Intervention for the Management of Anxiety and Depression," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-17, November.
    2. van Vuuren, W. & Roy, P., 1993. "Private and social returns from wetland preservation versus those from wetland conversion to agriculture," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 8(3), pages 289-305, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Vassiliki Vlami & Ioannis P. Kokkoris & Ioannis Charalampopoulos & Thomas Doxiadis & Christos Giannakopoulos & Miltiades Lazoglou, 2023. "A Transect Method for Promoting Landscape Conservation in the Climate Change Context: A Case-Study in Greece," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-29, September.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Pate, Jennifer & Loomis, John, 1997. "The effect of distance on willingness to pay values: a case study of wetlands and salmon in California," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 20(3), pages 199-207, March.
    2. Jonathan P. Reeves & Conor H. D. John & Kevin A. Wood & Phoebe R. Maund, 2021. "A Qualitative Analysis of UK Wetland Visitor Centres as a Health Resource," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-25, August.
    3. Whitten, Stuart M. & Bennett, Jeffrey W., 1999. "Farmer Perceptions Of Wetlands And Wetland Management In The Upper South East Of South Australia," 1999 Conference (43th), January 20-22, 1999, Christchurch, New Zealand 125038, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society.
    4. Vicent Balanzá-Martínez & Jose Cervera-Martínez, 2022. "Lifestyle Prescription for Depression with a Focus on Nature Exposure and Screen Time: A Narrative Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-17, April.
    5. Dias, Vitor & Belcher, Ken, 2015. "Value and provision of ecosystem services from prairie wetlands: A choice experiment approach," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 15(C), pages 35-44.
    6. Dahlia Stott & Chetan Sharma & Jonathan M Deutsch & Brandy-Joe Milliron, 2024. "The Connections among Interacting with Nature, Nature Relatedness and Dietary Choices: A Pilot Mixed Methods Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(7), pages 1-13, July.
    7. Whitten, Stuart M. & Bennett, Jeffrey W., 2004. "A Bio-Economic Model Of Wetland Protection On Private Lands," 2004 Annual meeting, August 1-4, Denver, CO 20122, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association).
    8. Dahlia Stott & DeAndra Forde & Chetan Sharma & Jonathan M. Deutsch & Michael Bruneau & Jennifer A. Nasser & Mara Z. Vitolins & Brandy-Joe Milliron, 2024. "Interactions with Nature, Good for the Mind and Body: A Narrative Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(3), pages 1-26, March.
    9. Aaron Laporte, 2014. "Effects of Crop Prices, Nuisance Costs, and Wetland Regulation on Saskatchewan NAWMP Implementation Goals," Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics/Revue canadienne d'agroeconomie, Canadian Agricultural Economics Society/Societe canadienne d'agroeconomie, vol. 62(1), pages 47-67, March.
    10. Eisen-Hecht, Jonathan I. & Kramer, Randall A. & Huber, Joel, 2004. "A Hierarchical Bayes Approach To Modeling Choice Data: A Study Of Wetland Restoration Programs," 2004 Annual meeting, August 1-4, Denver, CO 20253, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association).
    11. Luke A. Vitagliano & Kelly L. Wester & Connie T. Jones & David L. Wyrick & Amber L. Vermeesch, 2023. "Group Nature-Based Mindfulness Interventions: Nature-Based Mindfulness Training for College Students with Anxiety," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-18, January.
    12. Marcia P. Jimenez & Nicole V. DeVille & Elise G. Elliott & Jessica E. Schiff & Grete E. Wilt & Jaime E. Hart & Peter James, 2021. "Associations between Nature Exposure and Health: A Review of the Evidence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-19, April.
    13. Turner, R. Kerry & Paavola, Jouni & Cooper, Philip & Farber, Stephen & Jessamy, Valma & Georgiou, Stavros, 2003. "Valuing nature: lessons learned and future research directions," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 46(3), pages 493-510, October.
    14. Heimlich, Ralph E. & Wiebe, Keith D. & Claassen, Roger & Gadsby, Dwight M. & House, Robert M., 1998. "Wetlands and Agriculture: Private Interests and Public Benefits," Agricultural Economic Reports 34043, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    15. Aaron De Laporte & Alfons Weersink & Wanhong Yang, 2010. "Ecological Goals and Wetland Preservation Choice," Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics/Revue canadienne d'agroeconomie, Canadian Agricultural Economics Society/Societe canadienne d'agroeconomie, vol. 58(1), pages 131-150, March.
    16. Kosz, Michael, 1996. "Valuing riverside wetlands: the case of the "Donau-Auen" national park," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 16(2), pages 109-127, February.
    17. Liu, Junguo & Kattel, Giri & Arp, Hans Peter H. & Yang, Hong, 2015. "Towards threshold-based management of freshwater ecosystems in the context of climate change," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 318(C), pages 265-274.
    18. Carly J. Wood & Marie Polley & Jo L. Barton & Claire L. Wicks, 2022. "Therapeutic Community Gardening as a Green Social Prescription for Mental Ill-Health: Impact, Barriers, and Facilitators from the Perspective of Multiple Stakeholders," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-14, October.
    19. Joanna M. Blodgett & Jack M. Birch & Margherita Musella & Frances Harkness & Aradhna Kaushal, 2022. "What Works to Improve Wellbeing? A Rapid Systematic Review of 223 Interventions Evaluated with the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scales," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-27, November.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:11:y:2022:i:9:p:1526-:d:911121. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.