The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the (Ramsar) Convention on Wetlands have signed a new agreement to strengthen protection of vital wetland ecosystems that protect communities against natural hazards and play a key role in the water cycle.
WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo and Secretary General of the Convention on Wetlands, Musonda Mumba, signed the Memorandum of Understanding on 19 January.
WMO's competences in Earth system monitoring, data exchange, science and research can support work to preserving wetlands as key ecosystems. In turn, the Convention on Wetlands' expertise can inform tailored products and tools for policymakers and other stakeholders.
"Environment protection benefits substantially from our services, starting by better understanding the interconnections between water, climate and ecosystems: our collaboration will help enhance this critical development," said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.
"Protecting wetlands depends on making the right decisions at the right time, and that starts with strong data. Our partnership will help connect Earth observation, weather and climate information to practical action on the ground, so countries can plan better and protect these ecosystems more effectively. It is exactly what this year's World Meteorological Day theme, 'Observing Today, Protecting Tomorrow', calls for," said Dr Musonda Mumba, Secretary General of the Convention on Wetlands.
The partnership embraces:
- Interconnections between wetlands, hydrology and climate: advancing knowledge about the role of wetlands in the hydrological cycle, and the impact of climate and hydrological cycle on wetland conditions.
- Scaling Earth observation and emerging technologies for wetland inventory data, indicators and reporting.
- Enhancing synergies in the international agenda on sustainable development, climate action and disaster risk reduction, including through initiatives such as Early Warnings for All.
