Global wetlands are worth the equivalent of over US47 trillion dollars a year, according to a new study published in the journal Marine and Freshwater Research, which is currently free to read online. This estimation means that wetlands make up 43.5 per cent of the value of all natural biomes.
The authors of the study calculated this estimation based on 2011 global monetary values of wetland ecosystem services. According to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, ‘services’ refer to the benefits people get from wetlands, including flood control, groundwater replenishment, storm protection, shoreline stabilization, water purification, tourism, cultural values and so much more.
The most major contribution to the economic value of wetlands is delivered by natural coastal wetlands, despite the fact that these types of environments only make up 15 per cent of all natural wetlands.
Coral reefs delivered the biggest proportion of value in this category: around US$10 trillion per year – 49 per cent of coastal wetland value.
The research article, titled ‘Worth of wetlands: revised global monetary values of coastal and inland wetland ecosystem services’, is currently free to read.
