Wetland ecological character and wise use: towards a new framing
Ritesh Kumar
A E K , Robert McInnes B E , C. Max Finlayson C E , Nick Davidson D E , David Rissik F G , Swapan Paul E H , Lijuan Cui E I , Yinru Lei E I , Samantha Capon G and Siobhan Fennessy J
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Wetlands International South Asia, A, 25, 1-2 Floor, Defence Colony, New Delhi, 110 024, India.
B RM Wetlands & Environment Ltd, Littleworth, Oxfordshire, SN7 8EQ, UK.
C IHE Delft, Institute for Water Education, PO Box 3015, NL-2601 Delft, DA, Netherlands.
D Nick Davidson Environmental, Ford Street, Wigmore, HR6 9UN, UK.
E Institute for Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt University, Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, PO Box 789, Albury, NSW 2640, Australia.
F BMT, 200 Creek Street, Brisbane, Qld 4000, Australia.
G Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Kessels Road, Nathan, Qld 4111, Australia.
H Sydney Olympic Park Authority, Olympic Boulevard, NSW 2127, Australia.
I The Institute of Wetland Research, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, 100091, PR China.
J Departments of Biology and Environmental Studies, Kenyon College, Gambier, OH 43022, USA.
K Corresponding author. Email: ritesh.kumar@wi-sa.org
Marine and Freshwater Research 72(5) 633-637 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF20244
Submitted: 8 August 2020 Accepted: 15 September 2020 Published: 10 November 2020
Abstract
Ecological character and wise use are central tenets underpinning the Ramsar Convention’s global wetland ambitions. In this paper, we postulate that, given on-going and progressive degradation and destruction of wetlands, these concepts require reframing. So as to overcome the human–nature dualism, which underpins current wetland conservation, we propose that wetlands need to be placed within a social–ecological framing that can accommodate a plurality of worldviews and value systems. This reframing broadens the definition of wetland ecological character and replaces it with a more inclusive and comprehensive term ‘wetland character’. Wise use, consequently, becomes maintenance of wetland character. Further considerations on maintaining wetland character under this construct are presented.
Keywords: Ramsar Convention, social–ecological systems, wetland character.
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