Strengthening Sustainable Wetland Agriculture for Resilient Farmers’ Livelihoods and Ecosystems - TCP/RAS/3805

Abstract

The Asia-Pacific region is facing rapid loss and degradation of wetlands, particularly coastal wetlands, due to factors such as pollution, overuse of biological resources, modification of natural systems, and intensified agriculture and aquaculture. Coastal wetlands, acting as buffers between land and sea, are threatened by both human activities and natural factors such as land reclamation, urbanization, sea level rise, and erosion. Saltwater intrusion, driven by human pressures and climate change, poses a growing threat to these ecosystems, further exacerbated by pollution and invasive species. There is an urgent need for effective ecosystem restoration approaches to reclaim soil health, improve water management, and transition to sustainable agrifood systems, thereby enhancing livelihoods and food security. At the thirty-fifth Asia Pacific Regional Conference (APRC) in September 2020, the urgent and significant challenges in safeguarding ecosystems for sustainable agriculture in the Asia-Pacific region were highlighted. At the conference, the governments of Bangladesh, Thailand, and Vietnam requested support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to enhance integrated resource planning and management across interconnected ecosystems. They emphasized the need for coordinated multisectoral actions, particularly focusing on water quality, ecosystem needs, drought management, and climate change.