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Wetlands vanishing at triple rate of forests as global temperatures rise

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands said the losses between 1970 and 2015 pose a serious threat to the "world's most valuable ecosystem" with a huge amount of biodiversity.

Coastal wetlands in the U.S. at Parker River National Wildlife Refuge
Coastal wetlands in the U.S. at Parker River National Wildlife Refuge (AN/Kelly Fike)

GENEVA (AN) — The world has lost about 35% of its swamps, bogs and other wetlands since nearly a half-century ago, with the loss rate accelerating because of rising temperatures, populations and urbanization, according to the first assessment by a global treaty among 170 nations.

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands said the losses between 1970 and 2015 pose a serious threat to the "world's most valuable ecosystem" with a huge amount of biodiversity. Annual rates of loss accelerated from 2000 — and wetlands are now vanishing three times faster than forests.

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