World Wetlands Day: Global Nature Fund (GNF) calls on German cities and municipalities to act – Who will become Germany’s first “Wetland City”?
- On World Wetlands Day, the GNF emphasizes the important role of these ecosystems for humans and the climate.
- Every individual can actively contribute to the preservation of valuable wetlands
- The GNF calls on German cities and municipalities to apply as “Wetland City”
Radolfzell, February 2, 2026; World Wetlands Day is celebrated every year on February 2. As part of the “Opportunities and Perspectives for Wetlands” project, the GNF is committed to the protection, conservation and sustainable use of these valuable ecosystems. The GNF thus makes an important contribution to the implementation of the international Ramsar Convention for the protection of wetlands and calls on German cities to apply for the international “Wetland City” accreditation.
Need for action at all levels
Wetlands are much more than just “wet areas”. They are the most effective carbon reservoirs on earth, protect us from floods and cool our overheated cities. But they are under serious threat. The protection of existing moors and the renaturation of floodplains are therefore important measures for our safety and future quality of life.
In order to stop the loss of wetlands, a rethink is needed in politics and society. Investments in nature-based solutions must be taken into account in planning. With the appropriate political will, the foundations can be laid for the necessary conversion to so-called sponge cities – away from the rapid discharge of water and towards intelligent water management.
Awareness in everyday life
But each individual can also make a contribution in everyday life. Protection starts on a small scale: by not using peat products in the garden, supporting local nature conservation initiatives or adopting more sustainable consumer behavior. Gardening close to nature, choosing regional products and reducing your carbon footprint helps to reduce the pressure on valuable wetlands worldwide.
Wetland Cities: Cities of the future
It is estimated that 70% of the world’s population will live in cities by 2050. Urban wetlands are the key to a healthy urban climate. Since 2015, the “Wetland City Accreditation Program” of the Ramsar Convention has been recognizing cities that are role models in the protection of their urban blue-green structures. Worldwide, 74 cities in 27 countries already hold this title ( Wetland City Network) – including European cities such as Geneva and Poznań. Even though there is currently no accredited Wetland City in Germany, work is actively underway to achieve this status for the first cities.
Cities and municipalities can apply for the program if they are located in the immediate vicinity of valuable wetlands, actively protect or restore them and actively involve the population in these measures. The title “Wetland City” is far more than a mere accolade. It stands for urban development that combines climate resilience with a high quality of life and economic attractiveness.
In order to pave the way for the first German Ramsar Wetland City, the Global Nature Fund supports cities and municipalities in the application process. Interested cities can contact the GNF for details on the accreditation process. The application procedure for new Wetland Cities, which is updated every three years, will be published in a few weeks. Udo Gattenlöhner (Managing Director, Tel: +49 7732 9995 870, e-mail: gattenloehner@globalnature.org) and Katja Weickmann (Project Manager Living Lakes, Tel: +49 30 2400 867 34, e-mail: weickmann@globalnature.org) will be happy to advise you.
About the project
The “Opportunities and prospects for wetlands” project is funded by the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) with funds from the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUKN) and with the support of the German Postcode Lottery.
More about the Wetland Cities Network: Wetland City Network
