The 15th Ramsar COP (Conference of the Contracting Parties) was held from July 23–31, 2025, in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, bringing together over 3,000 delegates from 172 countries. The summit focused on urgent measures to protect wetlands—ecosystems that have declined by 35% since 1970.
Wetlands play a crucial role in filtering water, storing carbon, supporting biodiversity, and sustaining livelihoods. Despite covering only 6% of the Earth’s surface, they contribute over 7.5% of global GDP in ecosystem services. However, rapid urbanization, climate change, and infrastructure development continue to threaten them.
A key outcome of the summit was the Victoria Falls Declaration, which commits countries to stronger wetland conservation, restoration, and integration of wetland protection into climate and development policies. The proposal for a Global Wetland Restoration Fund also gained traction.
Zimbabwe, the host country and new Ramsar Convention president, showcased its leadership by highlighting its seven Ramsar sites and promoting wetland restoration as a climate solution.
Wetlands are essential for achieving Sustainable Development Goals, and COP15 marked a major step forward in ensuring their protection for future generations.
