Annual Conservation Status Report
State of the
World's Wetlands
2026
Global Snapshot
6
Ecosystems monitored
4 of 6
At critical urgency
2,743
Species at risk
6
Species in critical decline
342,730
Hectares in restoration
24
Active restoration projects
51%
Average ecosystem lost
2019–2022
Global collapse wave
Executive Summary
The world's wetland ecosystems are collapsing faster than any other biome on Earth. This report documents the current state of six critical wetland regions — from the Sundarbans mangroves to the Congo Basin peatlands — which together store over 31 billion tons of carbon, shelter 2,743+ species at risk, and protect the livelihoods of an estimated 50 million people.
On average, 51% of each monitored ecosystem has already been lost. Four of the six areas are classified at Critical urgency — meaning irreversible collapse is estimated within 35 years without immediate intervention. The 24 restoration projects documented here represent the frontline response:342,730 hectares actively being rewetted, replanted, and protected.
4 of 6 ecosystems are at critical urgency — imminent irreversible collapse without intervention.
The 2019–2022 window saw 4 ecosystems hit simultaneous worst-ever crisis points — a climate-amplified convergence.
7 of 24 tracked species show population recovery, driven by targeted protection and habitat restoration.
Ecosystem Reports — Areas 01 through 06
The Sundarbans
Bangladesh & India · South Asia
40%
Ecosystem Lost
58 million tons
Carbon Stored
428+
Species at Risk
~20 yrs
Est. Years Left
Situation
The world's largest mangrove forest is disappearing due to rising seas, cyclone erosion, and illegal logging. Home to the Bengal Tiger and Irrawaddy dolphin, the Sundarbans protects 4 million people from catastrophic storm surges.
Primary Threats
Restoration Projects (4)
| Project | Organisation | Ha | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| Khulna Community Mangrove Beltactive | IUCN Bangladesh | 2,800 | 74% |
| Sundarbans Tiger Corridoractive | WWF India | 1,200 | 61% |
| South Khulna Saline Barrieractive | Bangladesh Forest Dept. | 4,500 | 38% |
| Sundarbans Blue Carbon Initiativenew | UNDP Bangladesh | 800 | 12% |
Key Species
~96 in Sundarbans
<100 in range
~200 in delta
Declining nesting sites
The Florida Everglades
United States · North America
50%
Ecosystem Lost
27 million tons
Carbon Stored
67+
Species at Risk
~35 yrs
Est. Years Left
Situation
Once covering 11,000 km², the Everglades has been halved by agriculture, urban sprawl, and diverted water systems. It is the only place on Earth where alligators and crocodiles coexist — and it's also South Florida's primary water supply.
Primary Threats
Restoration Projects (4)
| Project | Organisation | Ha | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoiractive | US Army Corps of Engineers | 11,000 | 45% |
| Picayune Strand Restorationactive | National Park Service | 24,500 | 88% |
| Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlandsactive | South Florida Water Management | 3,200 | 29% |
| Florida Panther Corridornew | Florida Fish & Wildlife | 1,800 | 18% |
Key Species
~200 remaining
~2,000 in Florida
<1,000
~7,500 in Florida
The Pantanal
Brazil, Bolivia & Paraguay · South America
28%
Ecosystem Lost
1.2 billion tons
Carbon Stored
1100+
Species at Risk
~45 yrs
Est. Years Left
Situation
The world's largest tropical wetland spans three countries and holds 10% of Earth's freshwater fish species. In 2020, wildfires — many deliberately set by ranchers — burned 30% of the entire Pantanal in a single season.
Primary Threats
Restoration Projects (4)
| Project | Organisation | Ha | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pantanal Jaguar Corridoractive | Panthera & WCS | 3,200 | 52% |
| SOS Pantanal Reforestationactive | SOS Pantanal NGO | 8,700 | 41% |
| Paraguay River Floodplain Restorationactive | WWF Brazil | 21,000 | 23% |
| Hyacinth Macaw Nest Site Recoveryactive | Instituto Arara Azul | 450 | 67% |
Key Species
~4,000 in Pantanal
~6,500 worldwide
Significant decline
~1,000 remaining
The Mekong Delta
Vietnam & Cambodia · Southeast Asia
75%
Ecosystem Lost
45 million tons
Carbon Stored
310+
Species at Risk
~15 yrs
Est. Years Left
Situation
Upstream dams have disrupted the Mekong's sediment flow, starving the delta of its lifeblood. Saltwater intrusion now destroys rice crops. Coastal erosion swallows 500 meters of land per year in some areas. 20 million people face food and water insecurity.
Primary Threats
Restoration Projects (4)
| Project | Organisation | Ha | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cà Mau Mangrove Coastal Shieldactive | GIZ Vietnam & MARD | 8,500 | 71% |
| U Minh Peatland Restorationactive | IUCN Vietnam | 3,200 | 44% |
| Mekong Dolphin Sanctuaryactive | WWF Cambodia | 180 | 55% |
| Delta Sediment Replenishment Studynew | Deltares & Utrecht University | — | 8% |
Key Species
<100 in Mekong
<1,000 worldwide
Functionally extinct
Significant decline
Mesopotamian Marshes
Iraq · Middle East
90%
Ecosystem Lost
18 million tons
Carbon Stored
183+
Species at Risk
~10 yrs
Est. Years Left
Situation
Considered the cradle of civilization and the likely site of the Garden of Eden, 90% of Iraq's ancient marshes were drained by Saddam Hussein in the 1990s. Though partially restored after 2003, climate change and upstream damming now threaten what little remains.
Primary Threats
Restoration Projects (4)
| Project | Organisation | Ha | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawizeh Marsh Water Allocationactive | Iraq Ministry of Water Resources | 32,000 | 34% |
| Ma'dan Cultural Restorationactive | AMAR International | — | 48% |
| Central Marshes Rehabilitationactive | UNDP Iraq & Nature Iraq | 8,500 | 27% |
| Marsh Bird Monitoring Networknew | BirdLife Iraq | — | 62% |
Key Species
Breeding only in Iraq
Small remnant groups
Key breeding ground
Critical flyway species
Congo Basin Wetlands
Democratic Republic of Congo · Central Africa
22%
Ecosystem Lost
30 billion tons
Carbon Stored
655+
Species at Risk
~50 yrs
Est. Years Left
Situation
Discovered in 2017, the Congo peatlands are the world's largest tropical peatland — storing 30 billion tons of carbon, equivalent to 20 years of U.S. emissions. Logging concessions and oil drilling are now moving into previously untouched zones.
Primary Threats
Restoration Projects (4)
| Project | Organisation | Ha | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cuvette Centrale Protection Zoneactive | ICCN DRC & Congo Basin Fund | 180,000 | 31% |
| Bonobo Sanctuary Corridoractive | African Wildlife Foundation | 4,200 | 58% |
| Community Forest Carbon Creditsactive | Wildlife Conservation Society | 23,000 | 22% |
| Congo Peatland Research Stationnew | Leeds University & University of Kisangani | — | 45% |
Key Species
10,000–50,000 remaining
<100,000
Only in Congo Basin
~10,000–35,000
Global Species Status Summary
24 key species across 6 monitored ecosystems — population trends indexed relative to 1980 baselines
7
Recovering
2
Stable
9
Declining
6
Critical Decline
| Species | Ecosystem | IUCN Status | Population | Trend | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bengal Tiger | Sundarbans | Endangered | ~96 in Sundarbans | Recovering | +14% since 2010 |
| Irrawaddy Dolphin | Sundarbans | Critically Endangered | <100 in range | Critical Decline | -91% since 1980 |
| Estuarine Crocodile | Sundarbans | Vulnerable | ~200 in delta | Stable | Stable since 2005 |
| Olive Ridley Turtle | Sundarbans | Vulnerable | Declining nesting sites | Declining | -54% since 1980 |
| Florida Panther | Everglades | Endangered | ~200 remaining | Recovering | +213% since 2000 |
| American Crocodile | Everglades | Vulnerable | ~2,000 in Florida | Recovering | +355% since 1980 |
| Snail Kite | Everglades | Endangered | <1,000 | Stable | Volatile — tied to water levels |
| West Indian Manatee | Everglades | Vulnerable | ~7,500 in Florida | Declining | -24% since 2015 peak |
| Jaguar | Pantanal | Near Threatened | ~4,000 in Pantanal | Declining | -31% since 1980 |
| Hyacinth Macaw | Pantanal | Vulnerable | ~6,500 worldwide | Recovering | +483% since 1985 low |
| Giant Anteater | Pantanal | Vulnerable | Significant decline | Declining | -57% since 1980 |
| Giant River Otter | Pantanal | Endangered | ~1,000 remaining | Recovering | +144% since 2000 low |
| Irrawaddy Dolphin | Mekong | Critically Endangered | <100 in Mekong | Critical Decline | -96% since 1980 |
| Siamese Crocodile | Mekong | Critically Endangered | <1,000 worldwide | Critical Decline | -92% since 1980 |
| Giant Mekong Catfish | Mekong | Critically Endangered | Functionally extinct | Critical Decline | -99% since 1980 |
| Fishing Cat | Mekong | Vulnerable | Significant decline | Declining | -71% since 1980 |
| Basra Reed Warbler | Mesopotamia | Endangered | Breeds only in Iraq | Recovering | +700% since 2000 low |
| Smooth-coated Otter | Mesopotamia | Vulnerable | <50 remaining | Critical Decline | -79% since 1980 |
| African Darter | Mesopotamia | Near Threatened | Key breeding ground | Recovering | +780% since 2000 low |
| Marbled Teal | Mesopotamia | Vulnerable | Critical flyway species | Declining | -62% since 1980 |
| Bonobo | Congo Basin | Endangered | 10,000–50,000 | Declining | -49% since 1980 |
| Forest Elephant | Congo Basin | Critically Endangered | <100,000 | Critical Decline | -85% since 1980 |
| Congo Peafowl | Congo Basin | Vulnerable | Only in Congo Basin | Declining | -51% since 1980 |
| Okapi | Congo Basin | Endangered | ~10,000–35,000 | Declining | -60% since 1980 |
Population trends are indexed on a 0–100 scale relative to estimated 1980 baseline populations. Data drawn from IUCN Red List assessments, WWF population surveys, and peer-reviewed monitoring literature. Species listed as “Functionally extinct” retain a non-zero index; their populations are no longer viable for self-sustaining reproduction.
This report is published annually by ChangeEco. All data is drawn from IUCN Red List assessments, WWF population surveys, peer-reviewed monitoring literature, and our partner organisation networks. ChangeEco does not fundraise directly — we connect people to vetted conservation organisations.
© 2026 ChangeEco. Published March 31, 2026. Data current as of reporting date. Some population figures represent estimates from most recent available surveys.