A landmark report for the global agreement on wetlands paints a dire picture of the state of the world’s water bodies that underpin all life on Earth. The report, released Tuesday by the secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands, says that since 1970 more than one-fifth of wetlands have been lost, meaning they have shrunk so much they’re no longer viable or have completely disappeared. … Wetlands feed billions of people globally, play a crucial role in replenishing drinking water sources, mitigate climate change and protect communities from intense storms and flooding by acting as natural barriers and sponges, among many other services that support life. … The razing and filling of wetlands for agriculture, urban settlements and industrialization are top drivers of wetland loss and are amplifying stress on global water resources, the report said. Intensive water use for agriculture and other industry accounts for a combined 89 percent of water withdrawals.

Other wetland conservation news:

• Reuters: World risks up to $39 trillion in economic losses from vanishing wetlands, report says
• Mongabay: Blog: New global report urges urgent action to save wetlands
• The Durango Herald (Colo.): Bank by the river: Wetlands reborn near Durango