Conservation of wetlands in drylands: a key global issue

The rapid pace of human development over the course of the past century has resulted in many conflicts between conservation interests and land users. One of the most important global issues today is the need to conserve remaining wetland habitats to promote a sustainable ecological foundation for future human development. The problem of wetland conservation in dryland environments is discussed. Wetlands in such environments are known to play critical roles in biodiversity conservation. Several economic, conservation, cultural, scientific, and environmental aspects of these issues are reviewed. The most important human impacts on dryland wetlands include water diversions, irrigation, and changes in land use. Strategies for overcoming these problems are considered.