Despite their vital importance for nature and people, wetlands are among the most threatened ecosystems. Government signatories to the Convention on Wetlands are encouraged to conduct regular National Wetland Inventories to assess the status of these ecosystems and plan for their effective conservation, wise use and, where needed, restoration. However, many countries struggle to acquire the data they need for robust inventories on the location, size and ecology of wetlands. The Convention on Wetlands Secretariat therefore convened a group of experts to produce a new set of guidelines to improve the flow and use of wetland data for National Wetland Inventories (Guidance for Implementing a Structured Process for National Wetland Inventory. Version 1.0. Secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands, Gland, Switzerland. ramsar.org/document/guidance-implementing-structured-process-national-wetland-inventory-0; English, French and Spanish versions available). The guidance, which was launched during a global webinar on 16 December 2025, builds on previous Convention handbooks and manuals to explain the principles that need to be followed to access and use robust data, whether starting, completing or updating a National Wetland Inventory.

A structured National Wetland Inventory process needs to be systematic, action-oriented, consistent and replicable across all sizes of wetlands and across countries, through these key stages: making the case for an inventory, planning and piloting, implementing, and using the results for wetland management. The guidance therefore emphasises key aspects of National Wetland Inventory planning, including the definition of the scope and objectives, the choice of suitable metrics and monitoring tools, and the development and updating of a data flow strategy (from the point of data collection through to the points of data use). The target audience for the guidance includes national and local staff of the government departments, ministries and agencies that act as Administrative Authorities for the Convention on Wetlands, as well as their partners. Feedback received from national Convention focal points helped improve the guidance document and maximize its usefulness.

By following the guidance, stakeholders will gain an understanding of why a structured process is needed, the value of inventories for adaptive management and reporting, and the key enabling conditions necessary to conduct and update National Wetland Inventories. In turn, the guidance will help ensure high-quality, up-to-date data on national wetlands are used to assess and monitor wetland status, produce relevant maps and reports, and plan actions. Monitoring wetland extent over time will also allow countries to measure their contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals (indicator 6.6.1) and several targets under the Global Biodiversity Framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Ultimately, therefore, improving data flow for National Wetland Inventories through a structured process will inform and improve wetland conservation and wise use.