Tropical Wetlands and the Development of Assistance Agencies

Wetlands are enormously important in all parts of the world. But in developing countries- the home of three-fourths of all the world's people and an even greater share of the world's animal and plant species- wetlands are particularly crucial. These nations depend on wetlands for the achievement of sustainable rural development and for the survival of huge numbers of wildlife species. Nevertheless, the world's tropical wetlands are being destroyed by a variety of activities, many of which are funded at least in part by the development assistance agencies. Recently, the U.S. environmental community, lef by the Natural Resources Defense Council, initiated efforts to promote wetland conservation reforms within these agencies.