These past months we all have faced and confronted unexpected challenges. In this global crisis, we observed how the relationship between humans and nature has a profound impact on our lives. We recognized that people and nature are connected and that our wellbeing and prosperity depend on this harmonious relationship. The work of the Convention on Wetlands and the urgency to conserve, restore and use wetlands wisely is more relevant than ever. Here in Gland, in Switzerland as everywhere else, we adapted our lives at the office and at home to these unpredictable circumstances. I am proud to say that the Secretariat effectively continued to advance the work of the Convention, including through participating in meetings related to the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, SDG14 and SDG6, and in meetings of Ramsar Regional Initiatives and other partnerships. In recent months the Secretariat provided support to the designation of 19 new Ramsar Sites and the publishing of RSIS updates for 40 Sites. The Secretariat carried out capacity building workshops for the RSIS, which were attended by 220 participants from 68 countries. These workshops were provided in all three languages of the Convention. In light of the pandemic, the Management Working Group decided to cancel the 23rd meeting of the Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP23). Nonetheless, the Secretariat has provided support to the working groups established at STRP22. Substantial progress has been made on priority tasks including wetlands and blue carbon, wetlands and sustainable agriculture and peatlands restoration. The possibility of holding face-to-face workshops will be assessed later in the year. Due to the same circumstances, the 58th meeting of the Standing Committee (SC58) was postponed until October. The Secretariat consulted with Standing Committee members to identify time-critical issues on which decisions needed to be taken before October. Once these issues were identified the Secretariat assisted the Standing Committee members on defining a decision-making process. On 23 and 25 June the Secretariat organized two virtual Standing Committee intersessional meetings in which the Standing Committee could take time-sensitive decisions to further the work of the Convention. Despite the postponement of SC58 and other international meetings, our work has not slowed down. Now is the time to seize the opportunity “to build back better”. Recognition is growing of the importance of nature-based solutions in addressing the current crisis and achievement of the SDGs. By advocating for and integrating wetlands as nature-based solutions we have an opportunity to mainstream their critical values and role in building a sustainable future. Martha Rojas Urrego
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