These ecosystems are also vital to the survival of many migratory species, such as waterbirds, that ecologically connect nations and continents. Indeed, as all seas are connected, coasts are the most internationally-shared ecosystems. The challenges and opportunities of managing them sustainably are similar the world over.

Despite their extreme importance, coastal ecosystems, including wetlands, are often poorly conserved, in part due to fragmented governance. In the face of sea level rise and other climate change effects, as well as rapidly declining biodiversity, there has never been a more urgent need for concerted actions from government agencies, business and other stakeholders to conserve these habitats, ensuring that any use of them is sustainable. 

Coastal wetlands and ecologically associated habitats, are of critical importance as nature-based solutions to the climate crisis; they protect coastal communities from sea level rise, they reduce disaster risk in the face of climate change-exacerbated extreme weather events and provide blue carbon storage. They also provide an effective connection between terrestrial and marine ecosystems, and a wide range of other ecosystem services, including fisheries, other natural products, recreation and tourism, and purification of water and air. Finally, they are often integrally linked to the livelihoods and wellbeing of local communities and provide essential economic opportunities for local people.