Wetlands play an irreplaceable role in the regulation of regional water balance, alleviating flood and drought disasters and improving water quality. The global loss and degradation of wetlands, however, has been strongly affecting the multiple ecological functions of wetlands, especially their support for water security. To better implement actions of wetlands protection and restoration for maintaining their roles in safeguarding water security, international communication across the cutting-edge wetland science research results, and the sharing of wetland protection and restoration technologies as well as successful cases are urgently needed. 

In light of this, the scientific committee of the 18th World Water Congress has approved special sessions focused on wetland conservation and its contribution to water security. These sessions, titled "The Protection of Wetlands for Supporting Water Security" and "Wetland Ecohydrology and Water Resources Management," will be organised by the Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IGA, CAS). Esteemed experts, including Mr. Shahbaz Khan, Director of UNESCO Beijing Office, Professor Sonja C. Jähnig from Humboldt University of Berlin, Professor Alain N Rousseau from Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), Canada, Professor Y. Jun Xu from Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, and Professor Jingjie Zhang from the National University of Singapore, among others, have been invited to participate in these sessions.

We warmly welcome international peers to join us in these sessions, offering an opportunity to exchange information, engage in discussions, and explore potential collaborations.