Developing countries have also joined in the move, and wetlands are rapidly being recognized as valuable assets for achieving sustainable development. The World Bank and the Global Environment Facility are supporting significant projects related to wetland conservation and sustainable use. The Development Assistance Committee of the OECD has approved guidelines to assist the donor community in improving the conservation and sustainable use of tropical and subtropical wetlands. Wetlands benefit people and the environment, both locally and globally. In many countries, natural or artificial wetlands are being used to treat sewage water, as for example the Salt Lakes Swamp in Calcutta.
Scientists now recognize that wetlands are amongst the most productive ecosystems.
In many wetlands, hunting constitutes an important economic activity. In others, agricultural production, in particular rice, and fisheries constitute the main source of nourishment and income for large numbers of people in many countries. In Canada, there are at least eight wild rice processing plants producing some 5,000 tons per year, with a market value of some seven million dollars. They depend for their survival upon the concerted wetland conservation action by many countries that are in their range. 15 or so major flyways require an unbroken string of wetland stopping places all along their paths.