Planning For The Future: Integrating Wetlands Into Urban And Regional Sustainability Frameworks

Wetlands are among the most valuable ecosystems on Earth, offering an array of ecological services, including flood regulation, water purification, biodiversity conservation, and carbon sequestration. Despite their importance, wetlands remain underrepresented in spatial planning frameworks. This paper explores the fundamental science of wetlands, including their hydrology, soils, and vegetation, and situates wetlands within broader discourses of environmental and regional planning, international environmental conventions, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Drawing on global and Indian contexts, with a particular focus on Goa, this paper emphasizes the urgency of integrating wetlands into planning strategies to ensure ecological sustainability, climate resilience, and developmental equity.