A simple method for assessing the vulnerability of wetland ecosystem services

Wetlands can provide many ecosystem services, but throughout the world are exposed to a range of
pressures. In some locations these are well documented and are being successfully addressed. However at other
locations, lack of data, resources and methods are hindering thorough assessment. This is particularly the case
in remote wetlands such as those in the Himalayan region. This paper presents a methodology developed and
tested on three wetland sites in Nepal. The method gives a structure to data collection and analysis and leads
the user through to producing a vulnerability assessment of wetlands. We found that in each case the method
provided a prioritised table of values and threats and this helped to make the development of a site management
plan straightforward. The action plan highlights data gaps and identifies priority areas for attention. The results
from our assessment of Rupa Lake are also presented in this paper.