Biodiversity is being lost in wetlands at a faster rate than any other biome. Effective conservation and management of wetlands biodiversity requires data on species status and threats to inform decision-making. However, there are key challenges in Africa around the availability, usability and quality of data, willingness to use data, and capacity. We review these challenges, using examples from Ramsar sites and other wetlands across the continent, and propose solutions to help information users access high quality data in the right format at the right time. We assess the relevance of traditional monitoring methods, as well as innovative new tools such as remote sensing and environmental DNA. We conclude by explaining how governments, civil society and the private sector can enhance data collection by applying common, policy-relevant indicators, scaling up the application of traditional and appropriate new tools and protocols, building capacity in key institutions, and using partnerships and credible science-policy interfaces. Only by sharing and upscaling the solutions to data collection and use will we be able to mainstream biodiversity into decision-making and ultimately stop biodiversity loss across African wetlands.

中文翻译：

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使用传统和现代工具监测非洲湿地生物多样性：挑战与机遇

湿地中的生物多样性正在以比任何其他生物群落更快的速度消失。湿地生物多样性的有效保护和管理需要有关物种状况和威胁的数据来为决策提供信息。然而，非洲在数据的可用性、可用性和质量、使用数据的意愿和容量方面存在关键挑战。我们使用来自整个大陆的拉姆萨尔湿地和其他湿地的示例来审查这些挑战，并提出解决方案以帮助信息用户在正确的时间以正确的格式访问高质量的数据。我们评估传统监测方法以及遥感和环境 DNA 等创新工具的相关性。最后，我们解释了政府、民间社会和私营部门如何通过应用共同的、政策相关的指标来加强数据收集，扩大传统和适当的新工具和协议的应用，建设关键机构的能力，并利用伙伴关系和可靠的科学政策接口。只有通过共享和升级数据收集和使用的解决方案，我们才能将生物多样性纳入决策主流，并最终阻止整个非洲湿地的生物多样性丧失。