Despite the variety of crucial ecosystem services that wetlands provide, urbanisation, pollution and agricultural expansion are threatening their existence due to the lack of accurate Information on the location, extent and condition of the wetland ecosystem.

To set an appropriate ecological data system, the SWOS project developed a monitoring and information service for wetland ecosystems based on the European Space Agency’s Sentinel satellites. Deploying a wide set of technological innovations to improve wetland understanding and monitoring globally, the project focused on major policy frameworks such as Ramsar, CBD and EU nature directives, as well as considering local and national conservation and management objectives. The maps and tools developed in collaboration with data users aim to support reporting and monitoring obligations under various policy frameworks, with a more comprehensive hydroecological perception of wetlands.