THE sixth gathering of the signatories tothe Ramsar Convention on the world'swetlands, at Brisbane, Australia recently,has revealed a disturbing picture.California, us, reportedly lost 91 percent of its wetlands in the past 200 years,more than any other area in the world.In fact, the us, which once boasted of 90million ha of wetlands, is left with onlyabout 40 million. Said Michael Moser,director, Wetlands Internationals, aconservation group, "The extent of wetland losses in the us makes depressing reading". The group is currentlyinvolved in maintaining a database onthe world's wetlands. Its current surveyshows that France has lost 67 per cent Ifits wetlands, Italy 66 per cent, Greece63 per cent and the Netherlands 55 percent. "We are only just beginning torealise how important these areas are forsuch things as natural control of floods,maintaining aquifers, filtering outpollutants and preventing salination,"says Moser. Wetlands are being lostto dams, agriculture, construction ofports, roads and hydroelectric plants.The conservation group is now urgingcountries to establish an inventoryof wetlands.