What's next for the world's first official Wetland Cities?

International recognition for Colombo and the other newly named Wetland Cities brings both benefits and responsibilities.

Almost a decade ago, the city of Colombo experienced deadly flash floods, affecting more than 500,000 people and wreaking havoc on the Sri Lankan capital. The waterlogged urban space was a result of extreme weather but also the rapid loss of a vital natural asset to the metropolitan region – wetlands.