Restoring lakes by going beyond quick fixes

The article highlights the critical ecological importance of wetlands, including urban lakes, for carbon sequestration, biodiversity, climate regulation, and human well-being. It warns about their rapid disappearance due to unplanned urbanization and encroachment, leading to the erosion of natural defenses against climate change, public health issues, and threats to urban liveability. Many remaining urban wetlands are described as biologically dead or heavily eutrophic.