In dryland regions wetlands stand out as areas where water and nutrients accumulate, plant and animal production potential is high, and production risk is low. Wetlands are therefore much sought after in dryland regions, by farmers, pastoralists, fishermen, collectors of natural products, and also wildlife. Economic data from reports on some of the 1,000 isolated wetlands in Niger, presented here, demonstrate this importance to people living at the isolated wetlands as well to people living farther away. The importance of the isolated wetlands is even greater in times of drought. At the same time the isolated wetlands are under threat of disappearing because of increasing human pressure, climate change, land use change in their catchments, etc.. Descriptions of selected wetlands in Niger visited in the mid-1990s and again twelve years later show this, too. Integrated participatory management of wetlands in dryland regions must be effectuated as soon as possible, so that these very important natural resources will be used wisely and sustainably, and not used up.