The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use
of wetlands. It was signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971 and came into force in 1975. As of 2023, it has been
ratified by 169 countries, making it one of the most widely accepted international environmental
agreements. The Convention aims to promote the wise use of all wetlands, including lakes, rivers, marshes,
swamps, and peatlands, for the benefit of human beings, wildlife, and the environment. Wetlands
designated as “Ramsar sites” are recognized as being of international importance, and Parties to the
Convention are committed to taking appropriate measures to conserve and manage these sites.
Wetland Day Celebration
World Wetlands Day is celebrated on February 2nd every year to raise awareness about the important
values and benefits of wetlands, and to promote the conservation and wise use of these ecosystems. It
marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention) in Ramsar, Iran, in
1971. World Wetlands Day provides an opportunity for governments, organizations, and individuals to
take action to conserve wetlands, and to educate
the public about their significance. Wetlands provide a wide range of benefits, including water purification,
flood control, habitat for wildlife, and support for fishing and agriculture. Celebrating World Wetlands Day
helps to highlight the importance.
of these valuable ecosystems, and to ensure that they are protected for future generations.
World wetland Day celebrated annually on 2 February, aims to raise global awareness about the vital role
of wetlands for people and planet. This day also marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on
Wetlands on 2 February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar.
Nearly 90% of the world’s wetlands have been degraded since the 1700s, and we are losing wetlands
three times faster than forests. Yet, wetlands are critically important ecosystems that contribute to
biodiversity, climate mitigation and adaptation, freshwater availability, world economies, and more.
It is urgent that we raise national and global awareness about wetlands in order to reverse their rapid loss
and encourage actions to conserve and restore them.
World Wetlands Day is the ideal time to increase people’s understanding of these critically important
ecosystems.
Theme of Wetland Day 2023
Wetlands ecological services contribute $47.4 trillion annually to human health, happiness, and security.
The international community will celebrate World Wetlands Day on 2 February 2023 to raise awareness
about wetlands to reverse their rapid loss and encourage actions to conserve and restore them.
This year’s theme is “It’s Time for Wetlands Restoration,” which highlights the urgent need to prioritize
wetland restoration.
After School Program Wetlands 101
Feb 2 is World Wetlands Day and we’re teaming up with Stewardship Association of Municipalities Inc for
children’s programs at NLPL branches (ages 5-10)! Codroy Valley Public Library | Wed, Feb 1 | 5:45pm
AC Hunter Children’s Library | Thurs, Feb 2 | 3:30pm Corner Brook Public Library | Thurs, Feb 2 | 3:30pm
[Image ID: Background: photo of a wetland. Text: World Wetlands Day. February 2nd, 2023. Celebrate
World Wetlands Day at NL Public Libraries. Stewardship Association of Municipalities logo.]
Country : Canada
Organizer : NLPL and SAM
Partners : NLPL and SAM
Story type: Story Target Audience: Children Type of Event: School Event Type of Wetland: Inland
wetlands Coastal wetlands Human-made wetlands Year: 2023.
Ivonne Higuero, Secretary-General, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora.
Wetlands are full of life. They are some of the most productive ecosystems on earth, accommodating nearly
20 thousand animal and plant species. They filter, clean, and store water. They are crucial for food security,
carbon storage and stormwater storage. [or if you want it more CITES/wildlife-based – They are home,
shelter and breeding grounds for species of fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals and plants]. World
Wetlands Day is a time to stop and think about the importance of these incredible ecosystems.
We, at CITES – the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora –
regulate the international trade in more than 38 thousand species of animals and plants to ensure that trade
doesn’t threaten them with extinction… but over-exploitation isn’t the only threat that wildlife faces – loss of
habitats, such as wetlands, is one of the most
serious concerns. The planet has already seen the loss or degradation of nearly 90 per cent of its wetlands
– and that rate of loss is accelerating.
This is the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration. It is time that we halted and reversed the decline in
Wetlands. CITES is proud to work closely with the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and to support them
in their goal of reviving and restoring degraded wetlands. Doing so would enable the animal and plant
species that live in these environments to survive and thrive and would contribute to the biodiversity
conservation that is so crucial to the health of the planet and our own health and wellbeing.
Conclusion
Wetlands are important because they provide habitat for thousands of species of aquatic and
terrestrial plants and animals. Wetlands are valuable for flood protection, water quality.