The World Wetlands Day is Celebrated annually on 2 February, this day also marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea.
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of Ramsar sites. It is also known as the Convention on Wetlands.
When a wetland belongs to the list of Ramsar sites it's because they meet the Criteria for identifying Wetlands of International Importance. The first criterion refers to Sites containing representative, rare or unique wetland types, and the other eight cover Sites of international importance for conserving biological diversity. These criteria emphasize the importance the Convention places on sustaining biodiversity.
Today, the Ramsar List is the world’s largest network of protected areas. There are over 2,400 Ramsar Sites on the territories of 172 Convention Contracting Parties across the world, covering more than 2.5 million square kilometers.
A broad definition of wetlands includes both freshwater and marine and coastal ecosystems such as all lakes and rivers, underground aquifers, swamps and marshes, wet grasslands, peatlands, oases, estuaries, deltas and tidal flats, mangroves and other coastal areas, coral reefs, and all human-made sites such as fishponds, rice paddies, reservoirs and saltpans.
It’s important to celebrate the World Wetlands Day because this day serves to highlight the influence and positive production that wetlands have had on the world and brings communities together for the benefit of Mother Nature. This day also raises global awareness of wetlands' significant role not only for people but for the planet. Community protectors and environmental enthusiasts all come together on this day to celebrate their love for nature through celebration, which recognizes what wetlands have done for not only humans, but all sorts of organisms in the world.
This year, World Wetland Day 2024 will focus on the theme of ‘Wetlands and Human Wellbeing’. The theme recognizes wetlands as critical to people and nature, underscoring the intrinsic value of wetland ecosystems and their benefits and services, including contributions to sustainable development and human wellbeing.
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of Ramsar sites. It is also known as the Convention on Wetlands.
When a wetland belongs to the list of Ramsar sites it's because they meet the Criteria for identifying Wetlands of International Importance. The first criterion refers to Sites containing representative, rare or unique wetland types, and the other eight cover Sites of international importance for conserving biological diversity. These criteria emphasize the importance the Convention places on sustaining biodiversity.
Today, the Ramsar List is the world’s largest network of protected areas. There are over 2,400 Ramsar Sites on the territories of 172 Convention Contracting Parties across the world, covering more than 2.5 million square kilometers.
A broad definition of wetlands includes both freshwater and marine and coastal ecosystems such as all lakes and rivers, underground aquifers, swamps and marshes, wet grasslands, peatlands, oases, estuaries, deltas and tidal flats, mangroves and other coastal areas, coral reefs, and all human-made sites such as fishponds, rice paddies, reservoirs and saltpans.
It’s important to celebrate the World Wetlands Day because this day serves to highlight the influence and positive production that wetlands have had on the world and brings communities together for the benefit of Mother Nature. This day also raises global awareness of wetlands' significant role not only for people but for the planet. Community protectors and environmental enthusiasts all come together on this day to celebrate their love for nature through celebration, which recognizes what wetlands have done for not only humans, but all sorts of organisms in the world.
This year, World Wetland Day 2024 will focus on the theme of ‘Wetlands and Human Wellbeing’. The theme recognizes wetlands as critical to people and nature, underscoring the intrinsic value of wetland ecosystems and their benefits and services, including contributions to sustainable development and human wellbeing.
Mathilde Pincemin
Mathilde is a french volunteer involved in The World Wetlands Day
