The United Nations (UN)’s World Wetlands Day is annually observed across the globe on 2 February to raise awareness about the vital role of wetlands, a critically important ecosystem for people and the planet.
- The Day also marks the date of adopting the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (“Ramsar Convention”), an intergovernmental treaty adopted on 2 February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea.
The 2024 theme of World Wetlands Day is ‘Wetlands and Human Wellbeing’.
The theme focuses on the interrelationship between wetlands and various aspects of human well-being, including physical, mental, and environmental health.
Background:
i.The World Wetlands Day awareness campaign has been organised by the Secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands since 1997.
ii.Contracting Parties of the Convention on Wetlands have been celebrating World Wetlands Day since 1997 when it was first established.
iii.On 30 August 2021, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/75/317 and proclaimed the 2 February of every year as World Wetlands Day.
- It was proclaimed to raise awareness of the urgency of reversing the accelerating loss of wetlands and to promote their conservation and restoration.
iv.The 1st ever UN-recognised World Wetlands Day was observed on 2 February 2022.
What is Wetlands?
i.A wetland is a land area saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally.
ii.Wetlands are essential, biodiverse ecosystems where water is the primary factor controlling the environment and plant and animal life.
iii.They may be saltwater or freshwater, inland or coastal, natural or human-made, permanent or temporary, static or flowing.
Convention on Wetlands:
i.The Convention on Wetlands provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
ii.It was originally adopted in 1971 and came into force in 1975. There are 172 contracting parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
Note:
- Each country joining the Convention must designate at least 1 wetland to be included in the List of Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar sites).
- Almost 90% of the UN member states, from all the world’s geographic regions, have acceded to become Contracting Parties to the Convention on Wetlands.
- Currently, there are approximately 2,511 Ramsar Sites around the world covering nearly 257,189,470 hectares (ha), covering more than 2.5 million square kilometers, an area larger than Mexico.
Significance:
i.Currently, wetlands cover about 6% of the Earth’s land surface, and 40% of all plant and animal species live or breed in wetlands.
ii.Wetland contributes to biodiversity, agriculture, climate mitigation and adaptation, flood control, water purification, etc.
iii.Wetlands have witnessed about 35% decline since the 1970s and the remaining wetlands are disappearing 3 times faster than forests.
Key Facts:
i.Wetlands house over 100,000 species, supporting diverse ecosystems.
ii.Rice cultivation in wetland paddies is a cornerstone, feeding 3 billion people.
- These paddies contribute significantly, providing 20% of the world’s food.
iii.More than a billion people across the world depend on wetlands for their livelihoods, that’s about 1 in 8 people on Earth.
The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration:
The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, spanning from 2021 to 2030, is a global call to action for protecting and reviving ecosystems worldwide.
Key focus: Reversing the decline of natural wetlands by 2030.
2024 Events:
On 2 February 2024, the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), in collaboration with the Ramsar Convention Secretariat and the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security, hosted the World Wetlands Day celebration in Rome, Italy, and online.
Events in India:
On 2nd February 2024, the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC), in collaboration with the Government of Madhya Pradesh, organised the national World Wetlands Day event at Sirpur Lake, Indore, a Ramsar site designated in 2022.
- Dr. Musonda Mumba, Secretary General of Ramsar Convention visited India to participate in World Wetlands Day 2024.
About Ramsar Convention on Wetlands:
Secretary-General– Dr. Musonda Mumba
The Ramsar Convention Secretariat is based at the headquarters of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Gland, Switzerland.
