World Wetlands Day

2/2/22 feb
     World Wetlands Day is observed every year on February 2. It is celebrated to raise global awareness about the vital role of wetlands for people and our planet. This day also marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on February 2, 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea.
 Wetlands are found in all countries across climatic zones - from the polar regions to tropical belts and from high altitudes to coastal areas and the arid and dry deserts. According to WWF-India, wetlands are one of the most threatened of all ecosystems in India. Loss of vegetation, salinization, excessive inundation, water pollution, invasive species, excessive development, and road building, have all damaged the country's wetlands. As of December 2020, there are 42 recognized Ramsar sites in India.

           
World Wetlands Day ‘Wetlands and Water,’ highlights the importance of wetlands as a source of freshwater and encourages action to restore them and stop their loss. This is especially important as we mark the UN Decades of Ocean Science and Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030).

About Wetlands:
Wetlands are land areas that are saturated or flooded with water either permanently or seasonally. Inland wetlands include marshes, ponds, lakes, fens, rivers, floodplains, and swamps. Coastal wetlands include saltwater marshes, estuaries, mangroves, lagoons, and even coral reefs. Fishponds, rice paddies, and saltpans are human-made wetlands.
Since the 1700s nearly 90% of the world's wetlands have been degraded, and wetlands are disappearing three times faster than forests. Yet, wetlands are vital ecosystems that contribute to biodiversity, climate mitigation and adaptation, freshwater availability, global economies, and more.

The celebration of World Wetlands Day in 2022 is especially significant, as the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 75/317 on August 30, 2021, establishing February 2 as World Wetlands Day.

The theme for 2022 is Wetlands Action for People and Nature, stressing the need of taking action to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands for human and planetary health.

On this day, environmentalists and community protectors come together to celebrate their love for nature. This is done through seminars, exhibitions, and special on-ground campaigns.

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