In news– Every year, World Wetlands Day is observed on February 02.
About World Wetlands Day-
- It aims to create awareness of the need for the conservation of wetlands for the betterment of the ecosystem and climate change problems.
- The day was first accepted as an international treaty named the Convention on Wetlands on February 02, 1971, in Ramsar, Iran.
- The theme for this year’s World Wetlands Day is ‘Wetland’s action for people and nature showing the actions required to ensure the conservation and sustenance of wetlands.
- The date February 02 was given official recognition by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) as it adopted Resolution 75/317 as World Wetlands Day on August 30, 2021.
- Public awareness regarding the day started in 1997.
- To educate young people about wetland conservation, a month-long Youth Photo Contest has been organized every year since 2015, starting February 2.
- The contest is limited to those between the ages of 15 to 24.
About Ramsar convention-
- It is the only global treaty that focuses specifically on wetlands.
- It was signed in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran and it has 170 nations as signatories.
- The convention entered into force in India on 1 February 1982.
- The contracting parties agree to manage all their wetlands based on the concept of “wise use.”
- Wise use means the maintenance of the ecological character of the wetland and allowance of sustainable use for the benefit of people and the environment.
- The Ramsar Convention works closely with six other organizations known as International Organization Partners (IOPs). These are:
- Birdlife International
- International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
- International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
- Wetlands International
- WWF International
- Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT)
- The 2nd of February each year is World Wetlands Day, marking the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971.
What are Wetlands?
- Wetlands are defined as areas intermediate in character between deepwater and terrestrial habitats which are transitioned in nature and mostly located between them.
- As per the Ramsar conventions, wetlands consist of both natural and manmade sites like lakes, swamps, marshes, mangroves, salt pans, tidal flats, and reservoirs.
Source: India Today
