World Wetlands Day 2022
World Wetlands Day is an annual event celebrated on the 2nd February, aiming to raise awareness nationally and globally about the importance of wetlands to support people, nature and the planet.
This year, 2nd February 2022, is the first time World Wetlands Day will be officially observed within the context of the United Nations. The UN General Assembly recently adopted it as an international day.
World Wetlands Day 2022 theme is – “Wetlands Action for People and Nature”. Highlighting the importance of actions to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands for human and planetary health.
The Importance of Wetlands
Wetlands cover a global area of 1.2 billion hectares; however, they are declining fast. Since 1970, there has been a 35% loss of natural wetlands, and we are losing wetlands more quickly than we are forests. Also, the quality of the wetlands is decreasing due to pollution, unsustainable use, drainage and climate change.
Wetlands provide clean water and essential services for cities. Additionally, urban and water resource planning integrates wetlands to improve city residents’ health and well-being. Furthermore, wetlands are critically important ecosystems, and the future of sustainable food production is dependent on wetland wise use.
Wetlands provide many health-supporting resources – such as disease control, food and water security and disaster risk reduction. People’s health and well-being, as well as livelihoods, depend on well-managed wetlands.
This year’s campaign highlights three main messages
- Value wetlands for the multiple benefits and nature-based solutions they provide for human well-being and a healthy planet.
- Manage wetlands wisely and use them sustainably to conserve them and maintain the health of these critically important ecosystems.
- Restore lost and degraded wetlands to revive the rich biodiversity and life found in these life-sustaining ecosystems.
World Wetlands Day is here to bring awareness to people locally and globally. To get involved in this significant campaign visit. World Wetlands Day 2022
References
World Wetlands Day. (2022) https://www.worldwetlandsday.org/
United Nations Environment Programme https://www.unep.org/events/un-day/world-wetlands-day-2022
Ramsar. (21019) Global Wetlands Outlook 2019. Available from: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5b256c78e17ba335ea89fe1f/t/61b8a904f3ceb458e9b5ca44/1639491853578/Ramsar+GWO_Special+Edition+2021%E2%80%93ENGLISH_WEB.pdf
