TEJASHREE ANANT SALVI
World Wetlands Day
Every year on February 2nd, World Wetlands Day is honored. It is observed to promote global awareness about the importance of wetlands to people and the environment. This day also commemorates the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on February 2, 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the Caspian Sea's coasts. Wetlands may be found in all nations and in all climatic zones, from the polar regions to tropical belts, from high elevations to coastal locations, and from barren and dry deserts. Wetlands are one of India's most vulnerable ecosystems, according to WWF-India. Wetlands in the United States have been harmed by a variety of factors, including loss of vegetation, salinization, excessive inundation, water pollution, invasive species, excessive development, and road construction. There are 42 Ramsar sites in India as of December 2020.
About Wetlands:
Wetlands are regions of land that are continuously or seasonally inundated or flooded with water. Marshes, ponds, lakes, fens, rivers, floodplains, and swamps are examples of inland wetlands. Saltwater marshes, estuaries, mangroves, lagoons, and even coral reefs are examples of coastal wetlands. Human-made wetlands include fishponds, rice paddies, and saltpans. Environmentalists and community guardians gather on this day to honor their love of nature. Seminars, displays, and specific on-the-ground efforts are used to accomplish this. This year the World Wetlands Day is being observed under the theme of "Wetlands Action for People and Nature".
Why is World Wetlands Day celebrated?
Since the 1700s, about 90% of the world's wetlands have been degraded, and we are losing wetlands three times faster than forests. Wetlands, on the other hand, are crucial ecosystems that contribute to biodiversity, climate mitigation and adaptation, freshwater supply, global economies, and other factors. It is critical that we promote national and worldwide awareness of wetlands in order to reverse their fast decline and stimulate conservation and restoration efforts. World Wetlands
Day is an excellent opportunity to enhance public awareness of these vitally important ecosystems. Wetlands Action for People and Nature is the topic for World Wetlands Day 2022, emphasizing the necessity of efforts to guarantee the protection and sustainable use of wetlands for human and planetary health.