Facts Box: World Wetlands Day

The World Wetlands Day is marked on February 2 by the Ramsar Secretariat with financial support from Danone Group.

This year the day was marked under the following theme

Theme: Wetlands and Biodiversity

Highlights

The World Wetland Day is being marked since 1997. February 2 was chosen as the Ramsar Convention was signed on this day in 1971.

Significance of the theme

The world wetlands are disappearing three times faster than that of the forests. Therefore, this year theme focuses on promoting actions to reverse the losses.

Importance of Wetlands

The day is important to create awareness about the importance of wetlands. The wetlands provide habitat to several species, acts as a buffer zone against flooding and storms. Above all, wetlands act as natural filter of water. They break down harmful pollutants and transform them into pure elements.

RAMSAR Convention

The Convention is named after the Ramsar city of Iran where it was signed. The convention works closely with 6 partners namely Birdlife International, WWF International, International Water Management Institute, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust.

Month: Current Affairs - February, 2020