Around the world, people celebrate February 2nd as World Wetlands Day. This process recognizes the vital role that low-lying wetlands and marshes play in the environment.
For example, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf issued an official document declaring that Liberia would celebrate World Wetlands Day as a working holiday. Many other countries have taken similar steps. The celebration began in 1997 as an initiative by the United Nations, which prepared a Convention on Wetlands of International Importance. Many international leaders signed this document in the Iranian city of Ramsar, so media sources sometimes refer to it as the “Ramsar Convention“.
What types of activities can people do to celebrate World Wetlands Day? Consider some of these approaches:
- Conduct wetland tours;
- Discuss marsh conservation;
- Protect lowlands as nature preserves.
Healthy marshlands benefit human and animal population. Wetlands often require protection in order to prevent harmful ecological damage through human activities. They provide a nursery for the development of many types of bird and aquatic life, helping to promote a greener, healthier planet. In many countries, wetlands offer vital protection to help safeguard human populations from devastating flooding. They absorb water that might otherwise cause problems.