Today is World Wetlands Day

World Wetlands Day falls on February 2. This year’s motto is: “Wetlands take care of water.”

The date is not coincidental, as on this day in 1971 the signing of the Ramsar Convention took place. By the end of 2011, the Convention had been ratified by 23 countries, including Poland, and now 160 countries.
The Convention aims to protect and sustainably use all wetlands through national and local action and international cooperation, which is a contribution to achieving sustainable development worldwide.

Under the Convention, states are required to, among other things:
– designate suitable areas for inclusion in the list of wetlands of international importance,
– implement planning to protect listed wetlands,
– cooperate internationally in the field of implementation of the Convention.

On this occasion, events are organized in many countries to promote awareness of the convention and wetlands by numerous NGOs, government agencies and institutions.