The date marks the the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea.
Since 1997, the Ramsar Secretariat has provided outreach materials to help raise public awareness about the importance and value of wetlands. Materials can be downloaded at www.worldwetlandsday.org - which is also a good source of suggestions on how to get involved in activities on the day.
In this Project Syndicate article, Martha Rojas Urrego, Secretary-General of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, reminds us: "All living things on our planet depend on healthy and diverse ecosystems for air, water, and nutritious food. These same ecosystems regulate the climate and provide the raw materials and resources on which our economies – and lives – depend."
Birds in wetlands - photo stories
In the lead up to 2 February, GWP South Asia is publishing a collection of photographs captured by Ajith Gamage. He is a nature/bird photographer who has captured birds in wetlands during his visits to Sri Lankan lagoons and marshes - his photos are accompanied by stories around the birds and the challenges that climate change pose.
The stories are shared on GWP South Asia's Twitter feed, and in the links below:
Bundala - World Wetlands Day 2020
Wetland ecosystems are threatened
Birds in Bunda Wetland, Sri Lanka
Birds in Diyawanna Lake and its surroundings
Protect wetlands - save biodiversity
Photo: Flamingos are water birds, and thrive in and around lagoons or lakes with saline or alkaline water.