World Wetlands Day is being observed today (February 2) to highlight the importance of wetlands for the environment and human well-being.
February 2 each year was designated as World Wetlands Day by the Ramsar Convention Secretariat, with the day later gaining recognition from the United Nations. The date marks the adoption of the International Convention on the Conservation of Wetlands, which was signed in Ramsar, Iran, on February 2, 1971. Sri Lanka became a signatory to the Convention in 1991.
Wetlands play a vital role in supporting biodiversity, enhancing resilience to climate change and sustaining human livelihoods. They act as natural water reservoirs, help control floods and reduce the risk of environmental damage.
The theme for World Wetlands Day this year is “Act for Wetlands, Act for the Environment.”
