World Wetlands Day is observed annually on February 2 to raise awareness about the significance of wetlands and their conservation. This day primarily aims to raise global awareness regarding the crucial role of wetlands for both human beings and the planet.
The day marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in 1971, in Ramsar, Iran. The convention is an international treaty aimed at conserving and sustainably using wetlands around the world.
India is also a part of the Ramsar Convention and is one of the most active players in the group. In view of this, Union minister of labour and employment, environment, forest and climate change, Bhupendra Yadav, met with Musonda Mumba, the secretary-general of the convention on wetlands in Delhi on Wednesday. He posted on the platform X that “With two days ahead to go for World Wetlands Day, India today increased its tally of Ramsar sites from 75 to 80”.
He further emphasized PM Modi’s efforts in environmental protection and conservation that led to a paradigm shift in how well India treats its wetlands. “Congratulations to the states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka whose wetlands have made it to the list of Ramsar Sites”, the Chief Minister acclaimed.
What are Wetlands?
Wetlands are a wide variety of habitats such as marshes, swamps, peatlands, mangroves, and estuaries. They play a crucial role in supporting biodiversity, regulating water flow, providing clean water, and mitigating the impacts of climate change.
This year’s focus: Wetlands and Human Wellbeing
The theme for this day changes every year while spanning its focus across various aspects of wetland conservation and management. The theme of World Wetlands Day 2024 is “Wetlands and human wellbeing”, which aims to bring to the fore the interconnectedness between wetlands and human societies. Protecting and preserving their ecosystems is not only crucial for biodiversity but also essential for sustaining our own well-being.
Wetlands’ Role and Challenges
Wetlands encompass diverse habitats, which play a vital role in supporting a wide array of plant and animal species. These environments are significant for flood control, water purification, and regulation services. However, despite their importance, wetlands face severe threats from human activities such as drainage, pollution, overfishing, and natural resource exploitation.
Challenges are compounded by climate change, which disrupts precipitation cycles, heightens the occurrence and severity of extreme weather phenomena, and contributes to rising sea levels. These changes particularly impact coastal wetlands like mangroves and salt marshes.
Schemes for Wetland and Mangrove Conservation
India accounts for about 3% of South Asia’s mangrove population, with currently 75 Ramsar Sites that are wetlands of international importance and have been designated under the criteria of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. On the occasion of World Environment Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched two new schemes: Amrit Darohar and MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes) aimed at reviving the country’s wetlands and mangroves.
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