Every 2nd February, World Wetlands Day joins people around the globe in celebrating the value and beauty of our planet’s wetlands. It calls nations and each of us to act on behalf of these highly productive natural environments whose existence is interlaced with our own. World Wetlands Day spotlights our most vulnerable ecosystem.
Nearly 90% of the world’s wetlands have been degraded since the 1700s, and we are losing wetlands three times faster than forests. Yet, wetlands are critically important ecosystems that contribute to biodiversity, climate mitigation and adaptation, freshwater availability, world economies and more. It is urgent that we raise national and global awareness about wetlands in order to reverse their rapid loss and encourage actions to conserve and restore them. World Wetlands Day is the ideal time to increase people’s understanding of these critically important ecosystems.
Wetlands are essential for human life. From filtering water, to providing food, to supporting biodiversity, to mitigating climate change, to offering livelihoods, to inspiring unique cultures, these ecosystems provide vital services that sustain our wellbeing. Yet, wetlands are the Earth’s most threatened ecosystem and we’re losing them three times faster than forests. World Wetlands Day increases global understanding of how much wetlands do for humanity and that we must care, nurture and support them for a sustainable future.
Every wetland matters. Every effort counts.
This year’s campaign spotlights how interconnected wetlands and human life are — with people drawing sustenance, inspiration and resilience from these productive ecosystems. Importantly, the theme for 2024 underscores how all aspects of human well-being are tied to the health of the world’s wetlands. It calls on each of us to value and steward our wetlands.
Wetlands and human well-being
This year’s campaign spotlights how interconnected wetlands and human life are — with people drawing sustenance, inspiration and resilience from these productive ecosystems. Importantly, the theme for 2024 underscores how all aspects of human well-being are tied to the health of the world’s wetlands. It calls on each of us to value and steward our wetlands. Every wetland matters. Every effort counts.
Wetlands are a major, planet-wide habitat that makes life on Earth possible. Wetlands are essential, biodiverse ecosystems where water is the primary factor controlling the environment and plant and animal life. They may be saltwater or freshwater, inland or coastal, natural or human-made, permanent or temporary, static or flowing. Currently, wetlands cover about 6% of the Earth’s land surface. Freshwater wetlands include rivers, lakes, pools, flood plains, peatlands, marshes and swamps. Saltwater wetlands include estuaries, mudflats, saltwater marshes, mangroves, lagoons, coral reefs and shellfish reefs. Human-made wetlands include fishponds, rice paddies, reservoirs and saltpans.
CSSL has been working in wetland protection and restoration for several years. Learn more about our work at Yawri Bay through our past and current projects including the CEPF, PAPBio and BNCFF as well as about our Mangrove Restoration with community members.
Learn more about the importance of wetland protection and restoration for human well-being in our presentation: Presentation World Wetland Day 2024.
Download our poster with important messages about “Wetlands and Human Well-being” to spread the knowledge and raise awareness.
