World Wetlands Day

World Wetlands Day marks the anniversary of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands of international importance, especially for aquatic birds habitat, in Ramsar, Iran, on 2 February 1971.

Known as Ramsar Convention, the document that entered in force at the end of 1975 is an intergovernmental treaty that provides a framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. The Convention is one of the first treaties of this kind that refers to conservation of the natural patrimony.
Wetlands have been defined as expanses of swamps, marshes, water natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, where water is stagnant or flowing, fresh or salt, including stretches of sea water with a depth at low tide does not exceed six meters.
The stated objective of the Convention is to conserve wetlands, fauna and flora that serve as Waterfowl Habitat, and on the other hand are the most important resources of economic, natural, scientific and recreational value. These areas cover only 1% of the planet, but are vital for the bio-geo-chemical cycles between land, atmosphere and hydrological systems, at the regional and global scale.
According to the Ramsar Convention, the selection of these areas is based on the international role they have from ecological, biological, zoological and hydrological point of views, given their importance as an all seasons habitat for waterfowl. Additionally, the Convention sets for the States Parties requirements related to development and implementation of management plans aimed at conservation of these areas, by creating reserves and by rational use of the natural resources.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recorded by now more than 300 of wetlands. The list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature published on 29 January 2014 includes 2.177 of world wetlands (Ramsar sites), covering over 208.518.409 ha.
The international theme for World Wetlands Day 2015 is Wetlands for Our Future. The future of humanity depends on wetlands. This ecosystem provides and purifies our water, while replenishing the groundwater. So, the celebration of the day aims at help in turning the tide and helping to create awareness of just how essential wetlands are for our future