World Wetlands Day is just around the corner, and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water offers some ways to support your local wetland.
This Sunday 2 February is World Wetlands Day.
This year’s theme is ‘Protecting Wetlands for our Common Future’. It reminds us that wetlands are not only crucial for biodiversity. Wetlands play essential roles in our communities, industries, and cultural heritage.
Over the past 50 years, human activity has destroyed more than 30 per cent of the world’s wetlands. Wetlands are vital for humans and animals, providing clean water and food. We have always needed healthy wetlands to thrive, and given this destruction, protecting and conserving them is more important than ever.
People around the globe celebrate World Wetlands Day every 2 February. This date marks the anniversary of the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention), signed in Iran on 2 February 1971. Contracting parties, including countries like Australia, have celebrated World Wetlands Day since 1997. It became a United Nations International Day in 2022.
In Australia, the convention recognises 67 wetlands spanning over 8.3 million hectares – an area larger than Tasmania.
Since last World Wetlands Day, we’ve kept working towards global adoption of the convention.
Last May, we joined a year of celebrations for Cobourg Peninsula Wetland. It became the world’s first Ramsar site over 50 years ago. It remains a pristine wonderland for Traditional Owners, wildlife, and visitors. Its preservation is partly thanks to its addition to the Ramsar List and the sustained efforts of its managers.
In June 2024 and January 2025, we represented Australia at the Standing Committee meetings of the Convention on Wetlands in Gland, Switzerland.
These meetings showcase global commitment to conservation and produce important real-world outcomes for wetlands. In 2024, a record attendance of 190 delegates from 60 countries developed a new strategic plan and saw proposals to update global waterbird population estimates.
We also funded a Pacific youth role with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). This role will teach young Pacific peoples to care for their wetland resources.
As we reflect on what we’ve accomplished, we recognise we must all do more to protect these vital ecosystems for future generations.
Find out more about World Wetlands Day and how you can get involved.
- Join local events to learn more about the wetlands in your area.
- Participate in wetland conservation projects with local volunteer organisations.
- Become a citizen scientist and assist in monitoring wetland ecosystems.
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