50 Years of Wetlands Conservation
Celebrating World Wetlands Day 2021 through Mangrove Ecosystems
50 years ago, in Ramsar, Iran, the Convention on Wetlands was adopted for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands. To commemorate the international treaty, February 2nd was declared World Wetlands Day. Now often known simply as Ramsar, the Convention and commemorative Wetlands Day are more important than ever. Since 1971, climate change and industrialization of natural areas has only expanded and people and nature are losing out.
The World Wetlands Day theme this year is “Wetlands and Water” and mangroves fit right in. Mangroves build incredible ecosystems around tropical coastlines—tying together oceans, rivers, and people. Without mangroves, coral reefs would have fewer fish, fishers and shellfish gatherers would bring in less catch, and communities would be more exposed to extreme weather like cyclones and hurricanes. Mangroves also sequester a good deal of carbon, so losing mangroves and their passives roots would mean increasing carbon emissions.
The Global Mangrove Alliance is committed to enhancing policy protection in mangrove-rich countries around the world, restoring the thousands of square km of mangroves lost in the last 25 years, and bringing mangroves’ powerful community and climate benefits into the global spotlight.
In the updates from today’s World Wetlands Day Newsletter, learn more about how our members are working towards our Alliance goals at community, state, national, and global levels and have a happy World Wetlands Day!
WWF-Malaysia / Mazidi Abd Ghani
