The events, held annually on February 2, World Wetlands Day, are designed to draw the attention of the public and governments around the world to the value of wetlands in maintaining the sustainable development of our planet.
The Convention on Wetlands, which is of international importance primarily as waterfowl habitats, was signed on February 2, 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, and has since been called the Ramsar Convention.
The main purpose of the Ramsar Convention, as an intergovernmental treaty, is the «conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local, regional and national action and international cooperation, as a contribution to achieving sustainable development throughout the world».
World Wetlands Day was first observed in 1997. And on August 30, 2021, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming February 2 as World Wetlands Day.
In the minds of many people, swamps – are mud, swamps and mosquitoes. However, wetlands, along with forests, are the most important oxygen regenerators, and the main value of – swamps is the ability to accumulate water and improve its quality. Swamps function as a natural filter for water that seeps from the surface of the earth to a depth of and replenishes groundwater, an important source of drinking water. Swampy soils and abundant vegetation absorb toxic substances and waste from industrial and agricultural industries.
The theme of the day is the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands (Photo: PHB.cz (Richard Semik), licensed from Shutterstock.com)
Wetlands play a role in reducing the negative impact of floods and droughts, reducing the intensity of floods by slowing the flow of surface water flowing into rivers and lakes. Swamps work as a natural sponge that absorbs and traps precipitation, reducing water runoff. During the dry season, swamps gradually release the water reserves they retain, delay the onset of droughts and reduce water shortages. A developed network of wetlands in floodplains helps reduce or even prevent flooding in areas downstream.
In addition, – swamps are home to many animals, most notably – waterfowl. They ensure the world unity of the wetland system by migrating from one part of the world to another. Therefore, the protection of swamps primarily contributes to the conservation of birds living near water.
Unfortunately, wetlands are among the ecosystems with the highest rates of decline, loss and degradation. They disappear three times faster than forests. Since 1970, 35 percent of all wetlands in the world have been lost. Human activities leading to the loss of wetlands include: drainage of areas for agriculture and construction, pollution of water bodies and soil, overfishing and overexploitation of resources, spread of invasive species of flora and fauna, climate change.
Therefore, the main challenge to conserve wetlands is to change perceptions of these areas in order to encourage governments and communities to take care of and prioritize wetlands.
One of the main conditions for accession to the Ramsar Convention is the creation of at least one Ramsar site on its territory. The selection of an area is made according to a complex system of criteria. Land declared Ramsar by the State is included by the Convention Secretariat in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance. Information on the status of these sites is contained in the database of the International Bureau for Wetland Conservation and is constantly updated.
The water-rocky complexes of Cape Kazantip in Crimea are included in the list of Ramsar sites (Photo: Anatoly Tiplyashin, licensed by Shutterstock.com)
In 1971, 18 states signed the Ramsar Convention, in 2000 there were 119, and currently (as of 2023) 172 states have acceded to the convention. The total number of Ramsar sites included in the List is 2,471 with a total area of more than 256 million hectares.
In 1975, the USSR government declared 12 wetlands of international importance, three of which were located on the territory of the RSFSR. In September 1994, by a corresponding decree of the Government of the Russian Federation, international status was confirmed for three previously existing lands and devoted to another 32 plots. Thus, 35 wetlands were proclaimed by this regulation. Today, the number of Ramsar sites in the Russian Federation is – 41, the area of which is 10.7 million hectares.
Russia has the world's largest wetland resources, – swamps, continental reservoirs and shallow marine areas, which play a vital role in maintaining natural balance and a favorable environment for human life.
By the way, swamp tourism is becoming increasingly popular in the world today.