World Wetlands Day - 2nd February
On 2nd February 1971 the signing of an important convention took place in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea. Due to its location it is generally known as the Ramsar Convention, but it is more properly called the International Convention of Wetlands of International Importance.
Initially 21 nations signed up as contracting parties, but over the years this number has risen to 163.
In 1997 it was decided to celebrate the date of the original signing of the convention by establishing a World Wetlands Day. This would enable government agencies, non-governmental organisations and groups of citizens at all levels of the community to undertake activities that are aimed to raise public awareness of the values and benefits of wetlands, their conservation and their wise use.
Activities now include seminars, nature walks, festivals, launches of new policies, announcement of new sites, newspaper articles, radio interviews and wetland rehabilitation.
The United Nations has declared 2013 to be the International Year of Water Co-operation and the theme for World Wetlands Day 2013 is Wetlands and water management.
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