Forty years ago today, 18 countries met to establish the Ramsar Convention. Since then it has grown to include160 member countries. Their work has resulted in 1, 912 wetlands of international importance, a.k.a Ramsar Sites. To date, this covers an area greater than 186 million hectares. In Canada there are a total of 37 Ramsar Sites covering more than 13 million hectares. Their designation as Ramsar Sites does not entitle them to national legal protection, unless they are within established protected areas.

A news release issued by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, eloquently outlines the vital role wetlands play in maintaining a healthy and thriving planet:

The slogan for World Wetlands Day 2011 is “Forests for Water and Wetlands”, which unites this celebration with the United Nations declaration of 2011 as the International Year of Forests. The purpose of this year’s theme is to highlight the benefits that forested wetlands have to offer, how forests (wet and dry) play a role in our lives and how they’re important for the functioning of wetlands.

World Wetlands Day is a great opportunity for governments, NGOs and citizens to take action to raise awareness of the global importance of wetlands and the critical role they play in our well-being. To view activities taking place during WWD click here.