Our Lifestyle editor Charlie dives into the wonderful world of wetlands as World Wetland Day (WWD) approaches. She explores why these ecosystems are important and what we can do to honour and protect them.
Every year, on February 2nd, we observe World Wetlands day. A day dedicated to raising awareness, sparking conversations and promoting education about wetlands. Dr Musonda Mumba, Secretary General of the Convention on Wetlands, emphasises the necessity for this day. She believes it underscores the importance for collaboration and foresight in building a future where people everywhere benefit from wetlands. But what makes wetlands so special? Why do they deserve their own day?
Image Credits: World Wetlands Day 2025, Protecting Wetlands.
What is a wetland?
We’ve probably all been to one, and we’ve definitely all benefitted from the services they provide. But what actually are they?
Wetlands cover around 6% of the Earth's land surface, and are defined as areas of land covered in water, either fresh, salt, or a combination. They include diverse ecosystems like swamps, salt marshes, and peat bogs. Found everywhere from Florida’s Everglades to the Philippines’ mangroves, wetlands may seem small in scale, but their global impact is immense.
Despite their differences in structure and function, wetlands share a common role: supporting life, mitigating climate change, and enriching biodiversity.
Are wetlands really all that?
The intrinsic value of wetlands is unparalleled. They are foundations for biodiversity, providing habitats and breeding sites for 40% of all plants and animal species. Beneath the surface, wetlands shelter 30% of all known fish species, while above, they offer sanctuary to countless bird species. Wetlands even act as refuges for critically endangered animals. Each animal interacts with this ecosystem in its own way, benefitting from the essential life-sustaining services it provides.
An animal equally interlinked with the wetlands are us, humans. Around 300 - 400 million people globally live near wetlands and depend on them for clean water, food and livelihoods. Beyond their ecological and economic importance, wetlands act as natural shields, protecting 60% of the world population living in coastal areas from storm surges, hurricanes and tsunamis.
If you were to put this into financial terms, wetlands provide ecosystem services worth a staggering US$47 trillion annually! Now, that's a clear testament to their importance.
Image credits: Two Painted Storks in a wetland, Achankulam, India, AM on Unsplash, 2024
What is happening to wetlands?
This one should be a no-brainer. It’s us humans, as it always is, that are driving the degradation and destruction of these key ecosystems at an alarming rate. 87% of the world's wetlands have been lost over the past 300 years, with 35% of losses occurring since the 1970s. This decline is three times faster than the rate of loss in forests, which are notoriously in decline!
Human activities continually exploit wetlands. Whether directly through activities like overfishing and urban expansion or indirectly through increased atmospheric emissions driving climate change, these systems are deteriorating.
Wetland species are suffering too, with 25% now threatened with extinction. When we harm wetlands, we jeopardise not only the species they house but also the vital services they provide to humanity and the planet. So if not to save the birds, but to save ourselves, shouldn't we safeguard our wetlands?
What can WE do for the wetlands?
There is hope for wetlands. As a society, we need to push for collective worldwide changes to our treatment of the natural world. Across the globe, wetlands restoration and conservation programmes are safeguarding these systems.
Close to home, there are national peat bog restoration schemes targeting 80% of the UK’s heavily degraded peat bogs. Further afield, on the Boracay Islands in the Philippines, 6 out of 9 of the islands’ wetlands are being restored as part of the country's most significant environmental project. Even nature is lending a helping hand, with ecosystem engineers such as beavers creating and maintaining wetlands, restoring biodiversity and ecosystem services!
These initiatives showcase how we can restore wetlands and ensure their continued benefits for people and the planet.
Image credits: A beaver in water, Düsseldorf, Germany, Sanket Gupta - Upsplash, 2024
How can I get involved?
You don’t need to be knee-deep in a bog to make a difference! Here are some ways you can get involved:
★ Raise Awareness: Share information about wetlands in your community or on social media. Start conversations to highlight their importance - that's what WWD is all about!
★ Support Conservation Projects: Volunteer for, or donate to, local and global wetland restoration initiatives. Sometimes the best way really is knee-deep in the bog!
★ Advocate for Change: Encourage policymakers to prioritise wetland preservation in their agendas. There are lots of groups you can join, learn and advocate with.
★ Reconnect with Nature: Visit a wetland, go for a walk, or try birdwatching. Connecting yourself with these ecosystems fosters appreciation and mindfulness. To celebrate WWD, the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust is offering free tickets to their wetland centres, to encourage people to ‘get lost’ in nature. So why don't you?
You might be able to engage with many of these methods, you might only be able to engage with one. Whatever your input, it's a positive for wetlands.
Wetlands are undeniably important, but they are equally at risk. By talking, restoring, and reconnecting, we can ensure a sustainable future for these vital ecosystems. So, this February 2nd, let’s take action - and remember, every day can, and should, be World Wetlands Day!
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