Today is World Wetlands Day!

World Wetlands Day (WWD) is annually celebrated on the 2nd of February. Government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and citizens annually undertake actions aimed specifically at raising public awareness of wetland values and benefits and, in particularly, the Ramsar Convention.

 

Source: UN

Theme for 2017

The Standing Committee of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands accepted “Wetlands for Disaster Risk Reduction” as this year’s theme, during its 52nd meeting held in Gland, Switzerland from 13 – 17 June 2016. It was selected to raise awareness and it plays an essential role in reducing the effect of extreme weather events including floods, droughts and cyclones on communities. In fact, healthy wetlands help us cope with extreme weather events and in helping to build resilience.

The Ramsar Convention defines a wetland as “any land or area that is saturated or flooded with water, either permanently or seasonally, along with all beaches and shallow coastal areas, including 6 meters into the sea. This definition covers all inland wetlands such as marshes, ponds, lakes, fens, rivers, floodplains, and swamps as well as the whole range of coastal wetlands, which includes saltwater marshes, estuaries, mangroves, lagoons, and coral reefs”.

Learn more about this important environmental day by visiting the official World Wetlands Day (www.worldwetlandsday.com). Here, you’ll find valuable advice and inspiration to celebrate it.

CELEBRATING WORLD WETLANDS DAY

World Wetlands Day is celebrated annually on 2 February. It falls specifically on this day because it marks the anniversary of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention) in Ramsar, Iran, on the shores of the Caspian Sea, on 2 February 1971. World Wetlands Day was first celebrated in 1997.

This is an important day on every environmentalist’s calendar because it raise public awareness of wetland values and benefits for humanity and the planet. It is also important as it fervently promote the conservation and wise and sustainable use of wetlands. Government agencies, non-government organisations, and community groups have all participated in raising important environmental awareness and the Ramsar Convention in particular.

Each year, World Wetlands Day focuses on a different theme and putting the spotlight on a vital function of wetlands. The theme for 2016 is Wetlands for our Future: Sustainable Livelihoods. This was chosen based on the fact that wetlands play a vital role for not only the current but also the future wellbeing of humanity. It also emphasis the promotion of the wise use of all wetlands. Also it will look specifically at their relevance towards achieving the new Sustainable Development Goals. Furthermore, it is about drawing attention to urgently acting towards slowing, stopping, and reversing wetland degradation. We can’t achieve sustainable development without healthy wetlands.

 

 

This year, you too can spread the green word by visiting www.worldwetlandsday.org which is running a photography competition for people aged 15 to 24. The prize is a flight to any wetlands destination anywhere in the world, courtesy of Star Alliance Biosphere Connections. Please do your bit to counteract the loss and degradation of wetlands. Let’s raise awareness of protecting wetlands, not only on World Wetlands Day, but also beyond, so that future generations can also experience the beauty that is wetlands.

 

Source: UN.

Because wetlands work for us, we need to work for wetlands!

Importance of Oceans

The Oceans are the life blood of our Earth. Oceans cover over two-thirds of our blue planet. Oceans play a crucial role in our lives. Everybody depends on the oceans because it is one of the biggest resource for life on earth. Here is a look at the importance of oceans and why it is vital to protect and conserve such a valuable resource:

·        Oceans play an important part in the health and survival of all life. The ocean plays a life-giving role for not only people but also for the environment as it supports a multitude of life forms

·         The ocean connects people across the Earth, no matter where we live.

·       The oceans are essential to food security as it daily feed people. They are a significant source of
nutrition.



·         Oceans play a vital role in the climate system. It powers our climate as it regulate our climate.

·         Oceans produce at least half of all our Earth’s oxygen supply

·         It is the source of our freshwater

·         It offers a pharmacopoeia of potential medicines

·        Aesthetically it is home to a myriad of wildlife and provides us with spectacularly beautiful landscapes and provides immeasurable inspiration

·         It provides an array of recreational enjoyment opportunities

·         It also provides mineral and energy resources

·         It shapes the Earth’s characteristics

We depend on the ocean for our wellbeing. Oceans are the heartbeat of the planet, without oceans, life would definitely cease to exist. A healthy ocean definitely means a healthy planet. It is therefore important to conserve the diversity of oceanic life. Sustaining the ocean is undeniably important and we must do our utmost best to conserve and protect this vitally precious natural resource.

 Every time I slip into the ocean, it's like going home – Sylvia Earle.

Source:

http://www.un.org/en/events/oceansday/

Why do we celebrate and raise awareness on World Oceans Day?

 

It is imperative that we protect our oceanic habitat. Water is a limited resource on our earth. Our oceans are in peril. There are several reasons why we should full immerse ourselves in the aquatic life and to celebrate this important day, such as:

·       To remind everyone of the major part the Ocean has in everyday life. They are the lungs of our planet, providing most of the oxygen we breathe.

·       To inform the public on the impact of the human actions on the Ocean and make them aware of the alarming declines of oceanic life.

·       To mobilise and unite the world’s population on a project for the sustainable management of the World Ocean. To celebrate together the beauty, the wealth and the promise of the Ocean.

·       To keep this beautiful ecosystem safe.

·       It is a reminder that we must do better in protecting this irreplaceable resource.

·       To deeply committed to ocean conservation.

·       To learn more about plastic pollution in the ocean and how each person can do their bit to curb it.

So please celebrate and appreciate our blue planet!

Source: http://www.un.org/en/events/oceansday/

Celebrating World Oceans Day

Oceans are the heartbeat of the planet. Oceans generate most of the oxygen we breathe, it feed us, and regulate our climate.
 

We need to respect the oceans and take care of them as if our lives depended on it. Because they do - Sylvia Earle.

World Oceans Day is a very special day that is annually celebrated on the 8^th of June. It is a day on which all people, who care for the oceans and its vitally important species, appreciate and the ocean’s intrinsic value.

 

 

This day provides the perfect opportunity to learn a bit more about our oceans. It is a day of raising awareness amongst the global community about the importance of oceans and its inhabitants, the challenges that our marine life daily face, learn about why it imperative that it should be infinitely conserved and protected, and to evoke a sense of taking positive environmental action. It helps to think about what our impact is on the ocean and to inspire other people to think and act sustainably so that we can have healthy oceans and curb further detrimental destruction. It is of utmost importance that people know and understand what their relationship to the ocean is, and will be in the future to safeguard vulnerable oceanic communities and places.

 

Source: Ishareimage

 

If you think the ocean isn't important, imagine Earth without it. No ocean, no life support system - Sylvia Earle.

The theme for this year is Healthy Oceans, Healthy Planet in an effort to stop plastic pollution. Oceans are under threat. Unsustainable human activities, global pollution, overconsumption of fish species, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, destructive fishing, unsustainable aquaculture practices, habitat destruction, alien species, ocean acidification have contributed to a shockingly dwindling of the population of many marine species and in the process has put a huge strain on the oceans. Also, climate change is currently posing a huge challenge for the health and productivity of the oceans.

 

It is of vital importance that sustainable practices are followed to meet our needs without compromising those of future generations. The future of our blue planet is in our hands. Show your support and strive to protect our oceans and deeply commit yourself to ocean conservation to protect it from further human destruction by being ocean advocates. Do everything in your power to save this vital ecosystem. Together it is possible to make a significant difference. Be a voice for our Oceans. Be an ocean steward. The oceans will truly thank you if you do!

 

 

Far and away, the greatest threat to the ocean, and thus to ourselves, is ignorance. But we can do something about that - Sylvia Earle.