Wetlands, the ‘kidneys’ of our planet owing to their important function in purifying the water that we depend on daily are celebrated across the world on 2 February each year.
This year the theme for World Wetlands Day – ‘Wetlands Action for People and Nature’ highlights the importance of actions to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands for humans and planetary health.
Wetlands include our coral reefs, lagoons, rivers, mangroves, lakes, sea grass beds, rivers, and marshes. They provide the fish and rice that feed millions, yet despite their vital role nearly 90% of the world’s wetlands have been degraded since the 1700s, and wetlands are being lost three times faster than forests.