AN APPEAL FROM THE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENT IN VIEW OF THE WORLD WETLAND DAY 2018
The theme for the world wetland day 2018 is “Wetlands for Sustainable Urban futures”.
World Wetland Day is being celebrated internationally on 2nd February every year, this marks the date of adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on February 1971 in Ramsar. The Convention is the only multilateral environmental agreement to date for conservation and wise use of wetlands. The World Wetland Day is being organized since 1995 to raise awareness on the values wetlands have for nature and society. Every year, the World Wetlands Day is attached to a specific theme. The 2018 theme ‘Wetlands for a Sustainable Urban Future’ emphasises that the urban wetlands makes cities liveables. Thus, urban wetlands are prized land and not wastelands. In order to protect avoid filling in the wetlands with debris/sand etc., to disrupt the natural waterphase through their role in groundwater recharge, buffering floods, filtering wastewater, enhancing landscape aesthetics, providing income generation opportunities and ultimately supporting well- being.
Steps to protect wetlands
v Do not throw garbage into wetland
v Do not harm the wetland birds and plants
v Do not clog the wetlands with plastic waste
v Do not pollute the wetland with sewage water
v Do not build houses and other habitation in wetland floodplain
On this World Wetland Day, I urge all to take responsibility for joining hands with common people, Government agencies, NGOs, and people of all the community to enhance public awareness towards the significance of wetland. To celebrate this event, variety of programmes like seminars, lectures, nature walks, poster exhibitions, video films screening, slide shows based on the wetland, art and quiz competitions, painting competition, photography exhibition, community cleanup, interviews on radio and television and etc should be organized in school, colleges and other public spaces/places.
I once again urge all communities to join us to achieve this year's theme on conservation of wetlands. Stop dumping rubbish and waste things degrading the natural green spaces. Burning or draining of peatlands as it releases CO2. Stop clearing mangroves and mining coral reef which will expose the coast line to the storm.
Director of Environment