By Jared M. Melville, AMUN Associate Executive Director

Wetlands rank among our strongest allies in protecting the planet’s environment and ecosystems. These are the world’s kidneys that filter pollutants to clean our waters, the sponges that absorb floodwaters and protect coastal communities from storm surge, and the planet’s secure vaults that lock away carbon for centuries, keeping it out of the atmosphere. Moreover, wetlands are natural business incubators, creating jobs that support thriving fisheries and tourism industries, bolster recreational activities and provide sustainable livelihoods for local communities.

Wetlands are such champions for our planet’s ecosystems that the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 75/317 on 30 August 2021 and declared 2 February World Wetlands Day. This date commemorates the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands, also known as the Ramsar Convention, on 2 February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar. The Ramsar Convention is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.

The theme for this year’s World Wetlands Day is Wetlands and People, recognizing how wetlands are indispensable to human physical and mental health, sustainable development and environmental integrity for present and future generations.

This year, at our 2025 Conference, the AMUN General Assembly Second Committee will simulate the topic “Protection of global climate for present and future generations of mankind.” Considering their vital role in carbon sequestration, habitat creation and disaster mitigation, representatives can analyze how incorporating wetland conservation into climate action plans can contribute to a more resilient future.

But we shouldn’t wait until the AMUN Conference to appreciate wetlands. So what can we do now to recognize World Wetlands Day?

• Visit a local wetland: There are so many different types of wetlands and they can be found all over the world. Check out the Global Wetlands Map and visit a wetland near you. Take a walk, enjoy the birds and scenery, and learn about how a wetland benefits the area you live in!
• Organize or participate in a wetland cleanup: Help protect wetlands by joining a local cleanup effort. Local environmental organizations often host events to remove trash and debris from wetlands, ensuring a healthier environment for wildlife and people.
• Educate yourself and others about wetlands: Learn about partnerships overseeing the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, or the threats wetlands face. Without action, 20–90 percent of current coastal wetlands could vanish by the end of the century.

It’s easy to take wetlands for granted, so this World Wetlands Day, let’s take a moment to appreciate them and learn about the important work done worldwide to protect them.

Photo by Dan Meyers on Unsplash.