World Wetlands Day

Traditional knowledge has long guided the sustainable use of wetlands . Refined over generations, this knowledge is a form of ecological science rooted in observation, respect and balance. As the Convention on Wetlands marks 55 years, World Wetlands Day  calls on us to protect wetlands and honour cultural heritage .

 The World Wetlands Day 2026 poster blends multiple representations in an effort to capture the richness of traditional knowledge and cultural heritage. It illustrates just how important traditional knowledge is to the world’s wetlands and to future generations who will need these essential ecosystems for human wellbeing and planetary health. The circle of outstretched hands embodies the interconnectedness of all people with wetlands and to one another. Each hand symbolizes our ability to exert influence and to act on behalf of wetlands , while the open palms convey life, hope and our collective future. Flowing through each individual, the wetlands signify traditional knowledge carefully preserved and passed down through generations. The poster reminds us that wetlands, culture and human wellbeing thrive together when nurtured by traditional knowledge, care and connection . Follow the conversations with the hashtags #WWD2026 | #CelebratingWetlands | #WetlandsandCulturalHeritage

  Covering more than 12.1 million square kilometers worldwide – about 6% of the Earth’s land surface – wetlands are needed for human survival. In these essential ecosystems, water is the primary factor controlling the environment and plant and animal life. Wetlands may be saltwater or freshwater, inland or coastal, natural or human-made, permanent or temporary, static or flowing. Freshwater wetlands include rivers, lakes, pools, flood plains, peatlands, marshes and swamps. Saltwater wetlands include estuaries, mudflats, saltwater marshes , mangroves, lagoons, coral reefs and shellfish reefs. Human-made wetlands include fishponds, rice paddies, reservoirs and saltpans. All contribute to the wellbeing of our planet and humankind. “WHEREVER LAND MEETS WATER, LIFE ABOUNDS. WETLANDS EXIST IN EVERY CORNER OF THIS BEAUTIFUL PLANET AND ARE THE ARTERIES AND VEINS OF THE LANDSCAPE.” – Dr. Musonda Mumba, Secretary General of the Convention on Wetlands.

Extremely productive ecosystems, wetlands provide critical services to people across the globe. Recognised as vital sources of freshwater and food, they’re abundant in biodiversity. They serve as critical habitats or breeding areas for many endangered and threatened species, and a wide range of endemic plants and animals depend on specific wetland environments to survive. These ecosystems safeguard humanity against extreme weather by reducing the intensity of waves, absorbing storm surges and buffering tsunamis. They’re also highly effective carbon sinks – as peatlands store about 30% of land-based carbon, twice the amount of all the world’s forests. Notably, wetlands contribute to job creation and employment, and embody cultural landscapes embedded in identity, art and spirituality. Yet, wetlands are constantly under threat from human-made factors – from pollution to unsustainable land use to poorly planned infrastructure to climate change . This year’s campaign raises awareness o...

First celebrated in 1997 and a United Nations International Day since 2022, World Wetlands Day honours the beauty and value of wetlands . On 2 February 1971, the Convention on Wetlands was signed in Ramsar, Iran, along the shores of the Caspian Sea. It is the oldest of the modern global intergovernmental environmental agreements and remains the only one devoted to a specific ecosystem – wetlands. Today, the 172 countries in its membership, called Contracting Parties, are committed to the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. The Secretariat of the Convention organizes the World Wetlands Day campaign each year, with Contracting Parties taking part. The celebration includes people from all over the world, governments, national and international conservation and sustainability organizations, businesses, non-governmental organizations, media, and youth and other stakeholder groups.

 Every February 2nd , the World Wetlands Day campaign joins people everywhere in recognising the critical importance of our planet’s wetlands . These life-sustaining ecosystems bridge past and future and are essential to the continuity of life on Earth. World Wetlands Day 2026 explores the deep-rooted connections between wetlands and cultural practices, traditions and knowledge systems of communities across the world . This year’s theme is " Wetlands and traditional knowledge: Celebrating cultural heritage ." The global campaign spotlights the timeless role of traditional knowledge in sustaining wetland ecosystems and preserving cultural identity.

Wetlands are crucial for ensuring climate stability, water and food security, biodiversity and community resilience. Yet, wetlands are being lost to development faster than they’re being restored or protected. According to the  – Global Wetland Outlook 2025 “The 1,425 million hectares of remaining wetlands give an estimated  $7.98 trillion to $39.01 trillion in benefits to people every year."; People have coexisted with wetlands since prehistory, making use of their beneficial services while averting unintended consequences. Over time, a valuable depth of traditional knowledge has been deduced, shared and has subsequently evolved. The World Wetlands Day 2026 campaign recognises that traditional knowledge bridges wisdom from the past to present and future stewardship of these vital ecosystems. Three fundamental messages guide this year’s campaign communications. We invite you to adapt them for your particular area and to share them widely to encourage participation in Wo...

  À l’occasion de la Journée Mondiale des Zones Humides 2026, l’ Association AREMS organise une journée de sensibilisation et d’écotourisme au cœur du site Ramsar Sabkhat Halk El Menzel et Oued Essoud, situé dans le gouvernorat de Sousse. Cette initiative vise à renforcer la compréhension du rôle fondamental des zones humides dans la préservation de la biodiversité, la régulation du climat et la gestion durable des ressources en eau, en cohérence avec le thème 2026 : Le programme proposé combinera des volets éducatifs, scientifiques, participatifs et culturels : 1- Sorties nature guidées sur les circuits écotourismes De Oued Essoud et Sabkhat Halk El Menzel , avec observation des oiseaux depuis les miradors et à l’aide des panneaux pédagogiques installés par l’association, afin d’identifier les espèces migratrices et résidentes. 2-Ateliers pédagogiques pour enfants et jeunes sur la faune, la flore et les écosystèmes humides ; 3- Exposition photographique et projection de film sur ...

  PLASTIC WASTE. Plastic waste hams wetlands biodiversity, endangering wildlife by entanglement and ingestion.

  CULTURAL HERITAGE. Wetlands often are cultural landscape that reflect the close relationship between people and these ecosystems over millennia.

  COLLABORATION. Wetlands connect actors from all society, and across generations to mobilize efforts to protect, conserve and restore these essential ecosystems.

  PROTECT WETLANDS. Wetlands bankroll the planet, yet we are still investing more in their destruction than in their recovery.

  CITY PLANNING Including wetlands in urban planning can help create climate resilient cities.

  ONE WITH WETLANDS. Remember your are this universe, and this universe is you.

  Wetlands are among the most powerful yet most threatened ecosystems on our planet. They protect our coastlines, store carbon, purify water, support biodiversity, and sustain livelihoods — yet they continue to disappear at alarming rates due to climate change, pollution, and unsustainable human activity. In recognition of this global challenge, Mydopoint Kilifi Youth Group, a dynamic youth hub driven by innovation, environmental stewardship, and social entrepreneurship, will commemorate World Wetlands Day 2026 through a youth-centered, community-driven, and action-oriented programme in Kilifi County. While World Wetlands Day is officially marked on Monday, 2nd February , Mydopoint Kilifi has intentionally designed a two-part commemoration model to maximize youth and community participation: A class themed event where students will bring out their artistic prowess on the theme and a larger community event on the subsequent Saturday where community members will conduct a beach clean...

  CELEBRATING WETLANDS Wetlands are nature's water harvesters, cleaners and bankers, they capture, purify and store  rain from flooodwater before releasing it when needed.

Wetlands are fundamental to global food security and nutrition. They support inland and coastal fisheries and aquaculture, and supply water for crops and livestock production. They also underpin the production of staple foods, particularly in human-made wetlands, such as rice paddies and ponds that have been shaped by generations of traditional knowledge. Wetlands provide critical ecosystem services, essential for agrifood systems, including water purification, flood regulation, groundwater recharge, carbon storage and sequestration, which are essential for climate resilience, food security, and rural livelihoods. This year’s theme, Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage , highlights the deep connections between wetlands and people, calling for urgent action to safeguard these ecosystems as vital ecological and cultural assets for current and future generations. The Celebration of World Wetlands Day 2026 will coincide with the 50th Anniversary of Italy’s r...

  These productive ecosystems are important local sources for job creation. • Wetlands contribute significantly to job creation by offering opportunities that often draw on traditional knowledge systems that have guided sustainable practices for centuries. • These richly biodiverse ecosystems generate employment through tourism and recreational activities rooted in cultural heritage, while also providing platforms for research and scientific exploration. • Job creation and upskilling opportunities include training in wetland rehabilitation and management, tourism and recreational benefits, and research opportunities. • Wetlands sustain 266 million jobs in wetland tourism and travel. There is significant potential for a large proportion of this tourism to be based on ecotourism and to be sustainable with visitors’ fees and ecotourism-related income providing much needed income to local communities. • Wetland landscapes are characterized by the outstanding beauty, density and diversi...

  Life thrives in wetlands. • Wetlands are rich reservoirs of biodiversity – with 40% of the world’s plant and animal species depending on them. • Traditional knowledge includes ecological monitoring through signs in flora and fauna, rotational harvesting and taboos that protect certain species or areas. These culturally rooted practices have helped maintain ecological balance and resilience, ensuring that wetlands continue to thrive for both people and wildlife. • Wetland dependent species such as fish, waterbirds and turtles are in serious decline, with 25% threatened with extinction. Since 1970, 81% of inland wetland species populations and 36% of coastal and marine species have declined. • A pivotal moment for global ecosystem restoration and conservation was the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in December 2022. The agreement contained four goals and 23 targets to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 across terrestrial, inland water, coastal...

  These threatened ecosystems are crucial for water security.   • Less than 1% of Earth’s freshwater is usable and most of that is contained in wetlands, including about a third in rivers and lakes. • Globally, 2 billion people – 26% of the population – do not have safe drinking water, and two-to-three billion experience water shortages for at least one month per year. The global urban population facing water scarcity is projected to jump to 1.7–2.4 billion people by 2050. • Traditional knowledge systems have long guided how communities protect and manage water in wetlands. • The silt-rich soil and abundant plant vegetation of wetlands act like water filters, absorbing harmful toxins, agricultural pesticides and industrial waste. • Wetlands play a key role in the global hydrological cycle by changing how water moves in and through landscapes and seascapes. Their degradation and destruction disrupt this cycle, posing risks to global and regional water systems.  ONE OF THE ...

  The conservation and wise use of wetlands are critical to sustainable livelihoods. • Wetlands support people globally through fishing, farming, handicraft and medicinal resources. • These livelihoods often are tied to cultural identity and are based on knowledge passed down through generations. • From papyrus weaving in Africa to rice farming in Asia’s floodplains, traditional practices reflect a deep understanding of wetland dynamics. • About one in eight people depend on wetlands for their livelihoods – more than a billion people worldwide. • Ongoing wetland loss harms biodiversity and worsens poverty. We must act to protect wetlands while creating opportunities for sustainable livelihoods that benefit both people and nature. • A key challenge is to change mindsets to encourage governments and communities to value and prioritize wetlands. Such efforts must include a people-centered approach to understanding the needs and vulnerabilities of those whose livelihoods depend on thes...

  Wetlands are vital allies in the fight against climate change and disaster risk. • Different types of wetlands act in different ways before, during and after disasters to help lessen their impact and enable communities to bounce back. • Blue carbon ecosystems – specifically coastal wetlands such as mangroves, seagrasses and salt marshes – continuously take up atmospheric carbon dioxide and store large amounts in soils and sediments. They also buffer coastlines from rising sea levels and storm surges. • Traditional burning techniques, seasonal migrations and land-use patterns are examples of climate-smart practices deeply embedded in cultural knowledge. • Practices such as pruning, weeding, reseeding and traditional burning have helped maintain wetlands, secure access to culturally important plant species, and prevent large-scale fires. • The restoration gap for peatlands and mangroves alone has been estimated at $316 billion by 2050 and for coastal wetlands, between $27 and $37 b...

  Indigenous stewardship of wetlands is essential to the future of these life-sustaining ecosystems. • Indigenous peoples have coexisted with wetlands for thousands of years, developing rich traditional ecological knowledge that reflects a connection with the land and water. • This holistic knowledge encompasses scientific insight and ethical and spiritual values; often, wetlands under stewardship of Indigenous Peoples are in better health. • Given that the wetlands protected under the Convention on Wetlands cover about 257,994,728 hectares – an area larger than Mexico – Ramsar Sites overlap with the territories and lands of numerous Indigenous Peoples and local communities. • Although Indigenous Peoples make up only about 6% of the world’s population, they are critical contributors to safeguarding our planet’s remaining biodiversity. • The degradation of wetlands in some regions impacts human rights to a healthy environment, especially for Indigenous Peoples and local communities ...

  Cultural knowledge of wetlands constitutes a collective legacy for today's societies. • Nearly all Ramsar Sites provide cultural ecosystem services (CES), and over half have spiritual and inspirational values. • A global systematic review of published papers found evidence of CES provided by wetlands in 175 countries and territories. Recreation/tourism was the most frequently reported CES (40%), followed by cultural identity/heritage (16%) and education/learning/knowledge (13%). • Across cultures, wetlands are seen as cultural landscapes embedded in identity, art and spirituality. Many communities consider wetlands sacred, home to ancestral spirits or ceremonial sites. Songs, dances, festivals and oral traditions often center on wetland life and cycles. • Wetlands often serve as informal classrooms where elders pass on ecological knowledge to younger generations. • The profound and rapid social and economic transformations that have taken place during recent decades have increasi...

  World Wetlands Day provides a strategic opportunity to elevate youth voices in reclaiming traditional knowledge, promoting sustainable food systems, and advancing climate action through wetland protection. As youth-led organizations working across food systems, biodiversity, climate action, and agripreneurship, the organizing partners are convening this webinar to move beyond awareness toward concrete youth-led action. The webinar is designed as an action-oriented platform that connects wetlands, traditional knowledge, food systems, biodiversity, and climate action, with a strong focus on a) Youth leadership and stewardship . Increased youth awareness of the role of wetlands in food security, climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and livelihoods b) Amplification of traditional and indigenous knowledge in sustainable wetland management c) Youth-led commitments and advocacy actions for wetland protection in Nigeria Strengthened collaboration between youth networks and...

  Aquatic buffer zones play a critical role in protecting freshwater ecosystems, managing project risk, and supporting defensible environmental decision-making. Yet, the process behind determining appropriate buffer widths is often misunderstood. This 30-minute technical webinar will provide insight into the scientific principles, site-specific criteria, and professional judgement used by Upstream Consulting to determine aquatic buffer zones for a wide range of projects. The session will cover: – Why aquatic buffers matter from a risk and compliance perspective – Key environmental and project-related factors influencing buffer widths – How science-based tools and site data inform buffer recommendations – The role of professional interpretation in real-world applications Determining Aquatic Buffer Zones for Projects A science-based, site-specific approach . Monday, February 2, 2026. Country : South Africa Organizer : Upstream Consulting

At FAO HQ, Rome Italy and starting at 10:20 AM - Session 3 " 50 Years of the convention' '.   Thirty years of evolution of the Ramsar Site “Marano Lagunare: Mouth of the Stella River” – Pierpaolo Zanchetta, Biodiversity Service, Directorate for Agrifood, Forestry and Agriculture, Autonomous Region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia The role of the Ramsar Site “Laghi di Preola e Gorghi Tondi” for the restoration of the dried-up ponds and the endemic water turtle population – Stefania D’Angelo, Director of the Laghi di Preola e Gorghi Tondi Oasis, WWF; Susanna D’Antoni, STRP Focal Point for the Convention on Wetlands, ISPRA Innovative financial instruments for the protection and restoration of peatlands and other wetlands – Alessandro Leonardi, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Etifor | Valuing Nature 10:50 – Closing Remarks Francesco Tomas, Director General for the Protection of Biodiversity and the Sea, Ministry of Environment and Energy Security, Italy (tbc) REGISTER HERE TO ATTEN...

  ScieThrive Impact NPC will commemorate World Wetlands Day 2026 through school-based environmental education and traditional knowledge exchange activities in Limpopo, South Africa. The event will focus on raising awareness about wetlands, rivers, and water systems , highlighting their ecological, cultural, and social importance. Learners will engage in interactive talks, discussions, and knowledge-sharing sessions that connect modern environmental science with indigenous and traditional practices related to water and wetlands . This activity aims to inspire youth to become advocates for wetland and water conservation within their schools and communities. World Wetlands Day 2026: School Outreach & Traditional Knowledge Exchange. Monday, February 2, 26 Country : South Africa Organizer : ScieThrive Impact Partners : Traditional Leaders, Local Municipality, Schools