World wetlands day
2 min read
By Margaret Kamba
The first of every February is globally celebrated as the World Wetlands Day. This is so as to
raise awareness of the importance of these water sources in improving water quality.
Wetlands are believed to lessen climate change effects by acting as carbon sinks. They also
promote the ability to adapt to climate change by storing and regulating water. Wetlands
can also intercept runoff from surfaces prior to reaching open water and remove pollutants
through physical, chemical, and biological processes. They are also crucial for erosion
control and flood abatement among other things. They are a source of livelihoods for
communities whose streams are connected to it.
This year’s celebrations run under the theme “It’s Time for Wetlands Restoration” seeing
how rampant we have decimated them in our towns and cities and highlights the urgent
need to prioritize wetland restoration.
Many families have however been allocated residential stands on wetlands and have
suffered the consequences of flash floods during rainy seasons as nature takes its course.
This is very unfortunate as the role of communities in active participation in the
conservation of wetlands habitats is not adhered to and downstream communities are
deprived of the benefits of the wetlands.
The Ramsar convention on wetlands provides a framework for wetland conservation and
requires that nations promote the sustainable utilisation and conservation of wetlands. It
also encourages the designation of sites containing representative, rare or unique wetlands,
or wetlands that are important for conserving biological diversity.
As we celebrate the day this year, let us think immensely on how we can restore the
wetlands surrounding us for not only our benefit but for those downstream.
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