World Wetlands Day is annually held on February 2 to celebrate how wetlands, which are lands saturated by water, help maintain biodiversity on Earth.

Wetlands play an important role in maintaining the ecosystem.

About World Wetlands Day

Wetlands are found near the sea or inland and can be seasonal – they are water logged only during parts of the year, or perennial. They play a crucial role in the ecosystem by:

• Preventing flooding by absorbing water.
• Ensuring that the soil provides a unique breeding ground for vegetation that feeds fish.
• Giving shelter to animals.
• Purifying water by removing sediment.

World Wetlands Day has been observed since February 2, 1997. The day commemorates the anniversary of the signing of the Ramsar Convention in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971. The convention is a treaty on the preservation and sustainable use of wetlands.

Source: Text: https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/world/world-wetlands-day    Image: Unsplash