World Wetlands Day 2025: Importance, Theme and Conservation
Measures

 Introduction

World Wetlands Day is celebrated every year on February 2.
Wetlands are marshes, lakes, rivers, creeks and coastal areas, which are of
great importance to the environment. The day is celebrated to commemorate the
signing of the Ramsar Convention, which creates awareness about the importance
of wetlands and the need to protect them.

 Theme of World
Wetlands Day 2025

The theme of World Wetlands Day in 2025 has not yet been
announced. But like the previous themes, the emphasis will be on environmental
conservation, biodiversity and combating climate change.

 What is a wetland?

Wetlands are places where water is present all year round or
for a period of time. These areas can contain freshwater and saltwater. The
main types of wetlands are as follows:

• Natural wetlands – include lakes, rivers, swamps, creeks
  and mangrove forests found along the coast.
• Man-made wetlands – artificial lakes, reservoirs and water
  sources used for agriculture.

 Ecological importance
of wetlands

Why are wetlands important to the environment? They are also
called the kidneys of the Earth for the following reasons:

1. Water purification – Wetlands filter out silt, dirt and
   harmful chemicals.
2. Climate balancing – These areas store a large amount of carbon,
   which reduces the impact of climate change.
3. Biodiversity conservation – Many birds, fish, reptiles
   and plants depend on wetlands for their survival.
4. Flood Control – Wetlands help prevent floods by storing
   rainwater.
5. Tourism and Employment Generation – Many wetlands are
   important for tourism and provide employment to the local people.

 Important Wetlands in
India

There are various types of wetlands found in India. Some of
the major wetlands are as follows:

1. Chilka Lake (Odisha) – The largest saltwater lake in
   India.
2. Loktak Lake (Manipur) – The only lake with floating
   islands.
3. Pulikat Lake (Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu) – Famous for
   bird watching.
4. Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) – A bird sanctuary
   with a World Heritage Site.
5. Sundarbans Delta (West Bengal) – Home to mangrove forests
   and Bengal tigers.

 Wetland Crisis

Today, wetland area is rapidly decreasing. Some of the major
reasons behind it are as follows:

• Encroachment on wetlands due to urbanization and
  industrialization
• Chemical and plastic pollution
• Climate change and changes in water levels
• Overfishing and loss of biodiversity

 Wetland Conservation
Measures

1. Strong laws and policies – International agreements like
   the Ramsar Convention need to be properly implemented.
2. Public awareness – It is necessary to convince local
   people and students about the importance of wetland conservation.
3. Pollution control – Preventing water pollution caused by
   factories and domestic waste.
4. Research and development – Developing new technologies to
   preserve wetlands through scientific research.
5. Local participation – Involving local communities and
   farmers in wetland conservation.

 Conclusion

    World Wetlands Day 2025 is an important day for nature
conservation and biodiversity protection. Conserving wetlands provides many
benefits such as flood control, water storage, climate change control and
biodiversity conservation. Everyone should understand the importance of
wetlands and take active steps to protect them!

If you found this information useful, share it with your
friends and take the initiative for nature conservation!