Celebrating 25 Years of World Wetlands Day

The purpose of this Special Issue is to celebrate 25 years of “World Wetlands Day”. There is no other ecosystem that has its very own Ramsar Convention or such a challenge impacting ecosystem sustainability. Papers are encouraged that provide an overview of wetland status and function within different regions of the world. Of special interest are papers that address wetland ecosystem and human health and wellbeing (MEA 2000), as well as key international wetland management challenges and actors (Smardon 2009). A “Universal Declaration of the Rights of Wetlands” has even been proposed (Davis et al. 2020); therefore, we need innovative solutions for wetland management and maintenance for this Special Issue.

Topics of interest for this Special Issue include the following: World Wetlands Day; coastal and inland wetlands status; wetland functions and values; Ramsar Convention; wetland ecology; stress; restoration and change over time

Tram Chim Nature Reserve Vietnam—A Ramsar wetland Photo by Thang Vo

February 2^nd of each year since 1997 Worlds Wetlands Day has been celebrated to raise awareness about the vital role that wetlands play for the earth’s ecosystems, as well as the benefits provided to humanity. This day, February 2^nd also marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea. The theme of World Wetlands Day 2021 focuses on inland wetlands as a source of freshwater and so encourages actions to restore and stop their loss. Sub-themes for 2021 include wetlands as a water source, and maintaining water quality for usage.

Past World Wetland Days themes are listed below:

2020 Wetlands and Biodiversity

2019 Wetlands and Climate Change

2018 Wetlands Making Cities Livable

2017 Wetlands for Disaster Risk Reduction

2016 Wetlands for Sustainable Livelihoods

2015 Wetlands for Our Future Benefits

2014 Wetlands and Agriculture

2013 International Year of Water Cooperation

2012 Wetlands and Tourism

2011 Wetlands and Forests

2010 Wetlands, Biodiversity and Climate Change

2009 River Basins and Their Management

2008 Healthy Wetlands, Healthy People

2007 Fish for Tomorrow

2006 Livelihoods at Risk

2005 There’s Wealth in Wetland Diversity—Don’t Lose It!

2004 From the Mountains to the Sea – Wetlands at Work for Us

2003 No Wetlands—No Water!

2002 Wetlands: Water, Life and Culture

2001 Wetland World—A World to Discover!

2000 Celebrating our Wetlands of International Importance

1999 People and Wetlands—The Vital Link

1998 Water for Wetlands, Wetlands for Water

1997 First Worlds Wetlands Day

Davis G.T., Finlayson C. M., Pritchard D.E., Davidson N. C., Gardner R.C. Moomaw W.R., Okuno E., Whitacre J.C. 2020. Towards a Universal Declaration of the Rights of Wetlands. Marine and Freshwater Research https://doi.org/10.1071/MF20219

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA) 2000. Ecosystem and Human Well-Being: Wetlands and Water Synthesis. World Resources Institute, Wash DC.

Smardon R.C. 2009. Sustaining the Worlds Wetlands: Setting policy and Resolving Conflict. Springer Dordrecht Heidelberg London New York https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-0-387-49429-6

Prof. Dr. Richard Smardon
Guest Editor

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