2nd February, 2021
The health of this planet is equally important as the health of creatures living here, in fact, the living condition of this planet entirely depends on the health of this planet. World wetlands day is an important day to remind people of this planet about preserving the health of their planet.
The theme for WWD (World Wetlands Day, 2021) is wetlands and water. The global community reaches out today with the message of wetland preservation and it's importance.
According to the US environment protection agency (EPA), Wetlands include marshes, swamps, dogs, riverbanks, mangroves, floodplains, rice fields, and anywhere else where saturation with water is a dominant factor. This determines the nature of soil development and the types of plant and animal communities there. Wetlands are widespread in every country and continent in this world except in Antarctica. Surprisingly if all of the wetlands in this world gathered together, this combined area will be one-third larger than the United States.
These wetlands play a key role in the life of this earth, higher numbers of plants and animal species are found in these lands compared to other landforms. Wetlands play a key role in feeding downstream waters and tapping or soaking the floodwaters, they also recharge groundwater supplies, remove pollution, and make a home for fishes and wild lives. The local economy highly depends on wetlands as these lands are the key to irrigation, animal, and wild lives.
Many environmentalists have defined wetlands as the "Kidney" of this ecosystem. As the kidney purifies the blood in human anatomy, wetlands also purify waters and chemicals in our ecosystem. Wetlands filter sedimentation, decompose vegetative matters, and convert chemicals into usable forms. The recycling ability of wetlands makes them critical in the overall functioning of this earth.
Sadly the rate of wetland deterioration is happening rapidly in this world, the pressure on wetlands is likely to be increased in coming decades due to increased global demand for water and land.
Nepal is the second-largest nation on this planet in water resources, Nepal has numerous wetlands like GhodaGhodi Lake, KoshiTappu, Hajari lake, Jagdishpur lake, Gosaikunda, and all seven lakes of Pokhara city. Wetlands are called "Simsar" or "Ramsar" in the Nepali language. Nepal officially signed the wetlands conservation agreement in 1987 and since putting up a lot of effort to preserve its wetlands. Nepali wetlands are the winter homes for birds that fly from Siberia and other places but ironically Nepali wetlands are being captured for habitat and squeezed every year. Without the preservation of this planet and nature, the existence of mankind will be always at risk, so February 2nd alarms every government, leadership, and citizen in the preservation of wetlands. February 2nd marks the anniversary of the signing of the convention of wetlands of international importance (Ramsar) convention in Ramsar Iran on 2nd February 1971.
Can this world afford to decrease the wetlands which have been providing rice to 3 billion people?
Can this world afford to squeeze wetlands which are the largest habitat for animals and plants?
For me putting pressure on these wetlands will eventually turn out to be a suicidal step for mankind. As a generation, it's our first and foremost priority to handover a healthy and functional planet for coming generations and the planet will be healthy only when we will be able to protect and preserve wetlands. Protecting wetlands is our common responsibility, let's get together for this.
Suyog Dhakal for Hamro Patro
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