World Wetlands Day

World Wetlands Day Latest News

World Wetlands Day 2026 theme explores the long-standing connections between the habitats and cultural practices, traditions and knowledge systems of communities.

About World Wetlands Day

• It is celebrated every year on 2 February. 
• It was first celebrated in 1997 and has been a United Nations International Day since 2022.
  • It marks the anniversary of the Ramsar Convention, signed in Ramsar, Iran, on 2 February 1971.
  • The agreement is also known as the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance. 
  • It is one of the oldest modern international environmental agreements and the only one focused entirely on a single ecosystem: wetlands.
  • There are 172 Contracting Parties to the convention and over 2500 listed Ramsar wetlands worldwide.  
  • Each year, the Convention Secretariat leads the World Wetlands Day campaign, with participation from governments, conservation organisations, businesses, NGOs, media, youth groups, and communities worldwide.
• World Wetlands Day 2026 Theme: The global theme for 2026, ‘Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage’, highlights the role of indigenous and local communities in conserving and managing wetlands.

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New Ramsar Sites in India

Patna Bird Sanctuary in Etah, Uttar Pradesh, and Chhari-Dhand in Kutch, Gujarat, have been officially designated as Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention, bringing the total number of Ramsar sites in India to 98.

Source: N18