Fact Sheet

Convention
on Wetlands

Wetlands:
what can I do ?
You’re convinced that wetlands provide a multitude
of benefits, including filtering our water, ensuringbiodiversity, protecting our coastlines, and mitigatingclimate change.
And you’re alarmed that 64% of the world’s wetlands have disappearedsince 1900, and that the remaining ones are being degraded. So what can one
person actually do to help turn the tide?

Seven actions
you can take forwetlands
1 Open your eyes to thewetlands near you
Look around to see what types arein your area. Saltwater marshes,fens, swamps, peat bogs andmangroves are some of the morecommon types. Coral reefs, lakes
and rivers are also consideredwetlands.
Visit a wetland near you to geta deep personal impression. Whatkind of vegetation and wildlife
thrive there? How the site is
being used? Go back at different
times of year and observe how
the surroundings change.
If you see any illegal activities suchas logging in a protected site,
report it to the relevant authorities.
Check the list of Ramsar Sites(  www.ramsar.org/sites-countries/
the-ramsar-sites ) and see if
there’s a designated Wetland ofInternational Importance in yourarea. If there’s one listed, you
can download a kmz file to createa placemark in Google Earth,complete with information about
the site.
www.ramsar.org
Fact Sheet 4 .1

Talk with the site managers to see
what kind of help they could use.
Is there a wetland site in your areathat is not yet listed with Ramsar
but perhaps should be protected ?
Contact a local government,
university or NGO to see how you
can help maintain its ecologicalcharacter.
2 Educate others
Often, wetlands are seen as
wasteland  ; something to be filledin, drained, burned off or converted
to other uses. You can help others
to understand the huge benefits
that wetlands bring, both globallyand locally.
Drop some interesting facts about
wetlands into the conversation.
Ramsar Fact Sheets are a greatsource for these.
Hold an educational event so people
in your area can better understand
how local wetlands benefit them.

43 Organize a wetlands
clean-up
In populated areas, wetlands often
attract rubbish.
Working in a group for an houror two can show how muchof a clean-up can be achieved ina very short time.
Take pictures before and after
to highlight the difference.
4 Change your consumption
habitsSaving water, reducing harmfulwaste and encouraging sustainable
farming and fishing can all havea positive effect on wetlands.
Buy sustainably raised or caught
seafood, organic produce and meat.
Use reusable bags at thegrocery store.
Take shorter showers.
Recycle household trash, andmake sure that batteries and otherharmful waste do not end up in
landfills – or in wetlands !
5 Manage your own garden
consciously
Polluted water and invasive plants
pose a real threat to wetlands.
Improve the water and drainage
effects of your own garden.
Select native and pest-resistant
plants and place them in settings
that suit them.
Use as little fertilizer as possible,
and avoid toxic pesticides.
Water thoroughly but infrequently,using collected rainwater.

Combine an educational eventwith World Wetlands Day.
Consult the Guide for teachers andorganizers for loads of tips.
7 Join with others to makea difference
Many organizations and networks
already work for wetlands andtheir sustainable use. Link up with
their efforts.
Here are just a few of the largest :Wetlands International

The only global not-for-profit organization
dedicated to the conservation and restorationof wetlands.
http://www.wetlands.org

IUCN – International Union for
the Conservation of Nature

The world’s oldest and largest global environmental organization has more than 1,200 member
organisations around the globe, including Ramsar.
Search their member database here :https://www.iucn.org/about/union/members/who_members/members_database/Birdlife International

An alliance of 120-bird related organizations
around the world. Search for partners bycountry here : http://www.birdlife.org/worldwide/
partnership/birdlife-partners
WWF – World Wide Fund for Nature
Aims to build a future in which people live inharmony with nature. WWF works in more than
100 countries on 6 continents :http://www.wwf.org
IMWI – The International Water
Management Institute

A non-profit, scientific research institute focusing
on the sustainable use of water and land resourcesin developing countries.
http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/

WWT – Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust
A UK-based conservation charity that saves
wetlands around the world.
http://www.wwt.org.uk/
WLI – Wetland Link International (  WLI )A support network for wetlands education
centres that deliver engagement activities on site.
http://wli.wwt.org.uk/

6 Get involved in World
Wetlands Day
Monday, February 2nd, 2015
is World Wetlands Day. Support
this global day of awareness :This Fact Sheet is made available by theRamsar Convention on Wetlands. Statistics
are drawn from a variety of publications andwebsites which are listed in the Reference
Sources sheet, available for download
separately. While we strive to provide
accurate and carefully researched
information, this publication is provided
with no warranty of any kind.
Fact Sheet 4.2

Encourage youths aged 15-24
in your area to enter the World
Wetlands Day Youth PhotoContest. Photos must be taken
in a wetland location between
2 February and 2 March 2015
and uploaded to the WWD website(www.worldwetlandsday.org ).

The Ramsar Convention
The Convention on Wetlandsof International Importance,
commonly known as theRamsar Convention, is a
global intergovernmental treaty thatprovides the framework for nationalaction and international cooperation
for the conservation and wise useof wetlands and their resources.
It is the only global treaty to focus
on one single ecosystem.