“WHEREVER LAND MEETS WATER, LIFE ABOUNDS. WETLANDS EXIST IN EVERY CORNER OF THIS BEAUTIFUL PLANET AND ARE THE ARTERIES AND VEINS OF THE LANDSCAPE.”
Dr. Musonda Mumba, Secretary General of the Convention on Wetlands
A short history of World Wetlands Day
Every year on the 2nd of February, different government and non-governmental spheres come together to celebrate World Wetlands Day. A day to champion the invaluable contribution of wetlands to healthy ecosystems, as well as raising awareness of the threats towards healthy wetlands. The factors which make wetlands invaluable natural resources are as diverse as the types of wetlands themselves and speaks to the importance of affording adequate levels of protection to these critical systems.
Today however is not just a nice random date chosen to perform some activities with a wetland theme. Rather, it is a commemorative day in relation to one of the most important historic conferences which was a true game changer for wetland conservation namely the RAMSAR convention. Each year this special day has a theme which focuses specifically on a certain part of wetland conservation or conservation grouping. The theme for 2026 is: “Wetlands and traditional knowledge: Celebrating cultural heritage.” In this blog post we will be diving deeper into all of the above-mentioned aspects. We will look at the critical role of wetlands for both ecosystems and humans as well as the formal protection afforded to wetlands, and how this all ties into the theme for 2026.
As mentioned above, world wetlands day as we know it today sprouted from the outcomes of the RAMSAR convention. This convention was first held in 1971 in Ramsar Iran as an attempt to consolidate wetland habitat conservation efforts globally due to an increase in wetland degradation. On 2 February 1971 a treaty was signed containing various guidelines and rules on the wise use and protection of wetlands. These include mandated protection of wetlands identified as globally important (known as RAMSAR wetlands), as well as the sustainable management of all wetlands. The treaty also makes provision regarding intergovernmental cooperation on transboundary wetlands or wetlands which contain species with an importance for different countries or parties.
The principles contained within this treaty thus help guide local governments on the best policies and course of action in relation to wetland conservation. It is the oldest of the modern United Nations intergovernmental treaties. The treaty was initially signed by 18 parties from various nations of which South Africa was a signatory. It has since grown to include 172 member countries.
As part of the objectives of the conference, World Wetlands Day is organized yearly as a means to celebrate the strides made to protect wetlands and to increase awareness and knowledge relating to wetland conservation. This yearly celebration involves people from all walks of life, from governments to conservation organisations and the broad public. On this day, many different activities take place globally, ranging from wetland clean-up projects and restoration activities to educational seminars and debates. It truly is a day with far reaching influence.
The value of wetlands
As Dr. Mumba mentions in his quote at the start of this blog post, wetlands are a special place where earth and water meet. It is at this intersection that life booms into a highly productive space for both fauna and flora. More than 100 bird species call wetlands home within South Africa and it is a haven for various antelope and small carnivores.
The variety of different habitats are vast, being either freshwater or saltwater and ranging from estuaries, mangroves and coral reefs to raging rivers, dams or saltpans to name a few. We can just imagine the number of different species and habitats within these systems! As the United Nations explains, around 40% of the earth’s plants and animals live or breed in wetlands. This figure becomes even more impressive when we consider that wetlands only cover 6% of the earth’s surface area.
Wetlands have a critical ecological role in natural water filtering. These habitats have the ability to trap and store sediment in water runoff. This helps prevent excessive minerals and pesticides entering other water sources. The problem however comes in when highly polluted water exceeds the capabilities of wetlands to perform their filtration functions.
The presence of healthy wetland systems can assist in preventing excessive flooding and erosion by slowing down water flow and absorbing excess water. This thus helps to prevent ecological damage to the surrounding natural systems.
Beyond the natural value of wetlands, these systems also provide greatly for people in many different aspects. These aspects range from food sources to livelihoods and recreational activities. In a study done by the United Nations, it was found that about 1 in 8 people worldwide rely on wetlands for jobs and income. This ranges from wetland ecotourism to responsible fisheries and sustainable harvesting of plant materials for medicinal resources. Wetland degradation thus not only threatens the livelihoods of more than 1 billion people worldwide but also stops the sustainable activities taking place within these systems.
The theme for 2026
Each year a specific theme is chosen for World Wetlands Day, in an attempt to focus on a specific aspect of wetland protection. In 2026, the theme is all about the role of cultural heritage in wetlands and the important role that wetlands play in forming and establishing cultural heritage. There are two messages which shine through in this year’s theme. The first of these relates to the role that local and traditional knowledge plays in protecting wetlands. Over many years, communities living in and around wetlands have served as custodians of these systems and have gained a wealth of knowledge in protecting these wetlands.
The 2026 theme shines a light on this accumulated knowledge and how it should be incorporated in management and conservation plans. It further aims to motivate all local communities to take pride in the resources which they have been given and to act as custodians of these resources, whether it is within a residential area or deep in nature.
The second part of the 2026 theme speaks to the cultural identity which wetlands bring to many people. Indigenous communities have used these wetlands for hundreds of years and have various spiritual beliefs and rituals which are shaped on these systems. This is also true in modern urban settings. Various waterways play a big part in the cultural lives of people, from recreational activities such as fishing or gathering to instances where waterways have become part of the identity of a city. There are many such examples including the Jukskei river and the associated sport derbies from the two sides of the Jukskei or the yearly Midmar swim in the KZN midlands which turn a small rural town into a bustling gathering.
World Wetlands Day for 2026 thus aims to shine a light on how intertwined all communities are with our wetlands and waterways in all the different ways. This day aims to inspire all communities to step up and become guardians and caretakers of these special systems, while respecting and utilizing historical and cultural knowledge in doing so. This will enable us to enjoy our wetlands today while ensuring that the same is true for our future generations.
With all that being said, may today be a day of reflection and action. How wonderful to be able for us to share such a special day with a worldwide community of changemakers and conservationists.
Be filled with nature!
Willem🐛