A key wetland in southern Spain is drying out and its most iconic residents, flamingos, are leaving. Their numbers have dropped sharply in just weeks, as falling water levels disrupt feeding and nesting grounds.


Birds Forced to Shift to Nearby Wetlands

World Wetlands Day 2024: World Wetlands Day is observed annually on February 2 to raise awareness about the importance of wetlands and their conservation. The day serves as a reminder of the need to protect and restore wetlands for the benefit of both people and the planet.&nbsp;

Through various activities such as seminars, workshops, nature walks, clean-up events, and educational programmes, organisations, governments, and communities raise awareness about the importance of wetlands and the need for their protection.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-couple-executed-for-murder-of-two-children-wished-to-start-a-new-family-685956">Chinese couple executed for murder of two children wished to start a new family: Report</a>

Here’s everything you need to know about this day:&nbsp;

<h2>World Wetlands Day: History</h2>

This day marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, an international treaty aimed at conserving and sustainably using wetlands around the world. India is also the part of Ramsar Convention and is one of the most active players in the group.

Recently, the number of wetlands in India grew from 75 to 80, showcasing India’s commitment towards conserving ecological sites in the country.

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Powered by 5! 
 
Met with Dr Musonda Mumba, Secretary General of the Convention on Wetlands, in Delhi today. 
 
With two days to go for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldWetlandsDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldWetlandsDay</a>, India today increased its tally of Ramsar Sites from 75 to 80. 
 
The emphasis PM Shri <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> ji has put on environmental… <a href="https://t.co/g1aMX8mS9V">pic.twitter.com/g1aMX8mS9V</a>
— Bhupender Yadav (@byadavbjp) <a href="https://twitter.com/byadavbjp/status/1752556629936210096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<h2>What are wetlands?</h2>

Wetlands are a wide variety of habitats such as marshes, swamps, peatlands, mangroves, and estuaries. They play a crucial role in supporting biodiversity, regulating water flow, providing clean water, and mitigating the impacts of climate change.

<h2>World Wetlands Day 2024: Theme&nbsp;</h2>

The theme for World Wetlands Day changes each year to focus on different aspects of wetland conservation and management. Likewise, the theme of World Wetlands Day 2024 is ‘Wetlands and human wellbeing’.

<h2>World Wetlands Day: Significance&nbsp;</h2>

Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth, supporting a diverse array of plant and animal species. They serve as vital habitats for numerous species of birds, fish, amphibians, and mammals, many of which are endangered or threatened. Wetlands also provide essential ecosystem services such as water purification, flood control, and carbon storage.

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<h2>Threat to wetlands&nbsp;</h2>

Despite their ecological significance, wetlands face numerous threats, including habitat loss and degradation, pollution, overexploitation, and climate change. The conversion of wetlands for agriculture, urbanisation, and infrastructure development has resulted in the loss of valuable habitats and biodiversity.&nbsp;

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Pollution from agricultural runoff, industrial discharge, and urban waste poses a significant threat to water quality in wetland ecosystems.&nbsp;

Additionally, climate change exacerbates these threats by altering precipitation patterns, increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, and causing sea-level rise, which affects coastal wetlands such as mangroves and salt marshes.

(With inputs from agencies)

World Wetlands Day 2024: World Wetlands Day is observed annually on February 2 to raise awareness about the importance of wetlands and their conservation. The day serves as a reminder of the need to protect and restore wetlands for the benefit of both people and the planet.

World Wetlands Day 2024: World Wetlands Day is observed annually on February 2 to raise awareness about the importance of wetlands and their conservation. The day serves as a reminder of the need to protect and restore wetlands for the benefit of both people and the planet. Through various activities such as seminars, workshops, nature walks, clean-up events, and educational programmes, organisations, governments, and communities raise awareness about the importance of wetlands and the need for their protection. Also Read | Chinese couple executed for murder of two children wished to start a new family: Report Here’s everything you need to know about this day: World Wetlands Day: History This day marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, an international treaty aimed at conserving and sustainably using wetlands around the world. India is also the part of Ramsar Convention and is one of the most active players in the group. Recently, the number of wetlands in India grew from 75 to 80, showcasing India’s commitment towards conserving ecological sites in the country. Powered by 5! Met with Dr Musonda Mumba, Secretary General of the Convention on Wetlands, in Delhi today. With two days to go for #WorldWetlandsDay, India today increased its tally of Ramsar Sites from 75 to 80. The emphasis PM Shri @narendramodi ji has put on environmental… pic.twitter.com/g1aMX8mS9V — Bhupender Yadav (@byadavbjp) January 31, 2024 × What are wetlands? Wetlands are a wide variety of habitats such as marshes, swamps, peatlands, mangroves, and estuaries. They play a crucial role in supporting biodiversity, regulating water flow, providing clean water, and mitigating the impacts of climate change. World Wetlands Day 2024: Theme The theme for World Wetlands Day changes each year to focus on different aspects of wetland conservation and management. Likewise, the theme of World Wetlands Day 2024 is ‘Wetlands and human wellbeing’. World Wetlands Day: Significance Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth, supporting a diverse array of plant and animal species. They serve as vital habitats for numerous species of birds, fish, amphibians, and mammals, many of which are endangered or threatened. Wetlands also provide essential ecosystem services such as water purification, flood control, and carbon storage. Also Read | Bizarre heist: Canada police investigates theft of massive polar bear Threat to wetlands Despite their ecological significance, wetlands face numerous threats, including habitat loss and degradation, pollution, overexploitation, and climate change. The conversion of wetlands for agriculture, urbanisation, and infrastructure development has resulted in the loss of valuable habitats and biodiversity. Also Read | Indian student found dead in Cincinnati, third such incident in a week in US Pollution from agricultural runoff, industrial discharge, and urban waste poses a significant threat to water quality in wetland ecosystems. Additionally, climate change exacerbates these threats by altering precipitation patterns, increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, and causing sea-level rise, which affects coastal wetlands such as mangroves and salt marshes. (With inputs from agencies)

World Wetlands Day 2024: What are wetlands? History, theme, significance and all you need to know

In the south of Spain one of Europe's wetlands has disappeared and what is worse is that climate change and intensive agriculture prevented water from returning to the natural reserve. Watch this video to know more.

WION Climate Tracker: Spain's Donana wetlands go dry

Chebayesh wetland has been battling a drought. This rainfall season in Iraq was the second driest in 40yrs. As a result salinity of the river has risen to dangerous levels.

Dams built on rivers feeding Chebayesh wetland

Flames are ravaging Brazil's Pantanal, the world's largest wetland, approaching the region's main highway and threatening endangered species amid a near-record number of fires.

Brazil's national space research agency Inpe has registered 3,121 fires in the first 15 days of August, nearly five times higher than the same period a year ago. At the current pace, fires could approach the all-time record for any month since records began in 1998.

Firefighters in the area worked to douse smoldering earth that was charred black as clouds of smoke billowed hundreds of feet into the air.

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Speaking on a visit to Mato Grosso State to see the fire-fighting efforts in the Pantanal, Environment Minister Ricardo Salles said the challenges loom large.

"The atmosphere is very hot, very dry, with strong winds and high temperatures," Salles said.

"We saw hundreds of fires along the journey throughout the day. Places where the planes and firemen have fought the fires directly without stopping, but still the fires are causing great damage to fauna, flora and to the Pantanal region," he added.

Also see: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/social-media-erupts-as-fire-rages-in-amazon-rainforest-244780">Social media erupts as fire rages in Amazon rainforest</a>

Roughly 8,500 square kilometers, or nearly 6 per cent&nbsp;of the Pantanal, burned from January to July, according to government data.

The Pantanal is 10 times the size of the Everglades wetlands in the US&nbsp;state of Florida. The region is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet with more than 4,700 plant and animal species, including threatened ones like the jaguar, according to advocacy group WWF.

Most of the largest sanctuary for the blue Hyacinthine Macaw parrots has gone up in flames this year, Brazil's Folha de S.Paulo newspaper reported.

The region has been suffering from below-average rainfall and higher-than-average temperatures in the past 30 days, according to data provider Refinitiv.

"It is extremely difficult to combat, control and combat again a fire with the dimensions that we have seen here in the Pantanal," said Paulo Barroso, president of the local firefighting committee.

The blazes in the Pantanal come amid rising concerns about fires in the Amazon, its much larger neighbor to the north. Fires spiked in the first few days of August in the Amazon, but were down by 17 per cent&nbsp;for August&nbsp;1-15, compared with the same period a year ago.

Flames are ravaging Brazil's Pantanal, the world's largest wetland, approaching the region's main highway and threatening endangered species amid a near-record number of fires.

Flames are ravaging Brazil's Pantanal, the world's largest wetland, approaching the region's main highway and threatening endangered species amid a near-record number of fires. Brazil's national space research agency Inpe has registered 3,121 fires in the first 15 days of August, nearly five times higher than the same period a year ago. At the current pace, fires could approach the all-time record for any month since records began in 1998. Firefighters in the area worked to douse smoldering earth that was charred black as clouds of smoke billowed hundreds of feet into the air. Also read: Brazil fires official who divulged details of record-deforestation in the Amazon Speaking on a visit to Mato Grosso State to see the fire-fighting efforts in the Pantanal, Environment Minister Ricardo Salles said the challenges loom large. "The atmosphere is very hot, very dry, with strong winds and high temperatures," Salles said. "We saw hundreds of fires along the journey throughout the day. Places where the planes and firemen have fought the fires directly without stopping, but still the fires are causing great damage to fauna, flora and to the Pantanal region," he added. Also see: Social media erupts as fire rages in Amazon rainforest Roughly 8,500 square kilometers, or nearly 6 per cent of the Pantanal, burned from January to July, according to government data. The Pantanal is 10 times the size of the Everglades wetlands in the US state of Florida. The region is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet with more than 4,700 plant and animal species, including threatened ones like the jaguar, according to advocacy group WWF. Most of the largest sanctuary for the blue Hyacinthine Macaw parrots has gone up in flames this year, Brazil's Folha de S.Paulo newspaper reported. The region has been suffering from below-average rainfall and higher-than-average temperatures in the past 30 days, according to data provider Refinitiv. "It is extremely difficult to combat, control and combat again a fire with the dimensions that we have seen here in the Pantanal," said Paulo Barroso, president of the local firefighting committee. The blazes in the Pantanal come amid rising concerns about fires in the Amazon, its much larger neighbor to the north. Fires spiked in the first few days of August in the Amazon, but were down by 17 per cent for August 1-15, compared with the same period a year ago.

Brazil fires threaten world's largest wetland

As wetlands disappear so does biodiversity. It is crucial to conserve wetlands amid changing social and political climates

The Ramsar Convention defines wetlands as: “areas of marsh, fen, peatland, or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing fresh, brackish, or salt, including marine waters, the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres.” Wetlands often occur in disconnected patches, and therefore wildlife species associated with them are also fairly disconnected, except for their occasional migration. As the number of wetlands in a large area decrease, each wetland gets more isolated from any other. What does this mean for wildlife dependent on these wetlands? Aquatic animals have specific adaptations which limit them from moving between wetlands, especially if they are disconnected. This movement between sites in search of food and mates is called dispersal, and seasonal, periodic dispersals are termed as “migration”. Studies have found that frogs, salamanders, reptiles like freshwater turtles and small mammals cannot disperse if wetlands are spaced more than half a kilometre apart. Therefore, saving these populations from extinction is not as simple as just preserving the quality of one single wetland. This is what makes life in wetland ecosystems so vulnerable to extinction. Let me explain what this means with an example from the lives of some wetland birds. Birds often travel between wetlands to fulfil their requirements, as one wetland does not necessarily provide all the needs of these birds. A single wetland may provide avenues for feeding or roosting or breeding opportunities — rarely all. This makes it necessary for a bird to use different types of wetlands to meet its ecological requirements. Studies have found that birds are more attracted to wetlands in agricultural and forested landscapes than where there is urban sprawl. (WION) × Therefore, to sustain populations of these birds in a landscape, a complex of wetlands is required. That is, "good" quality wetlands of varying shapes and sizes, not very far from each other. Alas! If maintaining such sites isn’t a challenging enough conservation task, there are more complications — the landscape context being the most challenging factor. For many wetland-dependent species, it has been found that they use wetlands that are embedded in “friendly” landscapes. Again, because my subject familiarity is mostly with wetland birds, I’ll illustrate what this means by drawing another example from this group. Studies have found that birds are more attracted to wetlands in agricultural and forested landscapes than where there is urban sprawl. And, if you look closer, they are even sensitive to the kind of agricultural landscape surrounding these wetlands. Studies have found that paddy cultivation is a more “friendly” landscape for wetland birds as compared to sugarcane or soy cultivation, owing to their structural similarity with natural wetlands. At a finer resolution, we would probably find differences in bird use even in different paddy patches, depending on their cropping patterns, use of pesticides and so on. These aspects illustrate the complexities of wetland biodiversity conservation and the commitment required in doing so. Conserving wetlands in changing social, political and climate scenarios There has been considerable basic biological study of wetland birds, to inform broad-scale conservation action. However, let us look at the social, economic and climatic context that these wetlands are embedded in. They are one of the most productive ecosystems in the world, and apart from harbouring biodiversity, provide a number of ecosystem goods and services to people. An environmental economics approach has valued wetlands at US $14,785 ha-1 year-1 which is higher than even those of the most valuable terrestrial ecosystems, such as forests valued at US$ 969 ha-1 year-1. While these estimates are fairly coarse, there is enough evidence to show how valuable wetlands are. For instance, they provide protection during flooding events and cyclones. And in acknowledgement of this role, World Wetlands Day 2017 has been themed, “Wetlands for disaster risk reduction”, emphasising the role of wetlands in disaster risk management. They also provide water security by facilitating groundwater recharge. Apart from this, they are valued by humans for a number of utilitarian reasons such as catching wild fish, aquaculture, grazing livestock, agriculture, soil extraction, plant extraction, et cetera. Wetlands are valued by humans for a number of utilitarian reasons such as catching wild fish, aquaculture, grazing livestock, agriculture, soil extraction, plant extraction, etc. (WION) × For example, the fish catch of India’s Chilika lake, a Ramsar site, for the year 2009-10 was estimated to be about 12000 metric tonnes, and supported more than 200,000 fishermen, whereas Vembanad Kol Wetland in Kerala supports livelihoods of around 1.6 million people living in 38 gram panchayats. However, in spite of playing such important roles, they are one of the most threatened ecosystems in the world. The main threat being their conversion to agriculture, dredging and overexploitation by humans. Studies have estimated that 30 per cent to 90 per cent wetlands have been either lost or severely modified, with very little abatement to this trend. In the current scenario, the new Draft Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2016 in India does not make provisions that can actually help save wetland species from the brink of extinction. This is because it does not prioritise wetland conservation based on any technicalities related to hydrology, size, cultural uniqueness, biodiversity value, etc. It should be criticised even more for not including the participation of local communities who depend on these resources, and for having no provisions to ensure water and food security, or risk aversion, in the light of climate change. As we lose wetlands, we will not only lose biodiversity but all the wonderful ecosystem services that are associated with them. So save them. (WION)

Wetland loss: Many unexpected repercussions in a fast-changing world

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