Category: Wildlife Habitat: Wetlands

1. World Wetlands Day is 2 February

   Posted on 5:00pm Tuesday 28th Jan 2025

   The 2nd February is World Wetlands Day.  The day aims to raise awareness about wetlands, and it marks the anniversary of the Convention on Wetlands, which was adopted as an international treaty back in 1971.  Back in 1971 on 2 February, the Convention on Wetlands was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar which sits on the shores of the Caspian Sea. What are wetlands? Wetlands cover areas such as shores, estuaries, mudflats, floodplains, coastal marshes, local ponds, the bog and pond in your garden, mangrove swamps, seagrass beds, and rivers.  They cover a very small of the earth’s surface – and yet they are one of the most important habitats on our planet.  WWT has lots of information about these areas - you can click to see it here. "If rainforests are the lungs of the planet, then wetlands are the lifeblood.  As much as we need air to breathe, we need water to live.   The conservation of our wetlands is essential to all life on earth.”   Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) In 2025, the theme is Wetlands for our Common Future.  Value.  Protect.  Inspire.  #WetlandsForOurCommonFuture Raising awareness is critical – most people have heard of forests and rainforests, but fewer have heard of wetlands.  Yet they are vital ecosystems.  Despite this, the World Wetlands Day website explains that, since the 1700s, almost 90% of the world’s wetlands have been degraded since the 1700s.   And we’re losing wetlands 3x faster than forests.   A recent global IPBES assessment identified wetlands as the most threatened ecosystem. This impacts 40% of the world’s plant and animal species that live or breed in wetlands. What are the threats to wetlands? Habitat loss:  many thousands of hectares have been drained for land  by humans for their purposes of housing, industry and agriculture Pollution:  WWT says that 80% of global wastewater gets released into wetlands without being treated.  Wetlands are under threat from pollution, fertilisers, pesticides – and yet wetlands can act as natural filters, removing pollutants from the water. Invasive species such as the common water hyacinth and animals (e.g. the killer shrimp) devastate wetlands. Unfortunately, water provides easy pathways for them to spread and grow. Our changing climate can cause wetlands to dry out – and this can have a terrible impact on amphibians, migratory birds and corals  for instance. But wetlands are carbon sinks – when we destroy wetlands, carbon gets released into the atmosphere.  Development, such as dams, and draining Why wetlands matter to people: They provide us with drinking water They store a third of the world’s carbon emissions They buffer us from floods and droughts They are important for our health and wellbeing Why do wetlands matter to wildlife? 40% of all plant and animal species live or breed here. They are vital breeding and feeding grounds for migratory birds – stopover points, if you like. Banc d’Arguin National Park (Mauritania) is one of the most important zones in the world for nesting birds and Palearctic migratory waders, Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China (Phase I) (China).  These birds use wetlands such as our coastlines to stop, moult, rest, winter or nest.   Pantanal Conservation Area (Brazil) is one of the world's largest freshwater wetland ecosystems. Sundarbans National Park (India) is formed of tidal rivers, creeks and canals and supports species such as the single largest population of tiger, and aquatic mammals such as the Irrawaddy and Ganges River dolphins, all under threat. Mud, mud, glorious mud The power of mud....Preventing climate change Watch this video from WWT on You Tube  to find out what mud can do to combat climate change So what can we all do to help wetland conservation?  WWT can create new wetlands in a few months and years – so your support can really make a difference quickly.  But there’s something we can all do to help and you’ll find more links and further resources further down.  Find out why they matter to people and wildlife. See what you can do at home to help wildlife.  Create a (mini) pond in your garden, local area or school - WWT or the RSPB can show you how Visit a wetland close to you if there is one, and spend time there.   Use your senses while you visit.  Listen to the sounds you can hear; look at the sights, smell the scents.  Connect with them. Find out which of your local conservation charities are working to protect and restore wetlands.  How can you get involved and support them?  Many of them will be working on projects which you may be able to get involved with. This could be by volunteering, donating, buying something from their online shop, becoming a member, spreading the word about them - there are lots of ways to help.  #WetlandBiodiversityMatters to see what’s happening Support an appeal for wetlands somewhere in the world Make a pledge to act for wetlands  You can create your own wetland in your garden... Here's how... Will you make a pledge to protect wetlands? See pledges already made here -  and make your own pledge here! There are a lot of efforts being made to help protect and restore and create wetlands.  For instance, the International Crane Foundation has been working to protect Africa’s wetlands for 30 years.  Find out about their work here. On this World Wetland Day, they are advocating for: Protection of wetlands The reduction of human impact to minimise habitat destruction caused by human activity  Supporting crane conservation efforts Promoting awareness and education Encouraging sustainabity Advocating for climate change Getting involved in citizen science such as birdwatching or local conservation projects to help monitor populations and track their movements - this all helps contribute important details to build up a picture of the status of cranes and other animals Further Resources World Wetland Network – a collection of NGOs and Civil Society Groups all working for wetland conservation Wetland Link International – a support network for wetland education centres which deliver engagement activities on site.  The WWT in the UK lead it; it has 350 members over 6 continents! RAMSAR –  The Convention on Wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.  World Wetlands Day – held every year on 2 February to raise awareness of the importance of wetlands and how we can all help WWT – the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust in the UK.   Visit one of their 10 sites around the UK and/or visit their website to see how you can get involved. The MedWet mission is "to ensure and support the effective conservation of the functions and values of Mediterranean wetlands and the sustainable use of their resources and services".  Visit their website here.  The Mediterranean Wetlands Initiative brings together 27 Mediterranean and peri-Mediterranean countries, all of which are Parties to the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971). Palestine and several organizations and wetland centres are also part of the MedWet Initiative. The Global Wetland Outlook – take a look, it’s fascinating reading

    

2. International Beaver Day is on 7th April

   Posted on 8:00am Wednesday 7th Apr 2021

   The 7th April is International Beaver Day.

   Beavers can be quite controversial animals in the natural world;  personally I admire them for their incredible engineering skills.

   About 400 years ago, beavers were hunted to extinction in the UK but they are being re-introduced (with caution) in the hope that they will help restore our wetlands to their natural state and also reduce  the impact of flooding.

   Forestry England has produced this video showing why beavers build dams.   Their teeth are really quite something  (the beavers, not  Forestry England.)
   
   

   
   Now, a number of the UK's Wildlife Trusts have beaver appeals and they are Dorset, Derbyshire, Devon, Cheshire, Cornwall and Kent.

   The Wildlife Trust's website describe beavers as the engineers of the animal world and looking at the video above, it's easy to see why. 

   To support the Wildlife Trust's conservation efforts, you could Adopt a Beaver  either for yourself or as a gift for a nature lover!  

   Of course you should also take a look at the Beaver Trust.   I hope they won't mind me quoting their very exciting mission which is:
   
   "to recover Britain’s waterways and landscapes through the rapid and widespread re-establishment of beaver wetlands across whole river catchments."

   Their belief is that beavers are a practical, low-cost solution for long-term restoration.  They can help revesse the trend of extinction of British wildlife. You can see from their map where beavers are in the UK.

   Furthermore, the Beaver Trust reports that in the US West, land managers and scientists hare using beaver dam analogs to do three things:

   1. To heal damaged streams
   2. To re-establish beaver populations
   3. To help wildlife

   And they've seen positive changes in 1 to 3 years in many cases!   Find out all about it here

   Visit their website to have a good look round and see how you can  help.     

    

3. Please see this video from Gravitas - how nature is reclaiming its spaces due to the Coronavirus

   Posted on 2:00pm Friday 10th Apr 2020

   Sometimes you see something on the internet or on television that really hits you hard and makes a point extremely well. I saw this video, this afternoon, and I wanted to share it with you.  Please share it with everyone you can. The ultimate message is that we SHARE this planet.  It demonstrates how dominant the human race has become - and how selfish.   I am not going to tell you anymore about it - please just watch it for yourself.   Here it is: Thank you, Gravitas. Please vow to make a difference today.  Find out how to reduce your impact on the earth's resources here.

4. Help wildlife and people in Columbia

   Posted on 8:25pm Sunday 23rd Feb 2020

   MAY 2020:   SUCCESS:   The target has been reached! I’m a big fan of the World Land Trust and I always thinking it’s very exciting to see where they are going to work to save land next and follow the appeals.   WLT are working with Fundacion Biodiversa Colombia to save 260ha of lowland forest and wetlands.  They need to raise £295,000 to ensure these habitats are safe.  The area has already suffered from extreme deforestation and degradation – a whopping 90% of the original forests have been lost, so it’s vital to protect the remaining 10%. Many endangered species live there, from the American Manatee and Magdalena River Turtle to the Lowland Tapir and Jaguar.  There are a lot of monkeys there – the White-footed Tamarin, the Brown Spider Monkey and the Varied White-fronted Capuchin. The World Land Trust works closely with local conservation organisations and it speaks very well of FBC’s track record of conservation. Your donation and mine will make a difference. If you can't donate, please please spread the word Our support will mean that this area is immediately protected – either that, or the logging industry will get it. Support land purchase for conservation and help ensure that healthy, biodiverse habitats survive.

    

5. 41 new Marine Conservation Zones expands England’s Blue Belt

   Posted on 5:00pm Saturday 8th Jun 2019

   In the run up to World Oceans Day (8th June every year), Environment Secretary Michael Gove has created 41 new Marine Conservation Zones. This represents the most significant expansion of England’s Blue Belt of Protected Areas to date. Stretching from Northumberland (where eider ducks live) to the Isles of Scilly off Cornwall (basking sharks, seabirds and fish) , the action Gove has taken safeguards 12,000 square kilometres of marine habitat.   A substantial number of additional zones were created in waters away from the coast – some in the deep sea – thus giving protection to habitats and species such as coral gardens, fan mussel and sea pens. Here’s a map showing the Marine Protected Areas Vulnerable marine wildlife will now have an opportunity to recover.    And if there are richer habitats for marine life, so there life will be better for those whose livelihoods depend on a healthy coastline and sea.  WWF has discovered that in marine protected areas, fish breed more readily and populations recover.  In the Apo Island (Philippines), communities depend heavily on fish.   After a marine protected area was created, catch per unit increased 50%.  Fish populations tripled.  Fisherman were able to save fuel and spend less time at sea. The UK now has over 350 Marine Protected Areas, covering 220,000 square kilometres – that’s twice the size of England. The areas protected include wildlife such as worms, seahorse and oyster.   Sand, tidal mud, rocky reefs and gravel will be protected.  Each as a role to play in the balance of nature.  The evidence about the importance of these new sites was gathered by volunteer divers who dive  for Seasearch, a programme co-ordinated by the Marine Conservation Society.    Divers spent hours diving very diverse seabed habitats to record the marine plants and animals living in our inshore seas.   There were extensive consultations with local fishermen too, and members of the public. This citizen science enabled groups such as the Marine Conservation Society to make a case for protecting many of these sites, and they will now be involved in developing management and monitoring plans for these newly protected areas. After all, protection must be active if it is to mean anything.  It’s no good allocating a protected status to an area if action isn’t taken to ensure that the area IS protected. Bodies such as the Marine Management Organisation and local Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities will have the responsibility of ensuring that the zones are protected, working with local fishing communities and other organisations. The UK government has called for 30% of the world’s oceans to be protected by 2030.  It has co-chaired the creation of the Commonwealth Clean Ocean Alliance with Vanuatu.  Later this year, the government will publish an international strategy setting out more action to conserve the ocean and use it in a sustainable way. Meantime, its next step closer to home is to stop damaging activities in the Marine Protected Zones which affect wildlife.   Beam trawling, dredging for scallops and langoustines are among these – and surely there must be some action to stop some leisure activities, too.  But this is a great start, and the fact that citizen scientists (e.g. willing volunteers) and world-class marine scientists have worked together to contribute towards such an outcome is heart-warming. Watch this space!