On February 2, the International Day of Wetlands is celebrated , defined as “extensions of marshes and swamps or surfaces covered with water, whether they are natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, stagnant or current, sweet or salty; including the extensions of sea water whose depth at low tide does not exceed six meters ”. In addition, different types of wetlands can be classified as marine, estuarine, lake, riparian and marsh.
Wetlands play a key role in the hydrological cycle or in the carbon cycle , in addition to contributing to the maintenance of biological and cultural diversity. It is one of the most productive environments in the world and it serves as a cradle for an immense animal and plant diversity , as well as being a source of water and materials. However, wet ecosystems are some of the most seriously threatened on the planet . In Spain, for example, in 2011 it was established that 60% of the total waterlogged surface had disappeared in just 50 years.
Precisely to ensure the protection of wetlands and their care, in 1971 the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in order to implement actions aimed at the conservation and wise use of these ecosystems. This agreement is the oldest of all intergovernmental environmental treaties and currently has more than 160 members dealing with water and ecosystem management. Spain joined in 1982 and among the more than fifty Spanish wetlands included in the agreement, the Doñana National Park, Tablas de Daimiel, Delta del Ebro and the Gallocanta lagoon stand out.
Fifty years of history
The Ramsar Convention was originally created to conserve wetlands as vital habitat for waterfowl, recognizing that these species can cross borders in their seasonal migrations and, consequently, should be considered as an international resource . However, since its inception it has broadened its vision by supporting and publicizing the various socio-economic benefits that wetlands bring to people around the world.
Beyond even their natural importance, the historical and cultural relevance of these places should be highlighted. Ancient civilizations arose and evolved along the banks of great rivers and associated wetlands, and much of the world’s abundant archaeological and cultural heritage is closely related to the natural riches of wetlands . Even today, many people’s safeguards still depend on their water and food resources and their many vital functions.
Among its allies, the convention collaborates especially closely with five major non-governmental organizations worldwide: BirdLife International , International Water Management Institute (IWMI), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Wertlands International and WWF International . It also has collaborative agreements with most of the global conventions on the environment and even acts as the main implementing partner in relation to wetlands for the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
