World Wetlands Day

World Wetlands Day is celebrated internationally each year on 2 February. It marks the anniversary of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention) in Ramsar, Iran, on 2 February 1971.

World Wetlands Day was first celebrated in 1997. Since then government agencies, non-government organisations and community groups have celebrated World Wetlands Day by undertaking actions to raise public awareness of wetland values and benefits and promote the conservation and wise use of wetlands. These activities include seminars, nature walks, festivals, launches of new policies, announcement of new Ramsar sites, newspaper articles, radio interviews and wetland rehabilitation.

World Wetlands Day 2012

The international theme for World Wetlands Day 2012 is Wetlands and Tourism - a great experience and aligns with the theme of the 11^th Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention 'Wetlands, Tourism and Recreation' which will be held in July 2012 in Bucharest, Romania..

Responsible tourism supports wetlands and people. In 2009–10 tourism directly employed over half a million Australians and contributed $34 billion or 2.6 per cent to Australia's gross domestic product (Tourism satellite account 2009–10, Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism). Many tourism destinations are at wetlands, including iconic sites such as Kakadu National Park. Wetlands also provide local tourism and recreational opportunities, including boating, fishing and bird watching.

Calendar of events

The Australian Government produces a web-based Calendar of Events for World Wetlands Day each year. If you have a World Wetlands Day activity that you would like advertised before 2 February, please contact wetlandsmail@environment.gov.au.

World Wetlands Day 2012 activities for each State or Territory will be available in early January 2012.