Every year, on the 2nd of February, we celebrate World Wetlands Day (WWD).
The DECR would like to invite you to celebrate the 6th annual Turks & Caicos Islands, World Wetlands Day clean-up initiatives, on Saturday, 2 February, from 07:30 – 09:00am at Wheeland Pond, Blue Hills, Providenciales.
Please take this opportunity to get involved in our local community, to learn about the importance of wetlands and what we can do to protect them in the fight against climate change!
Wetlands are often an undervalued natural resource; however, they are important buffers against the impacts of climate change for a number of reasons. Watch this video and read on to find out why it’s so fitting for us here in the TCI to recognise this day:
- Wetlands ease flooding and safeguard against drought;
- Wetlands reduce the impacts of erosion;
- Wetlands ensure fresh water and replenish ground water;
- Wetlands purify and filter harmful toxins;
- Wetlands are a breeding ground for many commercially important fish species;
- Wetlands provide vital habitats for migratory birds; and
- Wetlands provide sustainable livelihoods.
World Wetlands Day marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar. This year World Wetlands Day is canopied under the theme ‘Wetlands and Climate Change’! The Turks and Caicos Islands boasts the North, Middle and East Caicos Nature Reserve, declared an international Ramsar site. This wetland, of international importance contains a variety of habitat types noteworthy of the region, namely excellent mangrove swamp, and a rich array of fauna and flora. For this reason, it is fit that the Turks and Caicos Islands annually recognise and participate in World Wetlands Day celebrations!