EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
on the occasion of
WORLD WETLANDS DAY – 2 FEBRUARY 2021
“Wetlands and water”
Firstly, I would like to congratulate the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands as this year marks 50 years of dedication and progress toward the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
Wetlands are critically important, particularly for the ecosystem functions and services they provide, such as recycling, filtration and moderation of water for freshwater ecosystems to thrive. Wetland ecosystems contribute to the benefit of people, including the provisioning of water for essential water and sanitation services, agricultural activities, improving water quality and availability, protection from droughts and floods and can even shield coastlines from disasters. Around 90 per cent of global wetlands extent has been lost since the 1700s, while 25 per cent of all wetland species face extinction.