World Wetlands Day

李斌

World Wetlands Day is annually held on February 2 to celebrate how wetlands， which are lands saturated by water， help maintain biodiversity on Earth.

Governments， community groups， and individuals around the world celebrate World Wetlands Day with special campaigns to promote the important value that the wetlands play in our lives. The day is promoted via social media， radio and TV broadcasts， and newspapers.

Wetlands are found near the sea or inland and can be seasonal—they are water logged only during parts of the year， or perennial. They play a crucial role in the ecosystem by：

● Preventing flooding by absorbing water.

● Ensuring that the soil provides a unique breeding ground for vegetation that feeds fish.

● Giving shelter to animals.

● Purifying water by removing sediment.

World Wetlands Day has been observed since February 2， 1997. The day commemorates the anniversary of the signing of the Ramsar Convention in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971. The convention is a treaty on the preservation and sustainable use of wetlands.