World Wetlands Day 2024: A Vital Connection between Wetlands and Human Well-being

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The second day of February is celebrated annually as World Wetlands Day, commemorating the adoption of the Ramsar convention aimed at wetland conservation. The theme for this year, "Wetlands and Human Wellbeing," brought to the forefront the vital connection between wetlands and the multifaceted aspects of human health, including our physical, mental, and environmental welfare.

The Ramsar Convention, first adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar, located along the Caspian Sea coastline, on February 2, 1971, now includes 172 signatory countries, with Indonesia joining in 1991. The Ramsar List is the largest network of protected areas globally, encompassing over 2,400 sites across more than 2.5 million square kilometers.

Indonesia plays a crucial role in wetland conservation, having designated seven Ramsar sites across the country, covering over 1.3 million hectares. These include Berbak National Park in Jambi, Sembilang National Park in South Sumatra, Rawa Aopa Watumohae National Park in Southeast Sulawesi, Lake Sentarum National Park in West Kalimantan, Wasur National Park in Papua, Rambut Island Wildlife Reserve in Jakarta, and Tanjung Puting National Park in Central Kalimantan.

Wetlands, including swamps, peatlands, and mangrove forests, are much more than mere bodies of water; they are crucial habitats for over 100,000 species and provide essential freshwater resources for human life. These ecosystems are pivotal in supporting human existence, especially in agriculture, with wetland rice paddies feeding three billion people and contributing to 20% of the global food supply. Apart from their role in agriculture, wetlands act as natural defenses, absorbing excess rainfall, diminishing flood impacts, and lessening the severity of storm surges, thereby protecting communities from natural calamities.

Inger Andersen, the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, at the World Wetlands Day official website, said that the interdependence between human and wetland health, describing wetlands as "great wonders of nature" that perform crucial functions for both humanity and the natural world. She highlighted the importance of employing nature-based solutions to protect, restore, and sustainably manage wetlands, particularly in addressing water degradation and heightened pressures.

Dr. Musonda Mumba, Secretary General of the Convention on Wetlands, reminded us of the irreplaceable role that wetlands have played throughout human history, providing sustenance, inspiration, and resilience. Despite their invaluable contributions, wetlands are threatened by unsustainable agricultural practices, pollution, and urban expansion, underscoring the critical need for conservation and restoration efforts.

NABIHA ZAIN

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