World Wetlands Day Date in the current year: February 2, 2024

The signing of the Convention of Wetlands (known as Ramsar Convention due to the name of city in Iran, where it was signed) on February 2, 1971 became the basis of creation of World Wetlands Day in 1997, when it was celebrated for the first time. Only 18 countries signed Ramsar Convention in 1971, but later 159 countries joined the convention. Over 2,000 sites are included into the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance, covering more than 200,000,000 ha.

Annually government agencies, non-government organizations and groups of citizens act to raise public awareness of the importance and value of wetlands. More than 95 countries contributed into celebration of World Wetlands Day. Numerous activities were held during the time of the celebration: lectures, seminars, art contests, clean-up days, radio and television interviews, letters to newspapers. Everything was aimed to launch the wetlands protection policies.