TEHRAN, Feb. 3 (MNA) – The head of Iran’s Department of Environment has issued a message on the occasion of World Wetlands Day (February 2).“The marking of the World Wetlands Day is a reminder of the importance of cooperation and a warning tolling the bell for destruction of the wetlands,” reads part of the message, read by the Department’s Natural Environment and Biodiversity deputy Ahmad Ali Kikha during the ceremony held in Tabriz to commemorate the World Wetlands Day.
“NGOs all over the country would be the best messengers of the message on the wetland conservation,” reads another part of the message.
“Every year in the anniversary of the Ramsar Convention signed in 1971 on conversion of wetlands, the world celebrates February 2. This was the first international treaty to save world wetlands which was signed in Ramsar, initially by Iran and seven other countries. Now, in the light of the Ramsar Convention, the greatest network of coordination of wetland ecosystem management with 168 countries as signatories and with 2171 wetlands worldwide covered in an area of 207 million hectares. Iran has introduced 35 wetlands with an area of 5.1 million hectares to Ramsar Convention, registering them in the list of the most valuable wetlands,” said the message.
“Ramsar Convention, our of understanding that conserving wetlands would not be possible unless all stakeholders and local communities cooperate, and that the success lies on attracting their participation, well-managed using the wetlands, and interlinking the health of the wetlands with local economic gains, has focused on conservation and managed use of the wetlands as its main objectives,” the message said.
The Convention has a key theme every year announced according to priorities and necessities of the world wetlands assumed as the major annual slogan. This year has been “wetlands and Agriculture: Partners for Growth.”
By Mehr News Agency
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