Celebration of the World Wetlands Day

On 2nd February 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar the state heads of many countries gather and voluntarily and on behalf of their citizens they sign the so-called Ramsar Convention on the conservation of the wetlands of the planet Earth. This is an exceptional gesture and sign for a new trend in the human perception about environment. The Ramsar convention is the first global international environmental agreement. Today the Convention has been ratified by 168 sovereign countries including all large countries such as China, Russia, Brazil and the European Union countries.

What we do every year on 2nd February is recollection of some facts. To recall that the human race has destroyed 64% of the wetlands of the planet for the last 100 years and this has led to enormous economic, ecological, health and climate problems. The humankind has literally destroyed the natural water cycle of the planet and understood that it should stop and make step into a new direction.

After signing of the Ramsar convention the only thing which remains to be done is to take our own responsibility for the changes. It is necessary that each of us daily and voluntarily and consciously as well take care of the cleanness of the planet and its main life-bearing component – water. This is not so difficult at all.

We could take care of the water and wetlands with small steps in our daily life when we shop and consume responsibly and when we are well aware where the goods in the shop come from and how they are produced. We can choose what to buy and what not to in a responsible and conscious way. The green labels and the international systems for certification of the different products allow us to take informed decisions. The trust to the green labels is still not popular issue in Bulgaria but 2nd February is occasion to pay attention to it.

Another way to be responsible to the wetlands is to calculate the water footprint of the goods, services and activities which we do daily. The system for calculation of the water footprint is with free access in Internet. When we know what water resource was necessary for the production of a cotton T-shirt or a piece of meat, for example, for sure we will be more responsible in our daily choices and deeds.

This year also the World Wetlands Day is celebrated by many organizations, companies, authorities, separate groups or individuals all over the country. Among the organizations which will celebrate the holiday are the Ministry of environment and Water and the Regional River Basin Directorates, Green Balkans Association, “Persina” Nature Park, “Transparent Mountains” Initiative, “Ecocommunity” Association, the National Natural Sciences Museum, High School “Father Paisii” – Samokov and many others.

More information for some of the events

Some ideas how to celebrate the holiday:
You can celebrate the holiday with a small or big event in a way you consider it proper. Every little thought and step which we make today has a great significance in the long run. Let’s not forget that there are at least three things which each of us can do: 1. to be well aware; 2. to take personal responsibility to environment in their daily life (to be best practice); 3. to inform and encourage the others.

- Visit a wetland (it may be the nearby river, lake, swamp) with friends, students, a group of followers or with your family. Take pictures, learn more about the water site, its problems and the ways to be solved. Learn more about the biodiversity which is met in the region.

- Inquire about the term “water footprint”. Inform your friends, relatives or followers. Calculate your year water footprint and share the results in the social network or via other channels. Brainstorm and make a group discussion how you could reduce your personal water footprint, including as regards nutrition (the largest ecological footprint on the planet has the food production). More information: (www.waterfootprint.org).

- Make presentation of the Ramsar Convention to pupils, students, colleagues and other stakeholders. You can make your own presentation for a wetland in Bulgaria or other interesting site, including for the biodiversity that depends on wetlands (fish, waterfowl, rare hydrophilic vegetation, local communities dependent on fishing, etc.).

- Open an exhibition for the wetlands. Select your best pictures related to water and water sites, print them on paper and open an exhibition in the lobby of the local community centre or other proper place. The opening of the exhibition could be accompanied by a short lecture on the problems of wetlands and the ways we could solve them, including with small steps in our daily life.

- Organize bio vegan party. All statistics and research show that agriculture and animal breeding are the greatest polluters of the planet. In addition the production of animal products has one of the highest water footprints. That’s why from an environmental perspective we had better reconsider our food habits and reduce the consumption of animal products. At the same time whatever we buy – food, clothes, paper, furniture, electrical appliances, bathroom furniture or even a whole house, it should be advisable to be interested whether the company producer is responsible enough and if it uses some of the proven green standards such as FSC, EN 16575, IFOAM OGS, Energy Strar, LEED, etc..