Today, February 2nd, was World Wetlands Day. Forty three years ago on this day, in the Iranian city of Ramsar, a group representing 18 government's met to sign the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance. The Ramsar Convention as it's now commonly called is the only international treaty that sets out to conserve just one type of ecosystem, our wetlands. Although signed in another part of the world a generation ago, the treaty is important to us on a local level due to Langstone and Chichester Harbours citation as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance.
Above: A mixture of waders including dunlin, ringed plovers and oystercatchers in Langstone Harbour (photo by M. Johnstone).
43 years later, this important work is still vigilantly kept up. Although both of our Harbours are protected by a variety of other designations, the Ramsar Designation remains poignant due to it's recognition of a global problem. As our international body, Birdlife, wrote today: "At least 12% of all Globally Threatened Birds depend on wetlands. The most important types of wetlands for these birds are lakes and pools; rivers and streams; bogs, marshes and swamps; and coastal lagoons. Wetlands make up a high percentage of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas mainly due to their importance for large congregations of waterbirds."
Above: A rising cloud of Dunlin and ringed plovers at the West Hayling Local Nature Reserve (photo by M. Johnstone).
Our wetlands are beautiful and inspiring places but they're also very fragile. World Wetlands Day to me is a reminder of just how lucky we are to still have these magical places packed full of wildlife on our doorstep and also a reminder of the responsibility we all play for protecting them.
As always, if you'd like to help us give nature a home, please visit our website or email me directly at wez.smith@rspb.org.uk.
Above: The magic of Langstone Harbour (photo by M. Johnstone)