Kathmandu, February 2
The World Wetlands Day 2023 was observed across the globe, including in Nepal, today with various programmes.
The theme for the Day was 'It's Time for Wetlands Restoration'. The Day aims to raise global awareness of the vital role of wetlands for the people and the planet, according to the United Nations Environment Programme.
On the occasion, various programmes at the national, regional, and local levels were organised across the country, including in Chitwan National Park, said the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.
The Department's Director General Maheshwor Dhakal said wetlands protect ecology by reducing the impact of climate change and soil loss.
"They provide opportunities for tourists to have recreational activities like swimming and rowing boats, bird watching, and also to savour the natural beauty," he said.
"However, we have faced conservation and management challenges due to climate change, human encroachment, pollution, illegal construction of structures and lack of maintenance," he said.
Similarly, the Ministry of Forest and Environment has come up with policies and launched various programmes in coordination with the province and local levels to conserve wetlands.
Around nine per cent of the world's space and approximately five per cent of Nepal's area are covered by wetlands.
There are 163 wetlands in Tarai and 79 in the mountainous and hilly areas.
Wetlands are the habitat for various birds, fish, insects, animals, vegetation, and around 172 endangered vegetation and animals are dependent on them in Nepal, according to available data.
Out of 878 bird species found in the country, 193 are dependent on wetlands. Similarly, 17 of 20 animal species with backbone, 25 per cent of 7,000 types of vegetation and 246 types of flowering plants are dependent on them.
The Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention) was signed in Iran on 1 February 1971 with the aim of conserving and protecting wetlands globally.
Since then, the Day is observed globally on February 2 in memory of the Day when the international treaty was signed.
It works for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands.
So far, 170 countries are signatories to the treaty, and 2,314 wetlands globally are listed on the Ramsar site.
Nepal became a signatory to the treaty on 17 April 1988 by enlisting the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve on the Ramsar site on 17 December 1987.
Other Ramsar sites include Ghodaghodi Lake, Jagadishpur Reservoir, lakes in and around Bishajari, Rara Lake, Shey Phoksundo Lake, lakes in and around Gosainkunda, lakes in and around Gokyo, Maipokhari and various lakes in Pokhara.
The wetlands cover 60,561 hectare land.
A version of this article appears in the print on February 3, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
