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World Wetlands Day (WWD) is celebrated annually
on February 2. It marks the anniversary of the adoption of the
Convention of Wetlands signed in Ramsar Iran on February 2, 1971.
Since then, Governments, Non-Government Organizations and other
environmental groups have observed the day to raise public awareness
of the value of wetlands. In October 1997, Jamaica became the 104th
Party to the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance also
called the Ramsar Convention.
The day will be celebrated under the theme,
“Wetlands, sustaining life & livelihoods”, an appropriate one since
wetlands are both habitats for marine and other animals and provide
economic benefits for many people throughout Jamaica.
The National Environment and Planning Agency
(NEPA) in collaboration with the National Ramsar Committee has
organized activities to mark this important event including a tour of
the UWI Marine Laboratory and the mangroves in the Palisadoes - Port
Royal Ramsar Site. The Minister of Land & Environment, the Honourable
Dean Peart, will launch the day’s activities which will include live
displays of mangrove marine life, an interactive presentation from the
Jamaica Environment Trust and boat tours of the mangroves.
Other activities will include displays mounted at
the Kingston and St. Andrew Parish Library and the Institute of
Jamaica between January 30 and February 3 and the distribution of
poster to libraries island-wide.
Jamaica has two Wetlands of International
Importance, Black River Lower Morass and the Palisadoes-Port Royal.
It is anticipated that sections of the Portland Bight wetlands which
cover areas in southern Clarendon and St Catherine will be added in
time for WWD 2006.
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