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Home News Celebrate World Wetlands Day – Thursday 2 February 2023

Celebrate World Wetlands Day – Thursday 2 February 2023

Wetlands are critically important ecosystems that contribute to biodiversity, climate mitigation and adaptation, freshwater availability, and more. World Wetlands Day, celebrated every year on 2 February, aims to raise global awareness about the vital role of wetlands for people and planet. This day also marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar.

Ireland’s wetland habitats range from the very small (like a freshwater spring) to habitats which dominate the Irish landscape such as lakes, rivers and bogs. They are home to a large diversity of plant and animal species and form an important network of ecological sites for many species when they are migrating. Wetlands are important ecosystems that provide numerous benefits, including water purification, habitat for wildlife, and protection against floods and erosion.

World Wetlands Day provides an opportunity for us to reflect on the important role that wetlands play in our environment and the steps we can take to protect them. In the Republic of Ireland, wetlands are an essential part of the country’s natural heritage and are crucial local ecosystems. By working to conserve these important ecosystems, we can ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy their many benefits.

Find a World Wetlands Day 2023 event near you

The Irish Ramsar Wetlands Committee (IRWC) has a list of events taking place to celebrate World Wetlands Day.

You can learn more about Irish wetlands on their website www.irishwetlands.ie

Irish Wetlands Video Series

This series of videos was produced in 2021 by the IRWC with support from the OPW, the EPA and NPWS to celebrate 50 years since the signing of the Ramsar Convention. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of Ramsar sites (wetlands). It is named after the city of Ramsar in Iran, where the convention was signed in 1971.

Pollardstown Fen

Bhí an físeán Eanach Bhaile Pholaird maoinithe go cineálta ag an EPA agus tá buíochas le Anja Murray as reacaireacht agus le Tristram Whyte as cur leis. CrowCrag Productions (Twitter@crow_crag) a léiríonn an físeán. Féach ar tuilleadh i Sraith Físeán Bogaigh na hÉireann >

The Clara Bog video was kindly funded by the OPW and thanks are due to Anja Murray for narration and to Paul Johnston for contributing. The video is produced by CrowCrag Productions (Twitter@crow_crag).

Tralee Bay

The Tralee Bay video was kindly funded by the OPW and thanks are due to Anja Murray for narration and to Dr David McCormick, Ecologist, Institute of Technology Tralee, for contributing. The video is produced by CrowCrag Productions (Twitter@crow_crag), with additional wildlife footage courtesy of Viridiflavus.

Coole Park

The Coole Park video was kindly funded by the OPW and thanks are due to Anja Murray for narration and to Raymond Stephens, NPWS Conservation Ranger, and to Micheline Sheehy Skeffington, Plant Ecologist, for contributing. The video is produced by CrowCrag Productions (Twitter@crow_crag), with additional wildlife footage courtesy of Ecofact.

Wexford Wildfowl Reserve

The Wexford Wildfowl Reserve video was kindly funded by the OPW and thanks are due to Anja Murray for narration and to Dominic Berridge, NPWS Conservation Ranger and to Karin Dubsky, Marine Ecologist Trinity College Dublin, for contributing. The video is produced by CrowCrag Productions (Twitter@crow_crag), with additional wildlife footage courtesy of Ecofact.

About author

EPA Catchments Unit

Administrator

The EPA Catchments Unit is based in Dublin, and the team is involved with catchment science, chemistry, ecology, hydromorphology, modelling, Geographic Information Systems and planning. We work with the wider EPA, all of our local authorities, the Local Authority Waters and Communities Office, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, and other public bodies and Departments to ensure we have the best available data and information about our catchments.

Who is involved?
Quite simply, everyone in Ireland has a role to play. This can be from something as simple as making sure you don’t pollute your local stream, or a local community working together to establish a Rivers Trust to enhance the rivers and lakes in their area, to a Government Department or Agency helping a Minister implement a new policy to help protect and enhance all our water bodies.

This website has been developed and is maintained by the Environmental Protection Agency, and is a collaboration between the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Local Authority Waters Programme.

Local Authority Waters Programme

The Local Authority Waters Programme coordinates the efforts of local authorities and other public bodies in the implementation of the River Basin Management Plan, and supports local community and stakeholder involvement in managing our natural waters, for everyone’s benefit.

Environmental Protection Agency

The EPA is responsible for coordinating the monitoring, assessment and reporting on the status of our 4,842 water bodies, looking at trends and changes, determining which waterbodies are at risk and what could be causing this, and drafting environmental objectives for each.

Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Department is responsible for making sure that the right policies, regulations and resources are in place to implement the Water Framework Directive, and developing a River Basin Management Plan and Programme of Measures to protect and restore our waters.