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World Wetlands Day in Australia

This Sunday 2 February is World Wetlands Day and this year’s theme is ‘Protecting Wetlands for our Common Future’. It reminds us that wetlands are not only crucial for biodiversity. Wetlands play important roles in our communities, industries, and cultural heritage. Source: Timberbiz More than 30% of the world’s wetlands have been destroyed by human activity over the past 50 years. Wetlands are vital for humans and animals, providing clean water and food. We have always, and will always, need healthy wetlands to thrive. Given this destruction, protecting and conserving them is more important than ever. People around the globe celebrate World Wetlands Day every 2 February. This date marks the anniversary of the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention), signed in Iran on 2 February 1971. Contracting parties, including countries like Australia, have celebrated World Wetlands Day since 1997. It became a United Nations International Day in 2022. In Australia, the convention recognises 67 wetlands, which span over 8.3 million hectares – an area larger than Tasmania. Since last World Wetlands Day, we’ve kept working towards global adoption of the convention. Last May, we joined a year of celebrations for Cobourg Peninsula Wetland. It became the world’s first Ramsar site over 50 years ago. It remains a pristine wonderland for Traditional Owners, wildlife, and visitors. Its preservation is thanks in part to its addition to the Ramsar List, and the sustained efforts of its managers. In June 2024 and January 2025, we represented Australia at the Standing Committee meetings of the Convention on Wetlands in Gland, Switzerland. These meetings showcase global commitment to conservation and produce important real-world outcomes for wetlands. In 2024, record attendance of 190 delegates from 60 countries developed a new strategic plan and saw proposals to update global waterbird population estimates. We also funded a Pacific youth role in conjunction with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). This role will teach young Pacific peoples to care for their wetland resources. As we reflect on what we’ve accomplished, we recognise we must all do more to protect these vital ecosystems for future generations. Cobourg Peninsula in the Northern Territory is the world’s first listed Ramsar site. It was listed for its: diversity of coastal and inland wetland types support for populations of threatened species including endangered turtles maintenance of regional biodiversity support for life-cycle functions such as turtle and waterbird breeding important fish nursery and spawning habitats. The Garig Gunak Barlu National Park (Cobourg Peninsula) is jointly managed by Traditional Owners and the Northern Territory Government. The Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife Commission works with the Arrarrkbi people, the Traditional Owners of the land. The Arrarrkbi people are both decision-making partners in the management of the national park through its Board of Management, and contributors of traditional knowledge to managing the peninsula. Being joint decision-makers at Cobourg Peninsula means the Arrarrkbi people can continue their spiritual and cultural connections with the land and sea, as well as contribute invaluable knowledge look after the peninsula for future generations. The Cobourg Peninsula celebrated its 50th anniversary as a Wetland of International Importance in May 2024. Australia was one of five founding nations to sign the Ramsar Convention. We also designated the world’s first Wetland of International Importance under the convention. This was the Cobourg Peninsula in the Northern Territory, listed in 1974. Since then, Australia has listed 67 of its wetlands under the convention. Every state or territory is home to a Ramsar wetland, and they cover more than 8.3 million hectares. Iconic Australian sites include: Kakadu National Park (NT) Roebuck Bay (WA) Gippsland Lakes (Vic) Moreton Bay (Qld) Blue Lake (NSW) Macquarie Marshes (NSW) Coorong (SA) Australia continues to play an important role in making sure the convention meets its goal of preserving Earth’s wetlands. We do this by supporting the adoption and implementation of the convention’s principles in Australia and Oceania.