Eco Society Newsletter
2nd February was World Wetlands Day. Wetlands are the world’s most biodiverse habitats that play a crucial role in protecting our planet. They hold most of our available fresh water; they can store vast amounts of carbon to slow down climate change; and they can store water to buffer us from the sea to prevent floods and buffer temperature changes up to 10 degrees Celsius.
In the last decades, human construction and overpopulation has led to various ecological problems affecting wetlands, such as a decrease in environmental conservation. As a result, the world has already lost 85% of its wetlands.
Each year a theme is selected for the World Wetlands Day to focus attention and help raise public awareness about the value of wetlands. This year’s theme is “Wetlands Action for People and Nature” and it reminds us of the urgent need to invest in wetlands and nature-based solutions that deliver on the environmental and linked goals of the 2030 Agenda, the Decade for Ecosystem Restoration, and an inclusive green recovery.
Healthy wetlands ecosystem services are worth US$47 trillion annually, provide livelihoods for one billion people, and are critical for protecting biodiversity and advancing climate action. If we are to advance sustainable development for both people and the planet, we must act now to better manage, conserve, and restore our wetlands.
Thank you for reading and please email e.yang@rossall.org.uk if you have any queries.
Emily Yang, co-president of Eco Society
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