FUTURE OF OUR EARTH RESTS ON PROTECTING WETLANDS

Mumbai's Hidden Gems Take Center Stage on World Wetlands Day 2025
MUMBAI: As the world marks World Wetlands Day 2025 on February 2, global attention is once again focusing on these vital ecosystems that support life and maintain a healthy environment. This year's theme, "Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future," emphasizes the need for collective action to preserve wetlands.
World Wetlands Day commemorates the anniversary of the Ramsar Convention signed in 1971 in Iran, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in protecting these vital ecosystems. In 2021, the United Nations General Assembly officially declared February 2 as World Wetlands Day through Resolution 75/317.
Wetlands play a crucial role in sustaining biodiversity, providing water purification, and regulating climate conditions. Despite covering only 5% of the Earth's surface, they harbor an incredible variety of plant and animal species, many found nowhere else on the planet.
In Mumbai, several wetlands serve as essential habitats for migratory birds, fish, and wildlife, maintaining environmental balance and offering refuges for diverse species. These include:
- Bhandup Wetland: An 11-hectare area in Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary, home to migratory birds like flamingos, herons, and egrets.
- Panje Wetland: Spanning 124 hectares in Uran, Raigad, a vital habitat for migratory birds like waders, sandpipers, and flamingos.
- Training Ship Chanakya Wetland: A 13-hectare wetland surrounding the campus of Navi Mumbai.
- NRI Complex Wetland: A hidden gem right next to Palm Beach Road in Navi Mumbai, attracting migratory birds like flamingos, ibises, and spoonbills.
To celebrate World Wetlands Day, citizens are encouraged to join local projects to restore wetland ecosystems near them. Sustainable practices such as reducing waste, recycling, and avoiding pollution can also make a significant difference.
By protecting these precious ecosystems, we ensure the long-term survival of biodiversity, regulate climate conditions, and maintain environmental balance in our cities. Thus, this World Wetlands Day 2025 serves as an urgent call to act now to safeguard our shared future for generations to come.