President George Manneh Weah has by proclamation declared Thursday, February 2, 2023, as “World Wetlands Day”, to be observed throughout the territorial confines of the Republic as a Working Holiday.
According to a Foreign Ministry release, this year’s World Wetlands Day 2023 has been celebrated at the Marshall Wetlands which cut across Margibi and Grand Bassa Counties, the Republic of Liberia, under the theme: “It’s time to restore Wetlands” and the national theme” Restore Wetlands, save nature.”
The Proclamation requests that everyone who resides within the boundaries of the Republic of Liberia join the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in an endeavor to manage wetlands and water bodies sustainably and to carry out relevant programs appropriate for the occasion.
The purpose of this day is to increase public awareness of the critical contributions good wetlands make to lessening the effects of extreme events like floods, droughts, and cyclones on communities and fostering community resilience. The goal of celebrating World Wetlands Day is to draw attention to the significance of wetlands, their values and advantages generally, and the Ramsar Convention specifically. It also aims to inspire political action and attention and to equip people with the tools they need to actively contribute to sustainable and equitable development.
The Proclamation reveals that the Republic of Liberia is a contracting party to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International importance. The United Nations established February 2 as World Wetlands Day in honor of the adoption of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the Caspian Sea shore. Since 1997, it has been observed by each of the 193 United Nations members.
