World Wetlands Day 2025 – protect our wetlands

World Wetlands Day, also known as the International Day of Wetlands, is celebrated annually on February 2nd worldwide. This date is significant as it marks the anniversary of the signing of the Ramsar Convention in 1971—one of the most important international agreements on wetland conservation. Since 2022, it has been recognized as an official United Nations observance.

World Wetlands Day: celebrations in Poland and around the world

World Wetlands Day is celebrated in over 95 countries, coordinated by numerous non-governmental organizations, governmental agencies, and educational institutions. In Poland, national parks, regional water management authorities, the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management, and organizations such as the Wetlands Conservation Center and WWF Poland actively participate in the celebrations. Events include conferences, educational excursions, competitions, and numerous awareness campaigns in the media.

Theme for 2025 – Protect Wetlands for Our Common Future

This year’s celebrations are held under the slogan “Protect Wetlands for Our Common Future“. It is not just a slogan but a call to action. Without wetlands, there is no climate stability, clean water, or biodiversity. Yet, these ecosystems continue to disappear at an alarming rate.

At first glance, wetlands may seem like just swampy, inhospitable areas, but in reality, they are teeming with life. Floodplains, peat bogs, and shallow lakes are home to plant and animal species that cannot survive anywhere else. When wetlands are drained or degraded, we lose not only unique ecosystems but also entire species that depend on them.

But wetlands offer more than just a habitat for wildlife. They act as natural filters, purifying water from pollutants before it reaches rivers and lakes. They also serve as water reservoirs, absorbing excess rainfall to prevent floods and gradually releasing moisture during droughts. Wetlands are a natural defense against both floods and water shortages.

And that’s not all. Wetlands store enormous amounts of carbon dioxide—more than forests! When destroyed, the carbon and methane trapped in their soil are released into the atmosphere, accelerating climate change. This is a vicious cycle that we continue to fuel.

The theme of this year’s World Wetlands Day is also the main focus of the 15th Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention (COP15), which will take place in July 2025 in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. The event will bring together experts, policymakers, and environmental activists from around the world. The conference logo is inspired by the national colors of Zimbabwe, highlighting the country’s connection to wetland conservation.

Why are we losing wetlands?

Unfortunately, wetlands are in serious danger. Since the 18th century, we have lost nearly 90% of these ecosystems. Why? Because wetlands are often perceived as “wastelands”—areas that can be drained, paved over, or converted into farmland. Add to that pollution, climate change, and a lack of public awareness, and we have a recipe for disaster. Wetlands are disappearing three times faster than forests. If this trend continues, we will lose not only stunning landscapes but also our natural protection against floods and droughts.

National Plan for the Restoration of Natural Resources – work begins

GAEC 2 – a new hope for Poland’s wetlands

The growing public awareness of the importance of wetlands is reflected in new conservation measures. In 2025, Poland took a significant step forward in protecting these valuable ecosystems by introducing GAEC 2 (Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition) standards as part of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

Research conducted by the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation (IUNG-PIB) has shown that 146,000 hectares of wetlands and organic soils require urgent protection. To prevent further loss, new restrictions have been introduced:

• A ban on converting permanent grasslands, except for shallow tillage and reseeding, which can be carried out no more than once every four years;
• A ban on peat extraction;
• A ban on constructing new drainage ditches and irrigation systems;
• A ban on plowing organic soils on arable land.

The new regulations apply to both permanent grasslands and arable lands, expanding the scope of wetland protection. These measures are not only intended to preserve biodiversity but also to reduce greenhouse gas emissions released when wetlands are drained or degraded.

With the introduction of GAEC 2, Poland is taking real steps toward protecting its wetlands, ensuring that they continue to play their crucial role in climate regulation, water management, and ecosystem balance.