WETLANDS and Human Wellbeing is the theme for World Wetlands Day 2024.
West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (CMA), along with the Love Our Lakes and Wellington Shire Council are inviting the community to celebrate at Nakunbalook Environmental and Cultural Education Centre.
Local experts will talk about why wetlands are important, how lucky the community is to live in the catchments that support wetlands like Sale and the internationally renowned Gippsland Lakes Ramsar site, and the programs underway to protect them.
The event will also include fun for kids and, weather permitting, a wellbeing walk to a local wetland to discover the plants, birds and frogs that live there.
World Wetlands Day, celebrated annually on February 2, aims to raise global awareness about the vital role of wetlands for people and planet.
This year’s theme spotlights how interconnected wetlands and human life are and calls on each of person to value and steward the wetlands. Every wetland matters. Every effort counts.
“Nearly 90 per cent of the world’s wetlands have been degraded since the 1700s, with wetlands being lost three times faster than forests,” the Secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands said.
“Yet, wetlands are critically important ecosystems that contribute to biodiversity, climate mitigation and adaptation, freshwater availability, world economies and more.
“It is urgent that we raise national and global awareness about wetlands in order to reverse their rapid loss and encourage actions to conserve and restore them.”
Everyone is invited to celebrate World Wetlands Day at a free, family friendly event at Nakunbalook Environmental and Cultural Education Centre in Sale on Friday, February 2 from 5pm to 7.30pm.
While the event is free, CMA asks people register via the Try Booking link at www.wgcma.vic.gov.au
Pelican flying over Sale Common. Photographs supplied
Lower Latrobe wetlands. World Wetlands Day will be celebrated this month.
Sale Wetlands Bridge.
Black Duck Duckling in the Sale Wetlands.
West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority Environmental Officer, Dr Adrian Clements on a wetlands talk.
