Mr. Penn said this is an opportunity to encourage equitable water sharing between different stakeholders and to communicate that without wetlands there will be no water. Photo:VINO

According to Acting Chief Conservation Officer, Mr. Kelvin Penn,  World Wetland’s Day will be observed on Saturday, February 2 under the theme: “Wetlands and Water Management.”

Mr. Penn said this is an opportunity to encourage equitable water sharing between different stakeholders and to communicate that without wetlands there will be no water.

“In the Virgin Islands, it is critical to maintain our wetlands as they serve as habitats for many of our endemic species,” he said, adding, “Although many of our local wetlands have been lost as a result of land reclamation, there is still hope for the regeneration and for the protection of the remaining natural habitats. Their survival relies solely on our perspective and understanding of our role to sustain the environment.”

He further stated that the Territory’s wetland ecosystems are extremely vulnerable to human impacts. “It is wise for us to become more environmentally conscious as we continue to develop our community. As a people we should take the challenge and take on the responsibility to care more for our wetlands and our water as they are the intricate keys to our human survival on the planet.”

Since 1997, government agencies, non-governmental organisations, and groups of citizens at all levels of the community worldwide have taken the opportunity to undertake actions aimed at raising the public’s awareness of the values and benefits of wetlands. The initiative has fueled Conservation and Fisheries’ campaign for the local community and is used to promote education and awareness for wetlands.

As part of the observance of World Wetlands Day during the Farmers’ Week celebrations, the Department of Conservation and Fisheries is inviting the public to take part in an educational tour of the Boardwalk at Paraquita Bay on Friday, February 1 and Saturday, February 2. Interested persons can register at the department’s booth at the Agricultural Exhibitions.

World Wetlands Day is observed annually to commemorate the adoption of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands on February 2, 1971. The Conservation and Fisheries Department is committed to ensuring that all wetlands in the Territory are protected and preserved for the benefit of future generations.