Celebrating wetlands across the world [Photos]

Feb. 2 marks World Wetlands Day, which commemorates an agreement to conserve the Earth's marshes, swamps and bogs. To mark the occasion, take a tour of some of the world's most remarkable wetlands.

By

Catie Leary

Fri, Feb 01 2013 at 11:57 AM

Related Topics:

Ecology, National Parks, Photography, Water Conservation, Water Pollution, Wild Animals

Alligators at Shark Valley, Everglades National Park, Florida. (Photo: Photomatt28/Flickr)

Happy World Wetlands Day

Sharing the stage with the ever famous Punxsutawney Phil since 1997, World Wetlands Day encourages government agencies, non-governmental organizations and concerned citizens to promote global awareness of wetland conservation.

In honor of the pivotal role that marshes, swamps and bogs play in maintaining the quality of the water we use every day, "Wetlands and Water Management" is this year's theme for World Wetlands Day.

In the U.S. alone, tens of thousands of acres of wetlands are lost every year, which not only shrinks the natural habitats of native species, but also weakens the ecosystem's unique ability to purify water, control floods and storm surges, and promote biodiversity.

Organizers of World Wetlands Day believe that sustainable water management policies are imperative for wetland ecosystems to continue providing these vital services to the benefit of both humans and wildlife.

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