With this year's theme “Wetlands and Human Wellbeing”, the DENR-PENRO Cavite kick-started its celebration of World Wetlands Day through a photo exhibit showcasing Cavite’s wetland ecosystem. This activity highlighted that human beings are interlaced not only with wetlands but also with nature in general.

 

The photo exhibit highlighted the results of the Asian WaterBird Census conducted last January 17-19, 2024 where migratory birds rest in the mangrove areas of the municipalities of Kawit and Noveleta, and City of Bacoor, Cavite, as well as the coral garden located at the Core Zone of Ternate Marine Park (TMP), Ternate, Cavite. Moreover, the results of the inland wetland inventory conducted by the PENRO in CY 2023 were showcased in the exhibit. The exhibit was viewed by a total of 81 individuals, 38 male and 43 female, composed of DENR-PENRO Cavite clients and Trece Martires City Senior High School and Cavite State University-Trece City Martires Campus students.

 

Aside from the photo exhibit, trivial questions in a fishbowl about wetlands were provided for the observers to answer. Said questions include information that approximately 6% of the world’s land cover has been identified as wetlands and how the said soil-covered water areas act as a filtration system storing up 30% of land-based carbon, among other ecosystem services that it offers and many more. Threats posed to wetland ecosystems such as pollution, harmful human activities, as well as adverse effects of climate change were also included in the pool of questions which served as a way to encourage participation of the observers in the conservation and protection of wetlands.

 

The observers of the one-day photo exhibit were made aware about the wetlands near them and the practices that they can do to take part in wetlands conservation and protection. Observers, especially the students, pledged to be more conscious about their environment given that wetlands and the environment in general are interlaced with human wellbeing.

 

World Wetlands Day is being celebrated annually every 2nd day of February. This day commemorates the anniversary of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance in Ramsar, Iran in 1971, also known as “The Ramsar Convention”. In support of this environmental celebration, President Joseph Ejercito Estrada signed Presidential Proclamation No. 74 series of 1999 declaring February 2 of every year as National Wetlands Day in recognition of its immense importance to the welfare of the Filipino people and the protection of global biodiversity. This celebration is an avenue to raise public awareness on the importance of wetlands and its vital role in preserving biodiversity, and promote the conservation and wise use of these ecosystems. ###