World Wetlands Day- 2/2/08

Environmental Concern Celebrates World Wetlands Day (WWD)- February 2, 2008 On World Wetlands Day people all over the world celebrate the benefits of wetlands. Why February 2nd? On February 2, 1971, 18 countries signed the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, promising not to destroy their wetlands and to preserve what remains. There are presently 158 Contracting Countries to the Convention, with 1712 wetland sites. "Healthy Wetlands, Healthy People" This year's theme for World Wetlands Day promotes the connection between wetlands and human health. As a water purifier, wildlife habitat, and flood water storage sponge, the connection is easy to make!

What is Environmental Concern doing to celebrate thisyear? Wet Your Appetite Cuisine for Critters Recipe Contest! Environmental Concern is challenging students in grades 8 through 12 in the U.S. and its territories to write a creative wetland recipe. Here's the twist; the recipe must be written for a specific wetland organism living in one of the 22 U.S. Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance (how about Salamander Salsa - Two-fly Pie - Cattail Kabobs?). For more information about the contest and how to enter, visit www.wetland.org