When is World Wetlands Day?
World Wetlands Day 2027 is on Tuesday
Tuesday, February 2, 2027
February 2 every year. That's in 121 days.
until World Wetlands Day begins, in your time zone
World Wetlands Day raises awareness of wetlands, from marshes and peatlands to lakes and mangroves, and of how much people and wildlife depend on them. It marks the anniversary of the international treaty that protects these ecosystems.
About World Wetlands Day
Wetlands include marshes, swamps, bogs and peatlands, as well as lakes, rivers, estuaries and mangroves. They filter water, store carbon, buffer coasts and soak up floodwater. The UN says that although wetlands cover only about 6 percent of Earth's land surface, 40 percent of all plant and animal species live or breed in them, and more than a billion people depend on them for their livelihoods. They are also disappearing: the UN reports that 35 percent of the world's wetlands have been lost since 1970, and that wetlands are vanishing three times faster than forests.
The day marks the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on February 2, 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar, which is why the treaty is often called the Ramsar Convention. It entered into force in 1975 and is the oldest of the modern global intergovernmental environmental agreements. More than 2,500 sites around the world have been designated Wetlands of International Importance under it. Countries that are party to the convention have celebrated World Wetlands Day since 1997.
On August 30, 2021, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 75/317, which made February 2 an official UN international day. The convention's secretariat runs the yearly awareness campaign and chooses a theme; the 2026 theme was "Wetlands and traditional knowledge: Celebrating cultural heritage."
Sources: World Wetlands Day (Convention on Wetlands): About, United Nations: World Wetlands Day, Convention on Wetlands: About the Convention. How we check dates.
How to mark World Wetlands Day
- Visit a nearby marsh, lakeshore, estuary or wetland reserve and look for the birds, amphibians and plants that depend on it.
- Join a wetland cleanup or restoration day run by a local conservation group or park service.
- Choose peat-free compost and potting mix for your garden, since peat is dug out of peatland wetlands.
- Find out whether there's a Wetland of International Importance in your country and learn what makes it special.
- Cut back on lawn fertilizer and pesticides, since runoff can carry them into streams and wetlands.
World Wetlands Day dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Sunday, February 2, 2025 |
| 2026 | Monday, February 2, 2026 |
| 2027 | Tuesday, February 2, 2027 |
| 2028 | Wednesday, February 2, 2028 |
| 2029 | Friday, February 2, 2029 |
| 2030 | Saturday, February 2, 2030 |
| 2031 | Sunday, February 2, 2031 |
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Frequently asked questions
When is World Wetlands Day 2027?
World Wetlands Day 2027 is on Tuesday, February 2, 2027. It falls on February 2 every year. In 2028, it is on Wednesday, February 2, 2028.
Why is World Wetlands Day on February 2?
It marks the anniversary of the Convention on Wetlands, adopted on February 2, 1971, in Ramsar, Iran. The UN made it an official international day in 2021.
What is the Ramsar Convention?
It is the common name for the Convention on Wetlands, an intergovernmental treaty for the conservation and wise use of wetlands. It is named after the Iranian city where it was adopted in 1971.
Is World Wetlands Day a public holiday?
No. World Wetlands Day is an observance, not a public holiday, so schools, banks, government offices and most businesses keep their normal hours.