The theme for world wetlands day 2016 is ?wetlands for our future: sustainable livelihoods.?

Wetlands are distinguished by the presence of water, which often have unique soils that differs from adjacent uplands and support vegetations adapted to wet conditions. The Ramsar Convention defines wetlands as ?areas of marsh, fen, peat land or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish, or salty including areas of marine waters, the depth of which at low tide does not exceed 6 meters.?

Wetlands play an important role in the processes that keeps our landscapes healthy and productive. They are among the most productive ecosystems of the world. They are very important in terms of their ecological, economic, cultural and recreational values. These ecosystems support a wide variety of plants and animals of their economic value, which provides a wide range of goods and services as well as income-generating opportunities. The ability of wetlands to recycle nutrients makes them critical in the overall functioning of earth. No other ecosystem is as productive, nor as unique in this conversion process. In some places artificial wetlands have been developed solely for the purpose of water purification. Wetlands serve important recreational and cultural functions.

At last, wetlands provide significant economic, social and cultural benefits. They are important for primary products such as pastures, timber and fish and support recreational and tourist activities. Wetlands also help to reduce the impacts from flooding, maintain good water quality in rivers, recharge ground water, store carbon, help to stabilize climatic conditions and control pests. They are also highly important sites for biodiversity.
'save wetlands, save earth'