MOE - World Wetlands Day: February 2

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World Wetlands Day: February 2

2019 February1

World Wetlands Day: February 2
Wetlands and climate change
Every year, on the 2nd of February, we celebrate World Wetlands Day (WWD). “Wetlands and climate change”, is the theme for WWD this year 2019. It aims to highlight the important role played by wetlands, as natural solutions, in adapting to, and mitigating the impact of climate change. Nowadays, the economy, human health and natural ecosystems are facing one of the most pressing problems: climate change. Wetland ecosystems are severely affected by such impacts of climate change such as sea level rise, coral bleaching, hydrological effects, changes in water temperature, and alterations in water availability and quality.
Impacts of climate change on Mediterranean wetlands
Wetlands are particularly severely affected by socio-economic pressures and climate change, which result in the degradation of biodiversity and ecosystem services, and a concomitant negative impact on Mediterranean human communities, especially those on the coast. Furthermore, the impacts of climate change are particularly significant in the Mediterranean region and will decrease ecosystem resilience in the region.
According to the report “Mediterranean Wetlands Outlook 2: Solutions for sustainable Mediterranean Wetlands”, published by the Mediterranean Wetlands Observatory (MWO), functioning under the umbrella of Tour du Valat and MedWet:
- 95% of the wetland sites hosting more than 50,000 waterbirds are coastal and threatened with submersion following sea level rise.
- The Iberian Peninsula, the Maghreb, the Balkans and the Near East are the regions that are likely to lose the largest number of wetland species as a result of climate change.
The role of wetlands in coping with climate change
Mediterranean wetlands, particularly coastal wetlands, are important for helping to mitigate climate change because they help to manage extreme weather events through the multiple services they provide.
- Absorbing and storing carbon: Wetlands are significant carbon stores.
- Reducing floods and storms: Wetlands play crucial roles in controlling flood peaks and spreading the water table. Thanks to their vegetation, such as trees and root mats, wetlands act as permeable barriers that slow waves, reduce flooding, and offer natural protection for coastlines against destructive weather events. Coastal wetlands are nature-based defenses that can provide critical protection against hurricane storm surges.
- Relieving droughts: Wetlands are important source of water everywhere, including in places where the resource is scarce. Wetlands allow water to reach the underground water table, making the resource available in dry periods. Thus, wetlands are key for groundwater recharge and allow ecosystems to cope with drought. By the same process, by releasing underground water, wetlands help to maintain the flow of rivers when precipitations diminish.
It is worth mentioning that the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands was signed on 2 February 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar. Since 1997, the Ramsar Secretariat has provided information materials to help raise public awareness about the importance and value of wetlands.
At the level of Lebanon
The Ramsar Convention entered into force in Lebanon according to Law No. 23 dated 23 February 1999, and the Ministry of Environment is the national body responsible for the implementation of this convention.
Lebanon currently has four sites classified according to the Convention as wetlands, with an area of 1080 hectares.

Name of Ramsar site	Area/Hectars	Number and date
Ammiq wetland	280	No. 978 16/4/1999
Tyre Coast Nature Reserve	380	No. 980 16/4/1999
Raas El Chaqaa		No. 979 16/4/1999
Palm Islands Nature Reserve	420	No. 1079 3/8/2001

Aspects of implementation of the Convention
Integration of the wetlands concept as an integral part of the National Water Sector Strategy, Integrated Water Resources Management- Integrated Coastal Zone Management (IWRM-ICZM) process and River Basin Management Plans, as well as development of research related to wetlands through the integration of wetlands concept and definitions into many academic programs especially into courses related to environmental geosciences, watersheds management and IWRM/ICZM in 2 universities in Lebanon as a start.

Priorities for future implementation of the Convention
1) Membership in the Standing Committee for Ramsar Convention, establishing a Ramsar National Committee and a related research unit in cooperation with other governmental agencies, universities and research institutes in Lebanon and abroad.
2) Promoting the cooperation between Ramsar Convention and Barcelona Convention specifically for the implementation of ICZM Protocol in the three coastal Ramsar sites.
3) Updating Ramsar information sheets for each of the 4 Ramsar sites in Lebanon and updating their management plans.
4) Creating a complete geo-database and dynamic maps for all the existing sites and their integration into a GIS-Based system.
5) Elaboration of a National Wetlands Inventory.
6) Nomination of a new proposed site (Anjar-Kfarzabad) to be designated as a Ramsar site and surveying of 6 new sites for future nomination: ( Oyoun Es-Samak - Oyoun Orghoch - Afqa/Roueiss sub-basin - Jeita Grotto- El Assi watershed [Dardara waterfalls site] - Mansouri Beach).