President Weah Declares Thursday As World Wetlands Day
Monrovia, Wednesday, February 1, 2023: The President of the Republic of Liberia, H.E. Dr. George Manneh Weah has by proclamation declared Thursday, February 2, 2023, as “World Wetlands Day”, to be observed throughout the territorial confines of the Republic as a Working Holiday.
According to a Foreign Ministry release, this year’s World Wetlands Day 2023 will be celebrated at the Marshall Wetlands that is cut across Margibi and Grand Bassa Counties, the Republic of Liberia, under the theme: “It’s time to restore Wetlands” and the national theme” Restore Wetlands, save nature.”
The Proclamation calls on all people residing in the territorial confines of the Republic of Liberia to join the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in an effort towards the sustainable management of wetlands and water bodies and to execute appropriate programs befitting the occasion.
The celebration of this day is to raise awareness and highlight the vital roles of healthy wetlands, in reducing the impacts of extreme events such as floods, droughts, and cyclones on communities, and helping to build communities resilience.
The purpose for observing the World Wetlands Day is to focus worldwide attention on the importance of wetlands, their values and benefits in general, and the Ramsar Convention in particular and to stimulate political attention and action, and to empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development.
The Proclamation reveals that the Republic of Liberia is a contracting party to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International importance.
The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, known as the Ramsar Convention was adopted in the Iranian City of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea and was designed by the United Nations to be observed on the 2nd day of February every year as World Wetlands Day. It has been celebrated by all United Nations member countries worldwide since 1997.
