As we draw near to February, we take this time to share with you the benefits and values of wetlands and the need for conservation. Guyana will join the rest of the world on February 2, to celebrate World Wetland Day.

What are Wetlands?
According to the National Geographic Society, “A Wetland is an area of land that is either covered by water or saturated with water. The water is often groundwater, seeping up from an aquifer or spring. Wetland water can also come from a nearby river or lake.
Seawater can also create wetlands, especially in coastal areas that experience strong tides. A wetland is entirely covered by water for at least part of the year. The depth and duration of this seasonal flooding varies. Wetlands are transition zones. They are neither totally dry land nor totally underwater; they have characteristics of both”.

World Wetlands Day is observed annually on February 2, though it was not celebrated until 1997. This day highlights the influence and positive production that wetlands have had on the world and brings communities together for the benefit of Mother Nature. This day also raises global awareness of wetlands’ significant role not only for people but for the planet. Community protectors and environmental enthusiasts all come together on this day to celebrate their love for nature through celebration, which recognises what wetlands have done for not only humans but all sorts of organisms in the world.

Threats
Over time, the world, more so human influence has led to various ecological problems affecting wetlands. According to UNESCO, the threat to wetlands will have an adverse impact on 40% of the world’s flora and fauna that live or breed in wetlands. Overpopulation, pollution, erosion, and climate change just to list a few, have led to a decrease in the environmental conservation of wetlands. Many wetlands are being lost, and we should recognise the dilemma before this natural filter and conserver of the world faces irreversible changes.

Wetlands in Guyana
The Demerara, Berbice and Essequibo Rivers make up Guyana’s three main Watersheds, which play a vital role in the environment that forms our wetlands. Let us discuss a few of our wetlands.

Moruca:
The Moruka River or Moruca River is a river in the Barima-Waini region of northern Guyana. The mouth of the river opens to the Atlantic Ocean. Mangrove forests make up the shoreline, turning into swampy savannah wetlands as it moves west. The Moruka River’s water level varies dramatically depending on the season. This savannah wetland is home to 11 titled indigenous communities. They all use the wetland areas for their daily livelihoods.

The North Rupununi:
The North Rupununi Wetlands are a unique and highly diverse ecosystem that includes seasonally flooded forests, wetlands, and savannahs that are extremely important for the biodiversity and ecosystem services that they provide to local communities and the nation. The North Rupununi Wetlands system is one of the largest wetlands in Guyana, which encompasses an area of 22,000 hectares of periodically flooded savanna and forest. These Wetlands are dominated by the Rupununi, Rewa, and Essequibo Rivers and include over 750 lakes, ponds and inlets.
Over 400 species of fish have been recorded in the area, leading to estimates of up to 600 species for the larger wetland system. This is the highest fish diversity in the world for areas of similar size. The wetlands are also home to the Guyana’s endangered giants, the Arapaima (Arapaima gigas), Giant River Turtle (Podocnemis expansa), Black Caiman (Melanosuchus niger), and Giant Otter (Pteronura brasiliensis). The Makushi nations depend heavily on the North Rupununi wetlands as they provide clean water, food, materials to make craft, housing materials and traditional medicine. Their harvesting techniques are sustainable and promote long-term protection and conservation of these resources.

The Coastal Wetland:
The origin of the Mahaica wetland is difficult to trace because its upper watersheds overlap with the lower watersheds of the Demerara and Berbice Rivers. The river breaks off into smaller tributaries, making it seem “boundless.”
The river is a well-known bird-watching site which over 150 species makes this area their home, as well as home to other wildlife, including river otters, howler monkeys and the Canje Pheasant, Guyana’s national bird.

How can we Protect our Wetlands?
By reducing pollution, wetlands are sensitive to pollution, so it’s important to
• reduce the number of pollutants that enter them. This can be done by properly disposing of hazardous waste, using environmentally friendly products in manufacturing and the industrial sector, in cleaning products, and reducing the use of fertilisers and pesticides within the agriculture sector;
• Preserve wetlands by protecting them from activities that can harm them. This can be done by creating protected areas, such as national parks, wildlife refuges, and conservation research areas.

Wetland ecosystems support water purification, control floods and provide habitat for many aquatic species. It is also essential to recognise that Indigenous communities in Guyana and worldwide have had a long-standing connection with wetland ecosystems. The Secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands invites you to join the World Wetlands Day celebrations on February 2 2024. The theme for the day is, “Wetlands and Human Wellbeing”. With only six years left to meet the Sustainable Development Goals in 2030, there is an urgent need to act now.