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It's World Wetlands Day: Hug a mangrove today

Poster from the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

World Wetlands Day (WWD) happens each year on 2 Feb 2010. This date marks the signing of the Convention on Wetlands almost 40 years ago in Ramsar, Iran. WWD was officially lauded in 1997 for the first time and every year government and environmental groups join forces to raise community awareness of wetlands and their vital importance to global ecology.

What are wetlands?  Well in Antigua we know a lot of them as the mangroves that ring the islands and perform all manner of functions including breeding grounds for sea life, water and air purification and cover from predators, among others. With all the development happening around us, this is the perfect time to take a look and see how human encroachment (i.e. growth) impacts on the conditions of these fragile green spaces.

The Ministry of Agriculture, through the Environment Division is doing a clean-up at Cades Bay to mark this special day. The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) is also joining in the fun at Sandals Grande Pineapple Beach Resort. To see how you can help, call the Ministry of Agriculture at 462-1007/8/27. Or the NSWMA at 562-1348.


Check out more features added this week

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