Every February the world marks World Wetlands Day to capture global attention for wetland conservation. Beyond the broad social media campaigns that generate widespread awareness around these habitats, the true impact of this day is seen at the local level, where passionate individuals and organizations use it as a catalyst for meaningful engagement.

To commemorate World Wetlands Day this year, We are here Venice took advantage of the fact that it fell on a Sunday to organize a community walk around the natural marshes at Lazzaretto Nuovo, an island managed as an “ecomuseum” by Ekos Club and the Venice branch of Archeoclub d’Italia. We invited our members and key stakeholders from local institutions including teachers at the schools participating in our outreach initiative Giants of the Lagoon. It was an opportunity to visit an area of relatively pristine salt marsh that is relatively close to Venice while also updating our contacts about the WaterLANDS project, where our interventions to restore marshland ecological functions are in a much less accessible area of the lagoon.

World Wetlands Day was established in 1997 to commemorate the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, signed over 50 years ago in the Iranian city of the same name. It was a groundbreaking step toward recognizing the ecological importance of wetlands and implicating national governments in ensuring their conservation. Since then, a growing number of wetland sites around the world are becoming protected areas recognized by the Convention for their international importance in terms of ecology, botany, zoology, limnology, or hydrology. The annual observance has provided a platform to raise awareness about wetland degradation, climate resilience, and sustainable management, directly influencing policies in nations where large-scale restoration programs were launched as a result.

Italy is home to 57 Ramsar sites, covering a total area of 73,982 hectares. The Venetian Lagoon, albeit the largest coastal wetland of the Mediterranean region and an area of extremely important biodiversity and cultural significance in terms of the potential and risks of coexistence between human society and the dynamics of wetlands, has not yet been designated as a Ramsar site. Only a small portion of the Lagoon (500 ha), under the umbrella of the WWF Valle Averto is on the Ramsar list.

For many, wetlands remain an abstract concept - seen as nothing more than swamps, bogs, or unproductive land. Activities on this recurrence help to spark connections and memories, reminding communities of their intrinsic value and the need to protect them. While this day may not stir the masses, it is invaluable for strengthening the networks of those deeply engaged in wetland advocacy.

World Wetlands Day remains a powerful moment of reflection, collaboration, and motivation and a chance to showcase the long-time commitment of empowering local initiatives, sharing knowledge, and fostering connections that continue long after February 2nd.