Officials along with the participants during the World Wetlands Day programme held at the Multipurpose Hall of the Tourist Lodge, Doyang, Wokha on February 3.
Officials flag rapid global loss of wetlands, call for urgent collective action
Morung Express News
Wokha | February 4
World Wetlands Day 2026 was observed on February 3 at the Multipurpose Hall of the Tourist Lodge, Doyang, under the theme “Wetlands and traditional knowledge: Celebrating cultural heritage.”
The programme was organised by the Wokha Forest Division and Doyang Plantation Division in collaboration with the Environmental Information, Awareness, Capacity Building and Livelihood Programme (EIACP) and the Nagaland Pollution Control Board (NPCB).
Addressing the gathering, Suman WM Sivachar, IFS, Divisional Forest Officer of Wokha Forest Division and Doyang Plantation Division, highlighted the global significance of World Wetlands Day, observed annually on February 2 since 1997 and recognised as a United Nations International Day from 2022. He said the day marks the anniversary of the Convention on Wetlands, also known as the Ramsar Convention, adopted in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, which remains the oldest modern intergovernmental environmental agreement devoted to a single ecosystem.
Sivachar informed that the Convention on Wetlands currently has 172 contracting parties, covering nearly 90 per cent of UN member states, with 2,546 designated wetlands worldwide spanning about 257.99 million hectares. Emphasising the 2026 theme, he underscored the importance of recognising indigenous and traditional knowledge systems passed down through generations, noting their critical role in the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands.
Quoting Dr Musonda Mumba, Secretary General of the Convention on Wetlands, Sivachar said World Wetlands Day 2026 explores the deep-rooted connections between wetlands and cultural practices, traditions and knowledge systems, describing wetlands as living spaces that preserve humanity’s shared cultural and ecological history.
He explained that wetlands include inland, coastal and human-made ecosystems and are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth, providing essential services such as freshwater supply, biodiversity conservation, carbon storage, climate regulation and protection against extreme weather events. He added that wetlands support food security, livelihoods and cultural identity, particularly for Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
Raising concern, Sivachar warned of the rapid loss and degradation of wetlands globally due to pollution, urban expansion, industrial development, agricultural intensification, drainage and invasive species. He said wetland loss disrupts climate systems, threatens biodiversity and livelihoods, and undermines human wellbeing, calling for urgent collective action.
M Senthil Kumar, IFS, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Territorial), in his brief address, linked the importance of wetlands with the 2026 theme, highlighting the role of traditional knowledge and cultural practices in sustaining wetland ecosystems. He said wetlands are not merely large water bodies or land masses but dynamic ecosystems formed through the interaction of land and water, which local communities have understood, managed and protected over generations.
Emphasising conservation, Kumar said safeguarding wetlands also involves recognising indigenous wisdom and community-based practices that support forest health, wildlife conservation and ecological balance, making them vital for long-term environmental sustainability.
The programme was chaired by H Olivi Awomi, Range Forest Officer, Baghty Range. A special cultural number was presented by VKV, DHEP, NEEPCO. Representatives from the district administration also spoke on conservation initiatives, policy measures and collaborative approaches to environmental protection.
As part of the observance, winners of the poem competition were felicitated, followed by a PowerPoint presentation on Mission LiFE, EIACP and NPCB, focusing on sustainable lifestyles, environmental awareness and pollution control.
