World Wetlands Day
A/RES/75/317
A/RES/75/317
This authority record treats the observance as a fixed annual date. The same month and day can be reused unless a stronger source changes the rule. Public-holiday or government status is never inferred from the observance name alone.
Overview
World Wetlands Day is observed on 2 February to raise awareness of wetlands, their ecological functions and the need to conserve and restore them. The United Nations General Assembly formally proclaimed the date as a UN international day in 2021.
The observance is closely connected to the Convention on Wetlands, often called the Ramsar Convention, but the guide keeps the treaty, the awareness day and any annual campaign theme distinct.
Why it matters
Wetlands include diverse inland and coastal ecosystems that can support biodiversity, water regulation, livelihoods and climate resilience. The day is useful for connecting local wetland conditions with wider conservation responsibilities.
Good observance content should avoid treating every wetland as interchangeable. Local ecology, land use, Indigenous and community relationships, legal protections and restoration needs can differ substantially by place.
History
The Convention on Wetlands was adopted on 2 February 1971 in Ramsar, Iran. That anniversary is the reason World Wetlands Day is held on 2 February.
The Convention community first celebrated World Wetlands Day in 1997 and continued the annual observance for more than two decades before United Nations-level proclamation.
On 30 August 2021, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/75/317 proclaiming 2 February as World Wetlands Day. v1.36 therefore treats the 1997–2021 Convention-led observance as a documented precursor phase rather than implying that the Day began only with the UN resolution.
How the observance developed
This timeline is assembled only from verified provenance fields. Missing stages are omitted rather than inferred.
World Wetlands Day under the Convention on Wetlands
The Convention on Wetlands community had celebrated the same annual observance since 1997; UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/75/317 of 30 August 2021 later proclaimed 2 February as World Wetlands Day at United Nations level.
United Nations General Assembly
UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/75/317
First documented observance
The Convention on Wetlands community has marked World Wetlands Day since 1997.
What the evidence establishes
Verified institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Fields that the reviewed sources do not establish remain fail-closed and are available below without competing with the confirmed record.
4 fields not established in reviewed sources
Predecessor and precursor observances
Earlier or merged observances are kept separate from former names and later institutional actions.
Ways to observe
Learn which wetlands near you are protected, restored or under pressure using official conservation or land-management sources.
Join a reputable restoration, cleanup or citizen-science activity that follows local ecological guidance.
Use maps or historical records to compare how a wetland has changed over time.
Discuss how wetlands relate to water, biodiversity, flood risk and livelihoods without reducing them to a single environmental service.
When visiting sensitive habitat, follow site rules and avoid disturbing wildlife or damaging vegetation.
Useful facts
World Wetlands Day is observed on 2 February.
The date marks the 1971 adoption of the Convention on Wetlands in Ramsar, Iran.
World Wetlands Day has been celebrated by the Convention community since 1997.
The UN General Assembly proclaimed 2 February as World Wetlands Day in 2021.
Annual themes can change and should be refreshed separately from the permanent history of the observance.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Repeated links from the authority record, institutional provenance and editorial guide research are consolidated here. Badges show how each source is used; a contextual source is never treated as proof of establishment on its own.
Convention on Wetlands — Diplomatic Note 2021/10 on UNGA adoption (opens in a new tab)
Convention on Wetlands — World Wetlands Day 1997 (opens in a new tab)
Convention on Wetlands — World Wetlands Day background toolkit (opens in a new tab)
United Nations Digital Library — A/RES/75/317 action note 30 August 2021 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — World Wetlands Day background (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — World Wetlands Day (opens in a new tab)
Dedicated Authoritative Page
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then use reviewed distinctions and related authority records to understand where this observance fits.
Frequently asked questions
When is World Wetlands Day?
2 February The stored recurrence guidance is: 2 February.
Does World Wetlands Day fall on the same date every year?
The authority record classifies it as fixed annual, so its month and day are reusable unless stronger evidence changes the rule.
Is World Wetlands Day an official public holiday?
The authority record verifies it within this scope: United Nations / international observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when the supporting authority record explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes World Wetlands Day?
The reviewed provenance layer identifies United Nations General Assembly as the proclaiming or establishing body.
Is World Wetlands Day international or country-specific?
The record has international or global institutional scope: United Nations / international observance. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual layer is source-backed and keeps its date rule, scope, provenance and editorial guardrails attached to the authority record. This record was checked on 2026-09-07.
Why is World Wetlands Day on 2 February?
The date marks the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971 in Ramsar, Iran.
When did World Wetlands Day become a United Nations international day?
The UN General Assembly proclaimed 2 February as World Wetlands Day in 2021 through resolution A/RES/75/317.
Is World Wetlands Day the same thing as the Ramsar Convention?
No. The Convention is an international treaty; World Wetlands Day is an awareness observance linked to the anniversary of its adoption.
How this differs from closely related observances
These distinctions are separately reviewed and source-backed. They clarify scope; they do not change either authority record.
Is World Wetlands Day the same as World Water Day?
World Wetlands Day on 2 February focuses specifically on wetlands and the anniversary of the Convention on Wetlands. World Water Day on 22 March has a broader freshwater and water-management focus.
Open World Water Day →Distinction sources
Other observances on February 2
These records also resolve to February 2, 2027 under the current authority data.
Groundhog Day
The U.S. National Weather Service documents the 2 February Groundhog Day tradition and its weather-folklore background
Marmot Day
Alaska legislation establishes 2 February of each year as Marmot Day and provides for suitable observance; Alaska State Archives also lists the day among state-designated dates.
National Brown Dog Day
National Day Archives records National Brown Dog Day on February 2 each year and identifies Debra Loveless Williams as the creator in 2021.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Day
The Arthritis Foundation’s awareness calendar lists Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Day on February 2.
Solemnity / liturgical feast of Our Lady of Candelaria
Tenerife’s official tourism site states that the liturgical festivity of Our Lady of Candelaria takes place on February 2; it separately notes an August 15 celebration of her apparition.