MEMPHIS, Tenn. Jan. 26, 2021 On Tuesday, Feb. 2, conservationists around the globe will celebrate World Wetlands Day (WWD) to recognize the importance of these valuable ecosystems to people, wildlife and the planet.


Ducks Unlimited raises public awareness about the benefits wetlands provide not only for waterfowl habitat but as important natural water filters. World Wetlands Day 2021 focuses on wetlands as a source of fresh water and encourages wetland restoration and preservation.

WWD marks the signing of the Convention on Wetlands on Feb. 2, 1971, in Ramsar, Iran. Each year since 1997, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, corporations and citizens representing all segments of society have used this date to raise public awareness of wetland values.

This year's World Wetlands Day theme is Wetlands and Water.

"Ducks Unlimiteds mission is to conserve, restore and manage wetlands and associated habitats for North Americas waterfowl. These habitats also benefit other wildlife and people," said Ducks Unlimited Chief Conservation Officer Karen Waldrop. When you enjoy a refreshing glass of water on a hot summer day, wetlands likely helped make that water suitable for drinking. Scientists refer to wetlands as natures kidneys because they filter and purify water as it passes through them.


Ducks Unlimited and our partners are conserving prairie potholes and native grasslands in the Great Plains, restoring bottomland hardwood forests in the lower Mississippi River Valley, protecting and enhancing the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and protecting and improving wetland habitats in the Central Valley of California, the coastal prairies of Texas and the coastal marshes of Louisiana, just to name a few.

In Fiscal Year 2020, Ducks Unlimiteds conservation work protected and restored 606,745 acres of wetland habitat. Our conservation staff worked tirelessly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and followed all local COVID-19 guidelines to ensure that we made good on our mission. Throughout North America, Ducks Unlimited has conserved almost 15 million acres since its inception in 1937.

World Wetlands Day is an annual opportunity to make people aware of the threats wetlands face and how they are important to wildlife and people, Waldrop said. At Ducks Unlimited, we work for North Americas wetlands every day of the year. Without the support of great, conservation-minded partners our work would certainly be limited.

For more information about World Wetlands Day, visit www.worldwetlandsday.org.

Follow DUs news Twitter feed @DUNews1937 to get the most up-to-date news from Ducks Unlimited.

Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved almost 15 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. For more information on our work, visit www.ducks.org.

Media Contact:

Gregg Powers

(901) 758-3774

gpowers@ducks.org