World Wetlands Day is celebrated around the world every year on February 2. For this occasion the Għadira and Simar nature reserves, Malta's only wetlands, will be hosting schoolchildren during the week leading up to this international event.
Birdlife Malta and its education partner Bank of Valletta are urging school teachers participating in Birdlife's education programme Dinja Waħda (One World) to take this opportunity to visit the reserves and learn more about the importance of wetlands.
Wetlands are particularly important for our eco-system. They are areas where water is the primary factor controlling the environment as well as the associated plant and animal life.
Like Simar and Għadira nature reserves, wetlands host many migrating birds as well as other wildlife, such as weasels, hedgehogs and reptiles, including chameleons, and different species of fish.
With the results of the latest Eurobarometer survey showing that the Maltese are concerned about biodiversity, protecting and enhancing Malta's wetlands is a matter of national concern. More importantly, they provide a space to engage with the eco-systems and learn more on how to better appreciate the natural environment.
The world wetlands are protected by an international convention known as Ramsar. The Convention on Wetlands was adopted for the first time in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea in 1971. The Convention provides the framework for national action and international co-operation for the contracting parties including Malta to the Convention, with 1,708 wetland sites totalling a whopping 153 million hectares designated for inclusion in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance.
The event will be a great opportunity for schoolchildren to learn more about Malta's wetlands. The field teachers at Simar and Għadira nature reserves will take children around and give a detailed explanation about the importance of Malta's only two wetlands. A visit to one of the reserves is in fact one of the activities outlined in Birdlife's education programme Dinja Waħda and provides the participating class with a minimum of 100 points. Teachers need to book for school visits during the week by calling Birdlife on 2134 7644/5.
The reserves, while open to school visits during the weekdays, are also open to the public at the weekend. Both Għadira and Simar nature reserve will be open to the next weekend for those who want to experience a different weekend activity for all the family and learn more about wetlands. Entry to the reserves is free and binoculars are provided for on-site visits. For more information on the nature reserves, visit www.birdlifemalta.org.