World Wetlands Day marks the signing of the Convention on Wetlands in 1971 in the city of Ramsar, Iran. The Convention on Wetlands is a treaty that provides the framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands. There are presently over 160 Countries participating, including the United States. Around the globe, there are over 2,250 wetland sites, totaling 557 million acres designated as “Wetlands of International Importance”. The US has designated 40 sites covering 5 million acres.

Our closest Ramsar site is Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) which is part of the larger Chesapeake Estuarine Complex, designated in 1986. When you visit Blackwater NWR, you will discover the most complete network of protected lands in our Nation’s largest estuary. In the winter months, you can observe many species of birds including eagles, herons, shorebirds, bluebirds, pelicans, owls and killdeer. February is a great month to take a drive through Blackwater to see how many species you can observe.

Environmental Concern has proudly supported US Wetlands of International Importance for over 15 years!