President Boakai declares February 2 as World Wetlands Day

Published: January 30, 2026

MONROVIA — President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. has, by proclamation, declared Monday, February 2, 2026, as World Wetlands Day, to be observed nationwide as a working holiday.

The proclamation reaffirms Liberia’s commitment to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, an intergovernmental treaty adopted on February 2, 1971, in Ramsar, Iran, and to the global observance that began in 1997.

According to a Foreign Ministry release, the observance aims to draw national and international attention to the vital role wetlands play in sustaining livelihoods and ecosystems.

Wetlands provide food and income through fishing and rice and vegetable farming; support travel and tourism; protect groundwater and ensure water supply; serve as habitats for diverse species; shield coastlines; buffer floods; and store carbon to help regulate the climate.

President Boakai emphasized that the celebration seeks to raise public awareness about conserving and sustainably using wetlands for the benefit of present and future generations.

Liberia, a contracting party to the Ramsar Convention, will commemorate World Wetlands Day 2026 under the theme, “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage.” The national program will be held on SKD Boulevard, near John Gbesay Resort, beginning with a 6:00 a.m. birdwatching activity, followed by a formal indoor program bringing together students, government officials, civil society organizations, youth, persons with disabilities, and a broad cross-section of society.

The President encouraged all citizens and foreign residents to take concrete actions to ensure the sustainable management and wise use of wetlands and water bodies across the country and called on residents to join the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in executing programs that will make the observance meaningful.

World Wetlands Day is observed annually to promote understanding of wetlands’ importance and to advocate for their protection amid rising environmental threats.