Full environmental activities for World Wetlands Day

Information is shared between the centers of the island, following talks and excursions to wetlands with students

Coinciding with World Wetlands Day, which takes place tomorrow, Tuesday, 2 February, the Environmental Council of the Town Council allocated among the various schools in the island the communications material developed through the Environmental Education Department in order to disclose knowledge of wetland habitats on Fuerteventura special presence that hosts a significant proportion of the biodiversity of the island

The council held at these centers Poster deliveries and an informative dossier on Wetlands Day 2010. This action will complete the two visits organized last December for participating students meet the Site of Community Interest of the Beach Scrub, among students of 1st of ESO, an activity that was conducted by the City Council Pájara.

WORLD WETLANDS DAY 2010

On February 2, as every year, takes place on World Wetlands Day. This year's celebration will be related to biodiversity and climate change being chosen as its motto "Let's take care of our wetlands-a response to climate change ".

It was in 1971 when adopting Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, known Ramsar Convention, Is an intergovernmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.

Its mission is "the conservation and wise use through local and national actions and international cooperation as a contribution to achieving sustainable development worldwide."

By this convention, wetlands include a variety of environments, among which we find water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water not exceeding six meters deep. All wetlands share a common property water, which plays a key role in determining the structure and functions of the wetland.

In Fuerteventura, despite its arid climate there are many wetlands rich in biodiversity, we highlight the Rann of Jandia is located within the Protected Natural Area Beach Scrub, as the only Canary Wetland included in the Ramsar Convention.

The Saladar of Jandia, is a very important wetland area that brings together a range of ecological conditions, highlighting the halophytic flora consisting of excellent stocks mato (Arthrocnemun macrostachyum); Matomoro (Suaeda vera); Mar uvilla (Zygophyllum fontanesii). Its main feature vegetation adaptation to saline conditions, withstanding periodic flooding including sea water. It also has an important vertebrate and invertebrate fauna. Among shorebirds stress present in the salt marsh heron (Ardea cinerea), Little egret (Egretta garzeta) greenshanks ( Greenshank) turnstone (Arenaria interpres);

The challenge is to gradually increase the list of wetlands under the Ramsar Convention sign of conservation and wise use of wetlands, important flora and fauna dependent upon them.

The gradual encroachment on wetlands without proper management leads to their disappearance. We must avoid environmental damage they do to be irrecoverable. The wetlands can be conserved through a rational, take care of our wetlands as a response to climate change.

Puerto del Rosario, on 1 February 2010.

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