World Wetlands Day is acknowledged each year on 2 February.

With an emerging wetland on our doorstep at Akuna Road in Parkes and with wetlands and with many wetlands within our region, there is really no excuse to not check them out! Whether following the Lachlan or taking a Central West Regional trip there are some lovely spaces to stop.

Gum Swamp at Forbes has excellent access for walking and bird watching. Further on to Lake Cowal and the Lake Wilbertroy Wetlands. West Wyalong also have a wetland space that they have been developing on the northern end of town.

If you are heading down the Lachlan there are smaller ephemeral areas that respond to flooding and of course the Booligal Wetlands, heading west and the Great Cumbung Swamp.

We have the Macquarie Marshes only a few hours away, which I had the pleasure of visiting last year in a day trip.

Of course, we are lucky that to a large degree, we recognise the importance of wetlands in Australia, but Dr Musonda Mumba, Secretary General, Convention on Wetlands highlights that this is not the case across the world in her 2024 address below.

Wetlands and people are life interlaced. Wetlands are central to our wellbeing. Whether it be through the provision of clean water, acting as the source of food or protecting us from extreme weather events, healthy wetlands equate to our wellbeing.

In every corner of the world, human beings have depended on wetlands for centuries, drawing sustenance, inspiration and resilience from these important environments.

Despite the numerous benefits that humans receive from wetlands, every day wetlands are damaged by human beings. Wetlands are being destroyed by unsustainable agricultural practices which are a primary cause of wetland loss through drainage and infilling around the world. Many wetlands, particularly those near cities, have also been polluted by human activities and recently further degraded by plastic pollution, which exacerbates the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature loss and pollution ultimately affecting human health.

The theme for the day World Wetlands Day is Wetlands and Human Wellbeing. I think we all know the value that our natural spaces add to our wellbeing.

Hoping that this has inspired you to get out and appreciate, not only our wetlands, but a natural spaces within minutes and just hours of your home in the months ahead.

Pictured are the Wynstra Family planting at Akuna Wetland in September 2023.