Celebrating Water and Wetlands – A Family Day!
In this year’s celebration, as in the past years, the activities had been largely adapted to the theme appropriately chosen by the Ramsar Secretariat – No Wetlands, No Water. It aimed to communicate the importance of wetlands as a vital component of the freshwater cycle. The sub-themes that the celebration took as messages for its information campaign were:
- freshwater, is there enough?
- water for ecosystems?
- wetlands, water and poverty eradication
Since 02 February 2003 fell on a Sunday, the activities revolved around the family. The World Wetlands Day was celebrated at the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Nature Center. To attract more people to the celebration, the entrance fee was waived for that day. The park was thus filled with many people who took part in the world wetland day activities. The celebration commenced with the holding of a holy mass/prayer at the park’s grotto, right beside the park’s lake. It was followed by a mini-concert featuring local artists, such as Hibla, Music Harmony and First Light Chorale, who helped drum up support for wetlands conservation.
Various groups such as BMP Environment and Community Care, Kabang Kalikasan ng Pilipinas, Philippine Association of Environmental Assessors and Professionals, Philippine Sustainable Development Network Foundation, Inc., Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau, and the CLEAR partners of SCPW, Laguna Lake Development Authority and Unilever – Philippines took part in the celebration.
In support of the activities and to promote wetlands conservation among the park visitors, signages were put up all over the park.
