World Wetlands Day 2025: Preserving Our Nation’s Wetlands Heritage by Brent Simon

On February 2nd, Antigua and Barbuda joined the global community in celebrating World Wetlands Day, under the theme “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future”. This day recognizes the vital roles these ecosystems play in supporting biodiversity, mitigating climate change, and protecting coastal communities. From Codrington Lagoon in Barbuda to McKinnon’s Salt Pond in Antigua, wetlands provide crucial services – yet they remain under threats.

Wetlands are ecosystems where water is the primary factor controlling plant and animal life. They can be broadly categorized into natural and manmade wetlands.

Natural wetlands – These occur without human intervention, shaped by geological and climatic conditions. Antigua and Barbuda’s most significant natural wetland is Codrington Lagoon, which provides critical habitat for birds, fish, and other marine life. Other examples include:

Mangrove forests (e.g., Fitches Creek Wetland, Parham Harbour)

Salt ponds and coastal marshes (e.g., McKinnon’s Salt Pond)

Seagrass beds (e.g., Cades Bay Marine Reserve)

Freshwater wetlands (Potworks Dam Wetlands)

Manmade Wetlands – These are constructed or heavily modified by humans, often to support agriculture, wastewater treatment, or conservation efforts. Examples include:

Reservoirs and Dams (e.g., Potworks Dam, which acts as a freshwater wetland)

Artificial salt ponds (e.g., former salt extraction sites converted into wetland habitats)

Wastewater treatment ponds (designed to mimic natural filtration systems)

Aqueducts

The Ramsar Convention, the global treaty for wetlands conservation, defines wetlands broadly to include various ecosystems, not just marshes or swamps. The full list includes:

Marine and Coastal Wetlands

  • Coral reefs
  • Seagrass beds
  • Mangrove forests
  • Estuaries and coastal lagoons
  • Salt marshes and mudflats

Inland Wetlands

  • Rivers and floodplains
  • Lakes and ponds
  • Swamps and marshes
  • Peatlands and bogs

Manmade Wetlands

  • Reservoirs and dams
  • Aquaculture ponds
  • Irrigated fields (e.g., rice paddies)
  • Wastewater treatment wetlands

For more than a decade, Dr. Tricia Lovell / Deputy Chief Fisheries Officer in the Fisheries Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and a marine biologist, has been at the forefront of wetlands conservation. Her unwavering commitment to marine protected areas, mangroves restoration, and sustainable policy development has helped shape national and global efforts to safeguard these environments. Her contributions include but are definitely not limited to:

  • Leading the protection of Codrington Lagoon as a Ramsar site.
  • Promoting mangrove restoration projects, especially post-Hurricane Irma.
  • Developing environmental policies to prevent wetland degradation.
  • Raising awareness about the importance of wetlands for climate resilience.

Despite our conservation efforts, local wetlands face numerous threats including:

  • Climate change and rising sea levels
  • Coastal development and habitat destruction
  • Pollution and invasive species

This World Wetlands Day, we celebrate the ecological, cultural, and economic value of our nation’s wetlands. The continued work of Dr. Lovell and other conservationists reminds us that these ecosystems are not just swamps or wastelands, but lifelines for biodiversity, climate resilience, and local communities.

As a nation, it is our collective responsibility to protect and restore our wetlands – not just today, but every day.

 

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