World Wetlands Day 2026 Observed Across Pakistan

To mark the occasion, IUCN Pakistan organised awareness and outreach activities at three diverse ecological and social landscapes, engaging government departments, local communities, academia, students, and the private sector in collective action for wetland conservation.

Kallar Kahar Wetland: Engaging Communities and Youth for Conservation
World Wetlands Day was commemorated at Kallar Kahar Lake through a multi-stakeholder awareness event organised by IUCN Pakistan. The event brought together representatives from the Punjab Wildlife Department, local communities, academia, and the Punjab Wildlife Census Project (PWCP) survey teams.

Mr Asim Jamal, Senior Manager Forest and Biodiversity, IUCN Pakistan/ Project Manager PWCP, welcomed participants and highlighted key PWCP interventions being implemented across Punjab. Mr Hammad Saeed, Manager Communications, IUCN Pakistan provided an overview of World Wetlands Day, emphasizing the ecological importance of wetlands and IUCN’s role in conserving these critical ecosystems.

Mr Rai Zahid Hussain, Deputy Chief Wildlife Ranger, Salt Range, briefed participants on the role of the Wildlife Department in protecting natural resources in the surrounding landscape. Students from local schools actively participated through debates on conservation, reinforcing the importance of youth engagement. The event concluded with an awareness walk, promoting collective responsibility for wetland protection.

Inspiring Young Voices at Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Beor
IUCN Pakistan also marked World Wetlands Day 2026 at the Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Beor, under the Karot Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP) Implementation Project. More than 70 participants attended the event, including representatives from the Forest, Wildlife, and Fisheries Departments, officials from Karot Power Company Limited (KPCL), and members of the Valley Conservation Committee (VCC), Beor.

The programme opened with a recitation from the Holy Quran, followed by a detailed briefing from Ms Aliya Bashir Butt, Social Organizer for the Karot BMP Project. She highlighted that wetlands are not merely water bodies but essential ecosystems that support biodiversity, regulate floods, and sustain local livelihoods.

Mr Ansar Abbas, Manager HSE at KPCL shared local insights on wetlands in the area and acknowledged IUCN’s technical expertise in managing these fragile ecosystems. Mr Raja Saleem, Member VCC Beor, presented a local conservation success story, recognising the tangible impacts of IUCN’s ongoing interventions.

Students delivered speeches on natural resource protection, and the event concluded with a prize distribution ceremony, recognising academic and creative contributions to environmental conservation.

Strengthening Coastal Resilience in the Indus Delta
In Kharo Chan, Indus Delta, Sindh, IUCN Pakistan commemorated World Wetlands Day through community awareness activities across six coastal villages, implemented under the Pak Suzuki Mangroves Project.

The sessions highlighted the ecological, social, and climate significance of wetlands and mangroves. Dr Babar Hussain, Coastal Expert of IUCN Pakistan emphasised the role of mangroves in coastal resilience, biodiversity conservation, fisheries support, carbon sequestration, and climate adaptation. Community members shared experiences, discussed local conservation challenges, and reaffirmed their commitment to sustainable mangrove protection. The initiative reinforced ecosystem-based solutions through strong community participation.

Why Wetlands Matter
Wetlands are among the world’s most productive ecosystems, supporting over 100,000 species and playing a critical role in freshwater supply, biodiversity conservation, and global food security. They act as natural buffers by absorbing excess rainfall, regulating water flows, and reducing the impacts of floods and storm surges.

Despite their importance, wetlands are under severe threat from rapid population growth, industrialisation, urban expansion, unplanned development, and intensified agriculture. Nearly 40 percent of the world’s species depend on wetlands for survival, making their degradation a direct threat to global biodiversity.

In the face of climate change and increasingly frequent extreme weather events, wetlands serve as natural shock absorbers, enhancing resilience and offering cost-effective, nature-based solutions. Protecting and restoring wetlands is therefore both an environmental imperative and a strategic investment in climate resilience and sustainable development.