In the News

Taiwan marks World Wetlands Day with exhibition

• Publication Date：01/26/2011
• Source： Taiwan Today
• By  Kwangyin Liu

An exhibition calling attention to Taiwan’s wetlands biodiversity and fragile ecology will be staged to celebrate next month’s World Wetlands Day, according to the Construction and Planning Agency Jan. 25.

“The event aims to raise public awareness of the need for wetlands protection,” the CPA said.

Running Jan. 25 to Feb. 1 in Taipei City, the exhibition will highlight Taiwan’s wetlands using video displays, signboard presentations and projected images of flora and fauna.

In addition, the CPA plans to launch a mobile phone application in March allowing citizens to report pollution or illegal activities on wetlands.

According to the agency, Taiwan is home to over 82 wetland sites, including Zengwun Estuary, which is known as a wintering site for endangered black-faced spoonbills.

World Wetlands Day marks the 1971 signing of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance in the Iranian city of Ramsar. Now in its 40th year, the convention has 160 signatories and lists 1,911 sites of international importance.

The Ramsar Secretariat said nearly 100 countries are expected to celebrate World Wetlands Day, which was first held Feb. 2, 1997, with events promoting the conservation and responsible use of this unique ecosystem. (JSM)