February 2 – World Wetlands Day

On February 2, 1971, the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar Convention) was signed in Ramsar, Iran. The first Ramsar site in the Republic of Belarus was declared the republican landscape reserve "Sporovsky" in 1999.

This year it is held under the motto: "Wetlands and traditional knowledge: Celebrating cultural heritage". This emphasizes the timeless role of traditional knowledge in maintaining wetland ecosystems and preserving cultural identity. After all, wetlands are inextricably linked with culture and civilization.

There are 26 wetlands of international importance in the Republic of Belarus, covering an area of 778.9 thousand hectares. In the Vitebsk region, 8 specially protected natural areas have been granted the status of Ramsar sites: Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve, republican landscape reserves "Elnia", "Osviysky", "Koziansky", "Servech", and local landscape reserves "Drozdbitska-Svina", "Golubitskaya Pushcha" and "Vileyty". The total area of protected territories is about 147 thousand hectares.

Preserving wetlands in their natural state is of great importance. This includes regulating gas exchange, conserving freshwater reserves, ensuring the reproduction of berry stocks, developing ecotourism, and preserving habitats for wild plants and wild animals, the species of which are included in the Red Book of the Republic of Belarus.