City Council declares World Wetlands Day in the City of Boston

February 2, 2021, marks the 50th anniversary of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, which internationally recognized the fundamental ecological, economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value of wetlands and resulted in the identification of almost 250.5 million hectares of wetlands around the world.

Wetlands, both inland and coastal, are habitats for 40% of the world’s species of flora and fauna, minimize flooding, are carbon sequestration sites, and are sources for food and income for billions of people.



Between climate change, industrialization, and development, we are dangerously destroying wetlands globally at a rapid pace. The Commonwealth’s Wetlands Protection Act and the City of Boston’s recent Wetlands Ordinance will allow the City to continue to protect and restore wetlands.



There are over 590,000 acres of wetlands (82% of which are freshwater wetlands) in Massachusetts alone. Boston has the Southwest Boston Community Development Corporation’s Green Team, who are supporting youth to maintain the Sherrin Woods wetlands, and the Codman Square Community Development Corporation’s Green Infrastructure Certification program, training local residents in building climate-resilient stormwater management systems.



The Longfellow Area Neighborhood Association and Roslindale Wetlands Task Force have successfully advocated on behalf of their neighbors and their neighborhoods’ wetlands, which has led to preservation efforts of the Roslindale Wetland.



Residents throughout Boston are volunteering to preserve and advocate for wetlands stewardship including but not limited to Allston-Brighton residents championing Chandler Pond, East Boston residents treasuring Belle Isle Marsh, Hyde Park residents caring for Sherrin Street Woods wetlands, Mattapan residents heralding the wetlands at Mattahunt Woods and Gladeside, Roslindale residents advocating for Canterbury Brook and the Roslindale Wetlands, and West Roxbury and Jamaica Plain neighbors supporting Allandale Woods.



This week, the Council adopted a resolution recognizing the importance of inland and coastal wetlands, and declared February 2, 2021 as World Wetlands Day in the City of Boston.