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<p>The Liberian Government through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will on 02 February 2021 join countries across the world to celebrate ‘World Wetlands Day’ in Kpatawee, Bong County.</p>
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<p>February 2 is observed and celebrated annually as World Wetlands Day. The day was adopted through an inter-governmental treaty, known as the Ramsar Convention to raise awareness on the protection and sustainable use of wetlands generally and Ramsar Sites specifically in 1971 in the Iranian City of Ramsar.</p>
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<p>This year’s celebration is expected to be held under the theme: “Wetland Action for People and Nature”.</p>
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<p>The President of Liberia, H.E. Dr. George Manneh Weah is expected to grace the occasion and make policy statement on wetlands protection and management.</p>
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<p>At a gathering of world leaders at the 26<sup>th</sup> Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, the United Kingdom on November 1, 2021, President Weah designated Liberia’s forest and wetlands as the ‘third lung’ of the world.</p>
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<p>Wetlands serve as a major natural infrastructure for carbon sequestration and breeding grounds for fish and natural filtration for groundwater. It also helps prevent flooding and coastal erosion because they are a giant sponge that absorb water.</p>
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<p>President Weah is a staunch campaigner for environmental protection and governance and was instrumental in the organization of a national climate change and environmental conference since the United States of America made a decision to rejoin the Paris Agreement.</p>
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<p>His Excellency Urban Sjostrom, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden near Monrovia is expected to serve as Keynote Speaker at the occasion, which is expected to attract residents and students from several high schools in Bong County.</p>
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