Wetlands provide food, rest, and shelter for thousands of birds. Because of their importance for them and other species, we collaborate on 14 priority wetlands in northwestern Mexico.

In World Wetlands Day (February 2) framework, the Conservation Education program and the Water and Wetlands Conservation program carried out a series of activities to commemorate the date in northwestern Mexico.

With the objective of sharing the restoration efforts being carried out in the Colorado River delta and the synergies generated by the collaboration between agencies, Alejandra Calvo and Milca López Luna presented the conferences: “The restoration of the Colorado River delta” and “The birds of the Colorado River delta.” These talks were held as part of the activities organized by the citizens’ committee Salvemos las Lagunas in Mexicali, Baja California.

In Nayarit, activities were coordinated with Francisco J. Múgica General High School in the town of Amapa, in the municipality of Santiago Ixcuintla. Ignacio Vallarta Chan, Pronatura Noroeste advisor and representative of the La Papalota ecological farm, participated in the talk “Wetlands, home to birds,” in which he talked to the students about the importance of these ecosystems. The activities concluded with a reforestation day at the school, where the students planted tropical species such as Melina, Amapa, and Mahogany.

The Leyes de Reforma Elementary School, students in the community of La Reforma (Angostura, Sinaloa), worked on the importance of wetlands for marine species through playful activities. Students identified the value of wetlands, the importance of conservation, and the rational use of these ecosystems’ resources.

In Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur, we participated in an informative module to raise awareness of the importance of wetlands for shorebirds and fisheries in an event organized by the El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve. In addition, play activities were coordinated with students from the Juana de Asbaje Kindergarten, Francisco J. Múgica State High School, and Telesecundaria no. 92.

Forty-seven years ago, 160 states of the world recognized the interdependence of man and the environment in the city of Ramsar (Iran) and signed an intergovernmental treaty. This RAMSAR convention provides the framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. As a result, February 2 is commemorated as World Wetlands Day. For 2018, the convention designated the theme “Wetlands for a sustainable urban future.”