THE National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) will today host a series of activities to commemorate the sixth anniversary of World Wetlands Day, held annually on February 2.

Rosemarie Chung, manager of NEPA’s public education and outreach department, said the activities were geared towards educating the public about the importance of wetlands and the need to preserve them.

The series of activities will last one week and include church services, community meetings, visits to schools, a tour of the Black River Swamp Safari in St Elizabeth and a poster competition.

Students between the ages of six and 12 years are invited to participate in the competition by submitting drawings under the theme ‘Wetlands: Water, Life, Culture’. The Protected Areas Branch of NEPA is sponsoring the competition.

Prizes will be awarded in two categories, one for children between the ages of six to eight years and the other for children between the ages of seven and 12 years.

Wetlands are defined as “areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static, flowing fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water, the depth of which, at low tide, does not exceed six metres”.

NEPA said that Increasingly, wetlands are no longer seen as wastelands but as economically viable areas that enhance sustainable development. “Wetlands are a source of foods such as fish, shrimp and crabs and they are also havens for birds.

“These areas also improve the quality of water by acting as filters and help land settlements by soaking up large quantities of water. The wetlands also serve as recreational areas for bird-watching, boating and hiking,” it said.

Jamaica’s wetland areas include the Upper Black River Morass, the Negril Morass, the Hellshire Wetlands and the Mason River Game Sanctuary.