These activities will include an exhibition and a lecture on February 2 at the Kellits branch library in Clarendon and tours of the Mason River Protected Area, also in Clarendon, on February 6.

This year's theme focuses on the management of rivers, showing the interconnectedness of humans with their environment.

Poor practices

The intention is to demonstrate how daily activities directly impact rivers and may consequently cause major problems in wetlands, such as a decrease in the biodiversity present as well as environmental degradation caused by pollution and poor agricultural practices.

Wetlands are lands saturated by water year-round. These include swamps, marshes and bogs. Wetlands serve several functions. They act as habitats for many plant and animal species and as a consequence of their absorptive capacity, help to control flooding and enhance water quality by acting as water purifiers.

February 2 each year is celebrated as World Wetlands Day, marking the signing of the 'Convention on Wetlands' on February 2, 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar.

World Wetlands Day was celebrated for the first time in 1997.

Since then, government agencies, non-governmental organisations and community groups annually under-take activities to mark the occasion by informing the public of the benefits of this habitat.

Participating schools will include Kellits Primary, McNie All-Age and Crofts Hill Primary and Junior High, which are located in proximity to the Mason River Reserve.