Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday exhorted people to preserve wetlands in the state.

“Wetlands play an important role in maintaining the ecological balance and mitigating the effects of climate change,” he said, reiterating the government’s pledge to conserve the state’s Ramsar sites and other important wetlands and asking the people to be a part of this noble cause.

The Chief Minister said that World Wetland Day is celebrated across the globe each year on 2 February. A state-level function would be organised at Rewalsar Wetland in Mandi district on Friday, he added.

This year’s World Wetland Day is based on the theme ‘Wetland and Human Wellbeing’.

Commending the efforts of the Himachal Pradesh State Wetlands Authority (HPSWA) in organising several awareness programmes on this day, he emphasised the government’s commitment to preserving the Ramsar sites in Himachal. He also called upon the people to spread awareness about the benefits of wetlands and contribute to promoting their conservation.

Sukhu said that the state encompasses a wide variety of wetlands, spanned in various ecological zones, which are the source of livelihood for the local community and hold immense aesthetic and tourism values.

The official spokesperson of the HPSWA said that the state currently has three Ramsar sites – Wetlands of International Importance – namely Pong dam in Kangra, Renuka in Sirmaur, and Chandrataal in Lahaul and Spiti.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has also designated the wetlands of Rewalsar in Mandi and Khajjiar in Chamba as wetlands of national importance for their proper conservation and management, he added.

Wetlands provide enormous benefits to society by providing freshwater and purifying and filtering harmful wastes from water. They serve as a source of food, act as a buffer for extreme events, and help mitigate risks associated with flooding and drought, he said.

Wetlands also help in combating climate change by protecting from extreme weather events. Besides, they serve as a vital source of livelihood for countless people and support a vast array of biodiversity, the spokesperson said.