World Wetlands Day 2025 national celebrations

World Wetlands Day 2025, celebrated globally on February 2nd, holds special significance in Kenya as the nation joins the international community to honor and protect its vital wetland ecosystems. This annual event, marking the adoption of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in 1971, aims to raise awareness about the critical role wetlands play in biodiversity, climate resilience, and human livelihoods. In Kenya, the national celebrations for World Wetlands Day 2025 took place at Ondiri Wetlands in Kiambu County, organized by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) under the theme “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future.” This theme emphasizes the urgent need for collective action to safeguard these ecosystems for current and future generations.

Kenya, a country endowed with diverse natural landscapes, relies heavily on its wetlands, which cover approximately 3-4% of its landmass. These ecosystems, including swamps, marshes, lakes, and deltas, support an array of biodiversity and provide essential services such as water purification, flood control, and livelihoods for thousands of communities through fishing, farming, and tourism. However, Kenya’s wetlands face significant threats from encroachment, pollution, unsustainable land use, and climate change. The 2025 celebrations aimed to spotlight these challenges while showcasing ongoing conservation efforts and inspiring further action.

The national event at Ondiri Wetlands, a key site known for its ecological importance and proximity to urban areas,  featured a range of activities designed to engage stakeholders from government, local communities, environmental organizations, and the public. Expected highlights include tree-planting initiatives, a hallmark of Kenya’s broader environmental goals, such as the ambitious plan to grow 15 billion trees by 2032 to increase forest cover to 30%. Fencing projects to protect the wetland from human and animal encroachment, educational workshops, and community clean-up drives are also anticipated. These activities align with NEMA’s “adopt a wetland” initiative, which has seen 60 wetlands across the country taken up for conservation, primarily by universities and local groups.

 PS Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Eng. Festus Ngeno lead the celebrations, reinforcing the government’s commitment to wetland restoration as part of its climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. The event saw participation from county leaders, environmentalists, and youth groups, reflecting Kenya’s “whole-of-society” approach to environmental conservation. The Ministry adopted a catchment-based restoration strategy, moving away from localized efforts to ensure more sustainable outcomes, a policy that will be emphasized during the day’s proceedings.

Beyond Ondiri, smaller commemorative events across Kenya’s wetland-rich regions, such as the Tana River Delta, Yala Swamp, and Lake Bogoria, organized by community groups and conservation bodies like Nature Kenya. These activities included nature walks, birdwatching, and awareness campaigns to highlight the local importance of wetlands.

The 2025 celebrations came at a pivotal time as Kenya prepares to align its wetland conservation efforts with international commitments, including the upcoming 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention (COP15) in July 2025. By hosting a robust national event, Kenya aims to demonstrate its leadership in protecting these indispensable ecosystems, ensuring they continue to support biodiversity, combat climate change, and sustain livelihoods for years to come.

PS Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Eng. Festus Ngeno accompanied by
Director General, Mamo B. Mamo, EBS flag off the World Wetlands Day 10KM Ondiri Wetland Conservation Run at Kikuyu. The run is a buildup towards national celebrations on 2nd February, 2025.