374 Natural Resources Systems Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Wetland Conservation and Management In an effort to conserve and restore our natural wetlands on a global scale, wetland experts from around the world joined to create the Ramsar Convention. The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sus- tainable use of wetlands. The convention’s mission is “the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution toward achieving sustainable development throughout the world.” The convention’s members and international partners work with interna- tional organizations, other conventions, and people in the private sector. World Wetlands Day, celebrated on February second, was established on the conven- tion’s adoption date to raise awareness of the value of wetlands for humanity and the planet. In the United States, laws and regulations have been established to protect and restore wet- lands. Laws, such as the Migratory Bird Act and the Clean Water Act, and organizations, such as Ducks Unlimited, work with the EPA and other government bodies to help educate the pub- lic and raise funds to help manage and restore wetlands. In 1934, Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act to support conservation efforts to protect wetlands and the migratory birds that use them for food, nesting, and rest. The funds raised from stamp purchases help provide protection to wetlands across the United States, Figure 15-22. Conservation efforts have slowed the destruction of wetlands since the 1970s. Local Conservation Practices Although many of the same practices to protect wetlands are used in national and international conservation efforts, efforts to protect wetlands begin on a local level. Private landowners and communities can begin with efforts to protect their local watershed from pollution and changes to the fl ow of vital water sources. Actions that can be taken on a local level include the following: • Implementation of land-use planning • Establishing land conservation practices to keep land in its natural state • Controlling erosion and sediment before it enters water sources • Treating storm water to prevent pollution • Enforcing regulations against dumping and polluting water • Properly preparing sites for construction • Developing watershed education programs for all ages • Planting and maintaining aquatic buffers on private and public lands There are more than 2200 Ramsar sites across the globe, 38 of which are in the United States. Did You Know? irisphoto1/Shutterstock.com Figure 15-22. Conservation efforts for wetlands have been paired with protecting migratory birds since the 1930s. Ninety-eight percent of the purchase price of the stamp goes directly to wildlife habitat protection and conservation.