“The contest puts the contributions of the National Wetlands Award winners into the context of the international effort to protect wetlands,” said Kathryn Campbell, National Wetlands Awards Manager at the Environmental Law Institute.
The U.S. EPA and U.S. National Ramsar Committee are also partnering on the contest to raise awareness of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance. Signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, the international treaty is dedicated to the protection of wetlands across the world. Wetlands are critical natural resources that improve water quality, protect communities against flooding, and support numerous wildlife and plant species. The treaty has 168 contracting parties and has recognized 2,186 wetlands worldwide.
For a wetland to be designation as a “wetland of international importance” by the U.S. National Ramsar Committee, it must first meet at least one of nine different criteria, which includes: wetlands that are considered a rare or unique in a particular region; wetlands that support vulnerable, endangered, or critically endanger species; wetlands that support significant populations of waterfowl or fish species; or wetlands that are necessary to maintain biological diversity in a particular region.
Contest entries must be received by April 24, 2015. The winning photographs will be announced and displayed at the 2015 National Wetlands Awards ceremony on May 21, 2015 in Washington, DC. For official rules and contest entry form, please visit www.nationalwetlandsawards.org, or contact Kathryn Campbell, (202)939-3806, [email protected].