World Wetlands Day 2023 | It’s Time for Wetland Restoration
Every year on February 2, World Wetlands Day raises awareness about wetlands.
Organized by the Secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands, this day marks the 1971 signing of the international Convention on Wetlands.
In the last 50 years, 35 per cent of the world’s wetlands disappeared. Biodiversity loss and climate change have put the planet on life support, but the key to recovery is in our hands: wetland restoration.
Strategic restoration re-establishes and protects natural processes and ecosystems. It’s taking centre stage right now as we face the reality that it’s not enough to focus simply on saving the limited, intact places that remain.
We’re proud to be the country’s leading organization in wetland conservation and restoration. Now celebrating our 85th anniversary, we have decades of work for wetlands showing that nature can rebound when given the chance.
Now it’s time for all Canadians to recognize this opportunity. By working together, we have unlimited potential to create a healthier environment and hope for the future.
Restoring wetlands will jumpstart nature’s great comeback in Canada—join us!
Why should Canadians restore wetlands?
It’s a critical part of nature’s comeback.
Historic losses of wetland habitat across Canada have created unsustainable landscapes. We must protect the habitats that remain intact while we work to restore healthy, connected watersheds.
Wetland restoration is needed across the country, from east to west:
- 65% of Atlantic tidal and salt marshes lost
- 70% of the Lower Great Lakes–St. Lawrence River coastal wetlands lost
- 71% of Prairie potholes and sloughs lost
- 80% of the Pacific coast estuarine wetlands lost
Restoring wetlands will jumpstart nature’s great comeback in Canada—join us!
Restoration is at the heart of our habitat goals
To date, DUC has restored 3.1 million acres of degraded habitats in priority regions of conservation need across Canada.
We’re putting wetland restoration at the heart of our goal to conserve, restore and influence 15 million acres of natural habitat in the coming year.
Together with our trusted conservation partners, we’re ready for the next 15 million acres of natural habitat !
Join #GenerationRestoration
Together, we have unlimited potential to restore hope for the future in Canada. Your gift will be matched up to three times by our conservation partners!
Donate nowMore about World Wetlands Day 2023
This year’s theme for World Wetlands Day is “It’s Time for Wetland Restoration”. In the last 50 years, 35 per cent of the world’s wetlands disappeared. Internationally, the United Nations has declared 2021-2030 the decade for restoration. In Canada, the federal government has committed to restoring 30 per cent of its land and water that has been degraded by 2030.
Restoration activities re-establish and protect natural processes and ecosystems. That’s taking centre stage right now because it’s clear that we can’t just focus on saving the limited, intact places that remain. We have to do even more. We must work to build back.

Media contact
Connect with DUC’s experts and help us tell our restoration story.
Ashley Lewis
Ducks Unlimited Canada
media@ducks.ca
Image at top: Wooded wetland ©Dave Hoefler