2011Wetland Conservation - Set

Vigdis Finnbogadottir, the former President of Iceland, was asked by Iceland Post to suggest the theme for the September issue. Mrs. Finnbogadottir, who is named the protector of Audlind Nature Fond, an instution working for the conservation of Icelands natural resources, proposed Wetland Conservation, a subject of great interest to her. February 1971 saw the signing of The Ramsar Convention, an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilisation of wetlands, named after the town of Ramsar in Iran. Iceland became party to the convention in 1978. Wetland conservation is of special significance for bird life. There are three Ramsar-areas in Iceland, Mývatn og Laxá, Grunnafjörður and Þjórsárver. Brooks, rivers, ponds, lakes, marshes and swamps are among the areas categorized as wetlands, often regarded as the kidneys of the earth since they act as filtration systems for Mother Nature. In many places wetlands are the base of human food production. Around 80% of natural wetlands in Europe and America have been destroyed. The draining of wetlands has decreased significantly in Iceland due to changed social conditions