World Wetlands Day 2026
World Wetlands Day is celebrated annually on February 2nd to raise awareness about the vital importance of wetlands.
25 January – 8 February 2026
World Wetlands Day is celebrated annually on February 2nd to raise awareness about the vital importance of wetlands. This year's theme is 'Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage'.
Our wetlands are critically important ecosystems that contribute to biodiversity, climate mitigation and adaptation, freshwater availability and much more. However, over 20% of the world’s wetlands have been lost and more than 90% degraded since the 1700s. We are losing wetlands three times faster than forests.
Ireland is the worst performer, having lost 75% of these crucial ecosystems in that timeframe. Wetlands in Ireland are mostly made up of our peatlands. The European Commission have a long-running case against Ireland, which finds “persistent” failure to introduce adequate conservation measures and to protect habitats including wetlands under the Habitats Directive.
It is urgent that we raise national and global awareness about wetlands in order to reverse their rapid loss and encourage actions to conserve and restore them. There is great opportunity, and legal requirement, in Ireland to restore wetlands through the EU Nature Restoration Regulation with measures such as rewetting of drained peatlands.
World Wetlands Day is a global initiative, which in Ireland is coordinated by the Irish Ramsar Wetlands Committee. This committee was established by the Government in November 2010 to help Ireland meet its commitments as a signatory to the Ramsar Convention. It works to safeguard wetlands, foster appreciation and understanding of these ecosystems, and promote the implementation of the Ramsar Convention. The Heritage Council coordinate the Local Authority Biodiversity Officer Programme, and Biodiversity Officers are actively celebrating and highlight World Wetlands Day 2026 with the inspiring events shown below.
For a full list of events happening across Ireland for World Wetlands Day 2026, visit the Irish Ramsar Committee's World Wetlands Day Events Calendar.
Offaly
Wintering Birds on the Callows
Sunday 1st February 10am – 12pm
Location: Crank House car park, Banagher
Join us at the Shannon Callows in celebrating World Wetlands Day 2026! Expert Brian Caffrey from BirdWatch Ireland will lead us to a number of sites close to Banagher to observe a range of birds that overwinter on the callows. All are welcome, dress for the weather! More info here.
Meath
Rooted in our Landscape Monday 2nd February 2.00pm – 3.30pm
Location: The Book Market Café, 11 Market Street, Kells, Co. Meath A82 R990
To celebrate World Wetlands Day 2026, Meath County Council's Biodiversity Officer, Ben Malone, will sit down for a relaxed and reflective chat with local guests Dr Kate Flood and Elizabeth Mc Ardle, exploring the relationships between people, land, place and plants.
All are welcome to come along, enjoy a warm drink and get involved in the chat!
Booking essential - email biodiversity@meathcoco.ie to book a place or register at www.bit.ly/meath-wetlands-day.
Westmeath
Milltownpass Bog Guided Walk
Saturday 31st January 2pm – 3.30pm
Location: meet at Milltownpass Bog Car Park
To mark World Wetlands Day 2026, the Biodiversity Officer of Westmeath County Council invites the public to take part in the first of two guided wetland walks. George Smith, specialist wetlands ecologist, will guide the walk focusing on peatland habitats, mosses, and the ecological importance of this Natural Heritage Area.
For more information is available at westmeathculture.ie or contact biodiversity@westmeathcoco.ie.
Note: Ground may be wet and uneven wear suitable clothing and footwear.
Lough Derravarag Guided Walk
Sunday 1st February 11am – 1pm
Location: meet at Lough Derravaragh Caravan Car Park, Donore
The second guided walk in Westmeath will be led by Join Gordon Wycherley of BirdWatch Ireland, Westmeath Branch. It will highlight wintering waterbirds and wetland habitats at this Special Protection Area (SPA). Participants are welcome to share local stories or cultural connections to wetlands.
For more information contact biodiversity@westmeathcoco.ie.
Note: please wear suitable waterproof clothing and footwear. Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times.
Kerry
Nature Bay Walk, Tralee
Sunday 25th January at 11am
Location: meet at car park of the lock gates
Fee: 5 euro per adult, children free
Supported by Kerry County Council, this World Wetlands Day walk led by Tralee Bay Wetlands Ecology & Activity Park Ecologists, will take you on a journey down the bay exploring the ecology of this internationally protected area and seeing our migratory birds in their natural habitat.
These birds have been coming to Tralee Bay since before it was called Tralee Bay and this time of year is the best time to see these birds in huge flocks. Some iconic species we might see are the Canadian Pale Bellied Brent Geese, Red Shanks, Greenshanks and Curlew. More information and booking here.
Ensure to wear warm clothing and waterproofs!
Launch of the Birds of the Shannon Estuary Story Map
Sunday 1st February 2pm – 3.30pm
Location: Ballylongford Community Hall, V31 RK80
Join Ballylongford Tidy Towns and others, supported by Kerry County Council, for a day all about the birds of the Shannon Estuary. If it's fine, we will walk over to the shore and spend some time bird watching with Sean O' Brien, NPWS Conservation Ranger and Alan Balfe, Ecologist with Tralee Bay Wetlands. They will share info on the birds that visit the local area, how to take part in a winter bird survey and more. If it's not fine, we'll do the same thing but inside the community hall and without the birds. More information here and any questions email eleanor.turner@kerrycoco.ie.
Tea and coffee and refreshments afterwards in the community hall.
Tralee Bay Wetlands Talks, Walks & Workshop
2 February 2026 at Tralee Bay Wetlands
Join Tralee Bay Wetlands on 2 February 2026 as Tralee Bay Wetlands Ecology Park proudly honours World Wetlands Day, a global celebration recognising the vital role wetlands play in sustaining life, culture, and community.
The schedule of events for the day;
10am - Opening with Eleanor Turner, Kerry County Council Biodiversity Officer
10:30am - Bird Watching with Ed Carty
11:30am - Lawpro Projects with Bláthnaid O’Loughlin, Community Water Officer
12pm - Wetlands Talk with Ger Scollard, Irish Wildlife Trust
2pm - Marsh Walk with Senior Ecologist Alan Balfe
3pm - Wetlands Willow Creation Workshop with Philip McSweeney
All events on the day are free of charge for adults and children (children must be accompanied by an adult). As activities take place outdoors, attendees are advised to wear warm, waterproof clothing and suitable footwear.
Ballyseedy Walk - Discover Ireland's Alluvial Wet Woodlands
Sunday 8th February 11am
Location: meet at the South Car Park of Ballyseedy Woods
Fee: 5euro per adult, children free
Supported by Kerry County Council, this World Wetlands Day walk in Ballyseedy will discover this ancient woodland, meaning it has been continuously covered with trees since the mid-1600. Along with this it is a Wet Woodland which is an annex habitat meaning that there is precious few of these ecosystems still left in Ireland. Explore these ancient habitats with your ecologists from the Wetlands. More information and booking here.
Ensure to wear warm clothing and waterproofs!
Clare
Birds of the Shannon Estuary
Tuesday 3rd February 7.30pm – 8.30pm
Location: Labasheeda
This evening talk for World Wetlands Day Event is organised by Clare County Council’s Biodiversity Officer in partnership with Labasheeda Tidy Towns, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Clare Birdwatching. The event will mark the launch of the Birds of the Shannon Estuary Story Map, an online digital interactive educational resource aimed at communities and schools along the Shannon Estuary.
Speakers will include representatives from Clare County Council, Clare Birdwatching and National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Email biodiversity@clarecoco.ie for further details.
Knocknahila Bog Rewetting Project: Bog Walk and Talk
Saturday 7th February 11:30am to 1pm
Location: Mullagh
This bog walk and talk is organised World Wetlands Day Event by Clare County Council’s Biodiversity Officer and Knocknahila Community Biodiversity Group. The field outing will describe the peatland ecology of Knocknahila Bog, demonstrate the peat dams and peat bunds that were installed to facilitate rewetting and hear from the landowner, members of Knocknahila Biodiversity Community Group and the Biodiversity Officer on the work that was completed.
As places are limited, please email biodiversity@clarecoco.ie for further details.
For a full list of events happening for World Wetlands Day 2026 check out the Irish Ramsar Committee's World Wetlands Day Events Calendar