The WWD 2011 was celebrated nationally and regionally by the forty eight wilayas (prefectures). On a national level, the communication material was created. Firstly, the Ramsar WWD2011 material was translated into Arabic and was widely disseminated. Secondly, the General Administration of Forests, responsible for wetlands, created a poster and brochure on the thirty years of the Ramsar Convention in Algeria which were also widely disseminated. Bigger informational banners were also created on themes like biodiversity, Ramsar sites as reservoirs of biodiversity, forest fires and others.

Media coverage: The WWD was publicized also through four radio shows in Arabic, French and Berber as well as two television shows in French and Arabic.

Regional level: The forty eight wilayas managed by the regional forest administration authorities, the national parks and hunting centers celebrated the WWD with many activities like exhibitions, awareness raising and educational sessions with students and local population, reforestation activities, drawing contests for children with an award for the best pictures and a participation present for everyone. They also did radio shows and articles in local press and focused environmental education on wetlands for younger children.

In the wilaya of Naama, a typical Saharan tent called Kheima, was set up on the edge of the Ain Ben Khellil lake which is a Ramsar site.

The WWD2011 was celebrated through publications in the media (TV, radio and newspapers) and special school lessons dedicated to wetlands. Professor Jaroslav Vego, Ramsar/MedWet Focal point also gave a very interesting interview in the newspaper VECERNJAKOV PECAT. The main celebration took place in Hutovo Blato, an important Ramsar site, on the 2^nd February, thanks to the generous contribution of the WWF office in Mostar (click here for the program). The WWD gave the opportunity to celebrate not only the 40 years of the Ramsar Convention but also the 10 years of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a contracting party to the Ramsar Convention. Hutovo Blato became a Ramsar wetland of international importance in September 2001 and since then two more wetlands in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Bardaca wetland and the Livanjsko Polje have become Ramsar sites.

Three interesting regional activities came to our attention this year which mainly involved environmental education:

1. Kato Zevgaraki, Agrinio: This year a very interesting regional initiative came to our attention which involved environmental education in a small school in Western Greece.  Hence, we would like to promote the important work done by Dionysios Mamasis, environmental scientist, the parents’ committee and teachers of the elementary school of Kato Zevgaraki in the Arakinthos municipality and the prefecture of Agrinio in Western Greece.

For the celebration of the WWD the School Committee of Kato Zevgaraki invited the environmental scientist, Dionysios Mamasis to inform the children and locals on the functions and values of wetlands and the need to conserve them. They spoke in particular, for the Trihonida and Lisimahia lakes which are found in very close proximity with the school and are part of the Natura 2000 network. Mr Mamassis took the opportunity of the Ramsar WWD2011 theme “Forests and Wetlands” and presented the case of the lake side forest of Fraxos-Trihonia.

2. Evros Delta: World Wetlands Day 2011 was celebrated in the Evros Delta Visitor Centre on February 2nd. Approximately, 140 children from local schools participated in the event. The day was dedicated to the riparian forests and their value for nature and man.

3. Serres: In Serres, the Serres Group for UNESCO, made a radiospot on wetlands via radio rodon and also made a presentation on wetlands and the WWD in the Natural History Museum of Serres to various visiting local schools.

In Jordan the WWD2011 was celebrated in the Azraq Wetland Reserve on Saturday 19th February and included a series of environmental activities. The event gathered inhabitants of the surrounding areas but also students from all over Jordan. This open day had separate activities for different age groups (from 7-10 and from 11-16) and families which involved interactive environmental games on the field, explanation of the values of wetlands, film screenings, painting and others. Also the ecotourism activities of the Azraq Reserve which combine natural and cultural values of the area were presented and promoted.

In Serbia the WWD2011 was celebrated in the Institute for Nature Conservation of Vojvodin Province in Novi Sad. There were five presentations on wetland issues dealing with the issue of alluvial forests and wetlands, Serbian moors as well as opportunities for development of floodplains and knowledge transfer on agri-environment programs (click here for a copy of the agenda). Also there was a photo exhibition on the theme of ‘Loire-Danube’ as part of the project ‘The Danube- a living being’.