The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

World Wetlands Day 2004 -- Australia -- Kyabram Fauna Park

Follow-Up to World Wetlands Day 2nd February

"From the Mountains to the Sea - Wetlands at work for us"

FAMILY FUN DAY AT THE FAUNA PARK A HUGE SUCCESS

World Wetlands Day was celebrated at Kyabram Fauna Park on Sunday 1st February with a day of free activities for all the family. The day was a great success with over 300 people visiting the park on Sunday, of which 130 were children who received a showbag full of goodies!

Activities on offer included: froggie face painting, GV Regional Waste Management's interactive Ecovan, Waterwatch's Waterbeastie Hunt, displays from Landcare, Ky Field & Game Association and the Shire of Campaspe and an Animal Discovery Trail, which took children exploring the Fauna Park and all the animals that inhabit it. Wetland tours were conducted by Ron Pope, Manager of the Fauna Park, who highlighted to visitors the important role that wetlands play in our environment.

World Wetlands Day marks the signing of the Convention on Wetlands on 2nd February 1971, in the Iranian City of Ramsar. The official name of the treaty - The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat - reflects its original emphasis on the conservation of wetlands to provide waterfowl habitat. However, over the years the convention has broadened its scope to cover all aspects of wetland conservation, recognising wetlands as ecosystems that are extremely important for biodiversity conservation.

Many thanks must go to -- the Friends of the Fauna Park who volunteered to man the animal trail stations; Ron Pope for sharing his knowledge of the Park's wetlands; Heather and gang in the café for keeping the cool drinks coming; and finally to Cheree Conley (Ky Fauna Park) and Emily (Shire of Campaspe) for organising and co-ordinating the day. Well done everyone.

Photo: Kids having fun for World Wetlands Day at the Kyabram Fauna Park on Sunday

For further information please contact Cheree Conley on 03 5852 2204 or Emily Boucher on 03 5851 3407.

The Shire of Campaspe and the Kyabram Fauna Park were the principal sponsors of this event with the generous support of Nestle Tongala, Goulburn Murray Landcare Network, Goulburn Broken Waterwatch, Friends of the Fauna Park, Kyabram Field and Game Association and GV Regional Waste Management.

For further information about World Wetlands Day or the Convention on Wetlands, please contact the Ramsar Convention Bureau, Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland (tel +41 22 999 0170, fax +41 22 999 0169, e-mail ). Posted 4 February 2004, Dwight Peck, Ramsar.