KATHMANDU: World Lake Day is being observed today in various countries around the globe, with the aim of protecting, restoring, and sustainably managing lake ecosystems.
Following a United Nations initiative, member states have agreed to mark this day annually starting this year. The resolution to celebrate World Lakes Day was adopted during last year’s UN General Assembly.
The day seeks to raise awareness among UN-affiliated organizations, international, regional, and sub-regional bodies, civil society, the private sector, and environmental and educational advocates about the ecological importance of lakes and the need for their conservation.
According to the United Nations, there are more than 117 million lakes on Earth, covering around four percent of the planet’s land surface. The observance of this day has become increasingly relevant in light of growing environmental concerns such as pollution, methane emissions, and the shrinking of freshwater sources.
Lakes are vital for drinking water, agriculture, and industrial use. They also sustain a vast range of fish, plants, and wildlife, playing a key role in maintaining biodiversity.
As global warming accelerates lake drying and glacier melt, the need to protect these water bodies has become more urgent than ever.
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