 
Assembly Resolution No. 68
 
BY: M. of A. Williams
 
        RECOGNIZING  February  2,  2019, as World Wetlands
        Day
 
  WHEREAS, New York State understands the importance of preserving and
contributing  to  the  maintenance  of  wetlands,  and  understands  the
importance that they play in the cycle of preserving a proper balance in
the ecosystem; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Each  year  on  February 2nd, people across the globe come
together to celebrate World Wetlands Day in  order  to  raise  awareness
about  the  vital  role  of wetlands for our planet and its inhabitants;
this monumental day marks the date of the adoption of the Convention  on
Wetlands on February 2, 1971; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Climate change is one of the most pressing problems facing
humanity and our planet today; Wetlands and Climate Change, the theme to
celebrate World Wetlands Day in 2019, draws attention to the vital  role
of wetlands as a natural solution to cope with climate change; and
 
  WHEREAS, Approximately 35% of the world's wetlands were lost between
1970-2015  with annual rates of loss accelerating from 2000; losses have
been driven by megatrends such as climate change,  population  increase;
urbanization,  particularly  of  coastal  zones  and  river  deltas; and
changing consumption patterns which have all fueled changes to land  and
water use and to agriculture; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Wetlands are land areas that are saturated or flooded with
water either permanently or seasonally; wetlands are currently estimated
to cover more than 12.1 million km2, an area greater than the country of
Greenland; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Inland  wetlands  include  marshes,  ponds,  lakes,  fens,
rivers,  floodplains, and swamps; and coastal wetlands include saltwater
marshes, estuaries, mangroves, lagoons and even coral reefs; fish ponds,
rice paddies, and salt pans are human-made wetlands; and
 
  WHEREAS, Wetlands are critical to human and planet life; directly or
indirectly, they provide  almost  all  of  the  world's  consumption  of
freshwater, and more than one billion people depend on them for a living
and 40% of the world's species live and breed in wetlands; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Wetlands  are  a  vital  source  for  food, raw materials,
genetic resources for medicines, and hydropower; they  mitigate  floods,
protect coastlines and build community resilience to disasters, and they
play  an  important  role  in  transport,  tourism  and the cultural and
spiritual well-being of people; and
 
  WHEREAS, In 2012, Hurricane Sandy slammed into the eastern  seaboard
of  the  United States, and directly impacting New York State inflicting
damage in 24 states; if not for coastal wetlands, the destruction  would
have  been  worse;  a  recent  study  found that coastal wetlands in the
Northeast United States prevented $625 million in direct  flood  damages
 
during Hurricane Sandy, reducing damages by more than 22% in half of the
impacted areas and by as much as 30% elsewhere; and
 
  WHEREAS,  The  intensity,  frequency, and duration of North Atlantic
hurricanes have increased since the early 1980s, making  the  protection
of the 50% of United States wetlands that remain an imperative; and
 
  WHEREAS, New York State understands the importance of preserving and
contributing  to  the  maintenance  of  Wetlands,  and  understands  the
importance that wetlands play  in  the  cycle  of  preserving  a  proper
balance in the ecosystem; and
 
  WHEREAS,  It is the custom of this Legislative Body to observe those
events of true purpose and worthy accomplishment that recognize the need
for the understanding of preserving the Wetlands of  New  York  and  the
global  community, and instilling educational tenets in our Great State;
now, therefore, be it
 
  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
recognize February 2, 2019, as World Wetlands Day; and be it further
 
  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Secretary General of the United Nations.
Recognizing February 2, 2019, World Wetlands Day

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