Did you know that February 2 is World Wetlands Day?

Established in 1997, WWD was created to draw attention to the importance of wetlands within local ecosystems and a global context. It's a day dedicated to celebrating wetlands as well as advocating for their conservation.

Wetlands are ecological hotspots that pay a key role in maintaining the planet's health and biodiversity, but they're also awesome places to explore, especially with kids. Visit year-round and you'll see different creatures and hear different sounds. In winter, wear warm clothing and tote your kids in a sled. Don't forget the Thermos of hot chocolate!
 
Chances are there's a wetland conservation area near you - after all, Canada's home to one-quarter of the world's wetlands.

Even if you're not near one of Canada's major protected wetlands (such as the famed Point Pelee National Park in Ontario or Alberta's Beaverhill Lake or BC's Fraser River Delta), there's a smaller wetland conservation area within a short drive. Just Google "wetland" and your city name to find the one near you.

WHAT ARE WETLANDS?
Wetlands are vital to our planet's health. They consist of land that's saturated with water either all the time or seasonally. Common wetlands include marshes, bogs, swamps and shallow ponds and river basins.

Everything from the little marsh at your local conservation area to Florida's famed Everglades watershed (which includes a river, sawgrass marshes, Cyprus swamps, mangrove estuaries and a bay) is wetland. They can be found globally, but Canada is one of the world's most wetland-rich countries.

WHY DO THEY MATTER?
Wetlands boast more biological diversity than almost any other type of ecosystem. They're rich in plant and animal life including many endangered fish, amphibians, reptile, bird and mammal species.

In areas prone to seasonal floods, wetlands offer flood-control benefits by absorbing much of the excess water. Tropical mangrove forests can absorb the brunt of ocean storms and tidal waves, protecting human communities.

Wetlands also improve water quality by filtering and cleaning water.

They're also exquisite sites to visit. Locals and tourists alike enjoy - and bring money into local economies - when they take guided tours, hike, kayak, canoe or otherwise explore.

WHAT ARE THEY IN DANGER FROM?
By 1993, over half of the world's wetlands had been destroyed. Countries that have destroyed half or more of their wetlands include France, Greece, Italy and Spain. The USA loses 120,000 acres of wetland every year!

Wetlands are drained for commercial and agricultural/aquacultural development. Or they're flooded to create manmade lakes (often as part of real estate development).
 
Wetlands also face massive pollution caused by agricultural runoff.

Countries have introduced conservation measures in the wake of 1971's Ramsar Convention, or (The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, Especially As Waterfowl Habitat) a global treaty originally signed by just 18 nations, which now has 159 signatories.

The Ramsar Convention includes a list of Wetlands of International Importance. Interesting facts: the United Kingdom has the most (168), but Canada's covers the most territory: a whopping 130,000 km²!

HOW CAN I HELP?
In spite of the Ramsar Convention, wetlands remain in danger. Use your voice as a consumer to prove that wetlands and biodiversity matter!

• ? Visit your local conservation area. Canada has so many, and using them sends a message to politicians that we value them as more than potential real estate sites! Stay on marked trails, never litter, and take only photos. Bring a child and instill a love of nature.

• ? Buy organic food and help reduce the amount of agricultural waste (fertilizers, pesticides, hormones and antibiotics from animal waste) poisoning wetlands.

• ? Choose phosphate-free household-cleaning and personal care products. Phosphate runoff encourages algae bloom, which is harmful to aquatic life. All LiveClean hair and body care products are phosphate-free.

• ? Buy wild-caught shrimp and prawns. In the last few decades, over 30 percent of the world's mangrove forests have been cleared for commercial shrimp farms. Support sustainable fisheries, not wetland destruction.

• ? In the housing market? Don't buy a new-build home bordering wetland.

• ? Likewise, don't vacation at resorts built on or next to environmentally sensitive land. They give new meaning to the term: "killer view"

• ? Make your next vacation a voluntourism trip. New Orleans, Brazil and Borneo are three hot destinations where you can work on wetland restoration projects.

Visit your local wetland this weekend, and

• Hike
• Birdwatch
• Follow animal tracks in the snow
• Cross-country ski a trail 
• Take nature photos

Do you drive your car to work everyday?

Is carpooling to school or sports part of your family's regular routine?

Does the prospect of seeing your fuel costs rocket up to 50 percent higher than in summer freak you out just a little bit?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, read on for our eco-conscious winter driving tips.

Between rougher driving conditions, longer commute times and increased climate-control demands ("Crank up the heat!"), your car's fuel needs will increase significantly during a typical Canadian winter.

When possible, cut your winter carbon footprint by walking or taking public transit. But when that's not an option, try our Top 10 winter-savvy driving tips. Our tips will help you cut emissions and use less fuel this winter. End result: smaller carbon footprint - and thicker wallet!

1. Get a winter tune-up. According to Natural Resources Canada, a poorly maintained vehicle will gobble up 15 percent more fuel than one that is up to date with maintenance. Poorly maintained vehicles also emit more greenhouse gas.

2. Check tire pressure. It can change with dramatic temperature fluxes. Underinflated tires dramatically increase a car's fuel consumption needs.

3. Change the oil. Replace your car's engine oil on the schedule mandated by your vehicle's owner's guide. Use the manufacturer-recommended oil type: This maximizes fuel efficiency while reducing emissions. Look for oil rated as "Energy Conserving" : You may use up to 2.7 percent less fuel than with conventional oil!

4. Don't idle! If we all cut our idling by three minutes per day, Canadians would conserve 630 million litres of fuel, 1.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, and $630 million annually in fuel costs, says Natural Resources Canada. If you're stopped for more than 60 seconds (except in traffic!), turn off the engine!

5. Use a block heater on the coldest days. Set the timer to start warming your car's engine two hours before you'll be driving. This can improve fuel economy on a frigid -25C day by up to 25 percent!

6. Swap your car for exercise. At least on short errands. The catalytic converter on a car (which reduces emissions) doesn't work optimally until the car is fully warmed up. So on drives under five kilometers, you?re being particularly non-eco friendly. So walk or bike to the post office instead - or do all your errands in one trip to save time, fuel and emissions.

7. Drive smoothly. Avoid energy-guzzling stops and starts. Don't be a tail-gator: give the guy in front of you lots of space so you can go with the flow without constant accelerating and braking.

8. Don't speed! Driving at 110 km/hour uses up to 25 percent more fuel than driving at 90 km/hour. Don't travel at a snail's pace, but if driving conditions warrant it, slow down a bit.

9. Reduce drag. Roof racks and spoilers, not to mention having the window open, all contribute to fuel-sucking wind resistance on your vehicle. Remove racks and spoilers when not in use, and if you must take a cigarette break do it before you get in the car. (Or better yet: quit!)

10. Lighten up. Similarly, a vehicle's fuel consumption goes up when it's loaded down with sports gear, tools or other extraneous weight. Not using it? Stow it somewhere else.

We hope these tips help you drive smarter this winter!