Introduction/Overview This document entails factual accounts on the international observances, World Ocean Day and World Wetlands

Day and how they relate to the island of Jamaica. The World Wetlands Day observance is narrowed down to detailed descriptions of what a wetland is, brief outlines of the importance of wetlands to the environment, brief history of the Ramsar treaty on Wetland conservation and also brief descriptions of the main Ramsar sites in Jamaica and their commercial importance. The World Ocean Day observance outlines the commercial and economic importance of water and the ocean to the biotic and abiotic environment, a brief history of the process taken to have this day pronounced an official day of observance, ecological function of the ocean, the oceans importance as a habitat and a brief overview of ocean degradation. The main objective is that when through reading this document, the reader should be able to be more aware of and abreast to these international observances, more appreciative of these natural ecosystems (even if the main perception is that wetlands are stinky-smelly and have no value) and that (the ocean is just there for recreational activities), more involved in activities related to the protection, conservation and sustainability of wetlands and the ocean and may be able to influence others to do the same, this document aim to make the reader more knowledgeable, proactive and active.