World Wetlands Day is celebrated every year on which date?

Introduction / Context:
World Wetlands Day is an international day that raises awareness about wetlands, their vital role in biodiversity, water purification, flood control and climate regulation. It marks the adoption of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. This day is celebrated every year on 2nd February. Exam questions on environmental issues frequently ask for the exact date of World Wetlands Day, making it an important fact to remember.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The observance is World Wetlands Day.
- It is celebrated annually on a fixed calendar date.
- The options include common dates for other major environmental and global observances.

Concept / Approach:
The conceptual link is between wetlands and February 2. You can remember that wetlands relate to water and that February is still part of the cooler season in many regions, emphasizing water and habitat conservation. Another approach is to connect World Wetlands Day on 2 February with World Environment Day on 5 June, keeping these environmental observances distinct in your memory by both date and theme.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify that the question is about World Wetlands Day, not general environment days. Step 2: Recall that this day commemorates the signing of the Ramsar Convention on 2 February. Step 3: Check the answer options and locate “2nd February.” Step 4: Compare with other options such as 5th June, which is known for World Environment Day, not wetlands specifically. Step 5: Select 2nd February as the correct answer because it matches the official date of this observance.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, recall that World Environment Day falls on 5 June and focuses on broader environmental themes, whereas World Wetlands Day is tied specifically to the Ramsar Convention. Since the Ramsar Convention was adopted on 2 February 1971, the annual observance also uses 2nd February. No major global environmental event related exclusively to wetlands is recognized on 1 January, 1 March or 2 April, which confirms that 2nd February is correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
1st January: Commonly known as New Year's Day and not linked to wetlands in the UN or Ramsar calendars.
1st March: Not the designated date for World Wetlands Day and may be associated with other observances in some contexts.
2nd April: Used for other international days such as World Autism Awareness Day, not wetlands.
5th June: Recognized globally as World Environment Day, covering a broader environmental agenda rather than wetlands alone.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse World Wetlands Day with World Environment Day because both are environmental observances. Another pitfall is to think of wetlands only during the monsoon season and then incorrectly associate the day with months like June or July. To avoid this, always remember the specific legal landmark: Ramsar Convention adopted on 2 February, hence World Wetlands Day on 2nd February every year.

Final Answer:
Correct option: 2nd February