It's a day to shine the spotlight on a sometimes-overlooked part of our ecosystem.

February 2nd marks the 22nd-annual World Wetlands Day, which was established in hopes of raising awareness on the values they provide for humanity and the planet.

According to an editorial written by Dan Kraus, Nature Conservancy of Canada's senior conservation biologist, Canada holds a quarter of the planet's wetlands, but during the past five decades, nearly 50 per cent of the world's wetlands have disappeared.

Kraus believes urgent action is needed to save the remaining wetlands and one of the ways to accomplish that feat is by changing people's perception.

"I think if we can broaden our understanding of the values that they provide," he said. "They really are an essential part of our prairie infrastructure. Once we value them more we will hopefully put more emphasis on both their conservation and restoration."

A large number of species that live on the prairies rely on wetlands habitat throughout the year, but it's not just the prairie animal residents that depend on the ecosystem.

"They're critical in this continuum of migratory species that move up and down that prairie flyway," Kraus said. "They're critically important for waterfowl nesting in the spring. They're also really important for a lot of migratory birds that aren't breeding there but they are stopping there."

Wetlands don't just provide a service to animals, they can supply a great deal of value to humans as well.

"It includes things like holding water when we don't want it, but also providing water when we need it the most," Kraus stated. "They're great natural filters and sponges of water. As we're entering into an era of greater climate uncertainty, maintaining the wetlands we have on the landscape are critical not just for nature but for our economy and our communities."

With the massive loss of wetlands, it has put several species in danger such as the prairie population of the northern leopard frog, the king rail, the piping plover, and a variety of different fish.

"The big problem we have is habitat loss," he said. "We have to be the generation that turns that around or all that work in the past to protect ducks and other waterfowl could be lost because if there is no habitat, we can't save them."

Kraus also believes Canada can be world leaders in helping save wetlands "by supporting conservation efforts, sharing your thoughts with friends and various levels of government and the business community you can help make every day a wetlands day."