WWT receives international recognition from Ramsar

Governments around the world unanimously recognised the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) as a formal partner on the global convention for wetlands earlier this month.

WWT joins a select group of independent organisations including WWF and IUCN that support the work of the Ramsar Convention, which is made up of 168 countries including the UK.

Through its involvement, WWT will help to advise countries on how to deal with issues such as disease control, sustainable wetland management and turning struggling wetlands into healthy landscapes where people enjoy seeing wildlife.

L-R: Director of Conservation Dr Debbie Pain, Chief Executive Martin Spray CBE, Head of WLI Chris Rostron
L-R: Director of Conservation Dr Debbie Pain, Chief Executive Martin Spray CBE, WLI Programme Manager Chris Rostron

The Ramsar Convention was created in 1971 to help secure the future of the world’s wetlands, which provide us with vital services. They supply us with drinking water, food and shelter; they reduce floods, drought and pollution; and despite only covering 6% of the world’s surface they store a third of its carbon – significantly more than forests.

But wetlands are also very vulnerable to damage. England has lost 90% of its wetlands since the industrial revolution and nearly two thirds of freshwater and wetland species for which we have sufficient data have declined.

The appointment of WWT as an official partner reflects the work we already contribute to wetland conservation on a global scale, including:

  • We co-ordinate Wetland Link International (WLI) from our HQ at Slimbridge, which is an organisation of 350 members over six continents who help Ramsar to educate and include people around the world in wetland conservation.
  • In 2012 we wrote the manual for managing disease in wetlands for Ramsar, to help governments and landowners tackle disease issues and save lives.
  • Our work with the Cambodian and Madagascan governments to develop national wetland management guidance.

WWT Chief Executive Martin Spray said:

“I'm delighted that WWT has been appointed as a formal partner of Ramsar. I’m very proud to be associated with an organisation of such high international standing.

“I think this recognition has been long deserved. WWT’s founder Sir Peter Scott was the keynote speaker at Ramsar’s launch in 1971. That close link has continued over the decades. We already provide a great deal of advice to Ramsar projects. Six of our ten UK wetland reserves are protected under the Ramsar Convention due to their importance to wildlife and people.

“All life - human, animal and plant - relies on healthy wetlands for so many things, not least clean water and drainage. Wetlands are places for people to live, work and play and I'm looking forward to working even more closely with the Ramsar Convention in future to improve wetlands in order to improve lives.”

Thank you to the British Airways Communities & Conservation Programme for helping WWT’s representatives to attend the Ramsar Convention meeting.

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