The original aims of WLI were -
- To facilitate the exchange of information and expertise amongst those designing, developing and operating wetland education centres worldwide.
- To advocate for, and assist in, the development of new wetland education centres and associated programmes worldwide
- To improve the operation of such centres through information/expertise exchange and training
- To lobby for the greater inclusion of communications, education and public awareness (CEPA) programmes within wetlands and related conservation initiatives and instruments, and
- To develop frameworks for subsequent implementation at national, regional and global levels
WLI began with a core group of founder organisations - wetland centres from the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Trinidad, USA, Singapore, France and Italy.
A twice-yearly newsletter was the main means of mass communication within the network. During the first decade or so of WLI, many projects were organised on a centre-by-centre basis including training and expertise exchange, centre development (from concept to build and operation), and broader education and public awareness programmes. The founders and WWT played a leading role in raising the level of debate about the importance of CEPA programmes in the creation of sustainable futures and the establishment of the wise use principle. As a consequence of this, WLI has been recognised as an important delivery mechanism for the Ramsar Convention's Outreach Programme (Resolution V11.9). See http://www.ramsar.org/key_outreach_prog_e.htm.
WLI's initial three-year funding came via British Petroleum (BP) sponsorship, and other in-kind support from British Airways.
From 1994-98, WWT supported the WLI administration financially including the salary of the first full time WLI Coordinator, Dr Jane Claricoates. Because of financial constraints, the Coordinator position was lost in 1998 and the network was barely kept alive for a few years. Despite this, a number of WWT bilateral initiatives have proceeded under the programme and via the consultancy arm of WWT. Most of these relate to centre developments, advocacy and community conservation projects. They include new centre developments in Hong Kong, the USA, Brazil and the UK. Direct advice and support has also been provided to projects in Austria, the Czech Republic, Italy and Ghana. Forthcoming projects include those in China, Dubaiand Nepal.
In 1999 WWT surveyed the WLI membership. Response to this indicated a real need for the WLI concept and network. As a result, WWT continues to recognise the importance of WLI in the delivery of its own conservation objectives. WLI is endorsed by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands through a Memorandum of Understanding with the network.
WLI was relaunched in 2002. The network now has over 300 members in more than 60 countries on six continents. It has active regional networks in Asia, Australia and the UK/Eire. WLI continues to be supported by HSBC Bank plc.