WWT has an essential role to play in the research of behaviour, health and populations of thousands of wetland species including rare plant life.
WWT's research provides the scientific information we need to conserve priority wetland habitats and waterbird populations, and to understand and address the threats they face.
Today our Species Conservation programmes focus on the most threatened species - globally and nationally - and on the greatest threats they face - from changes in land use, climate change and disease.
We also recognise that threatened waterfowl and wetlands need our help most in Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa and South America and we will target our capacity-building activities in these continents, by:
- twinning our UK species conservation programmes with those for globally threatened species in these regions.
- helping to develop waterbird monitoring, ringing, catching and disease surveillance expertise in these regions.
WWT researchers are also now utilising new technology to research bird migration using satellite transmitters. This has enabled researchers to study the migration routes and movements of a number of species including Bewick's and Whooper Swans, Lesser Flamingos, Light-bellied Brent Geese and Barnacle Geese.