WLI Bulletin September 2024
Category: 6-month newsletter, News, WLI Regional News
Last updated: December 4th, 2024
WLI World September 2024
Issue 30 of WLI World: you can both download as PDF to print, or view story-by-story here. Open each story by tapping on its title.
Welcome to the 30th edition of your WLI World newsletter! Since the last newsletter, the longstanding Head of WLI Chris Rostron has moved on to lead the Ramsar Regional Initiative for the Mediterranean. After sixteen years, many of you will have met Chris, and we miss him already! WWT will continue to support WLI just like always, and in the next few months we will have a new Head of WLI.
As we prepare this newsletter, we are working on two of our flagship activities. The Star Wetland Centre awards panel is starting to judge the longlisted applications. With new categories added, we are going to take our time to discuss how we make the final awards, so if you applied, don’t expect to hear any results until 2025!
The WLI Small Grant scheme is open for applications until 24 October 2025. The news item below lets you know how to apply.
Finally, an update on World Wetlands Day. The theme for 2 February 2025 will be ‘Protecting wetlands for our common future’. Wetlands COP, at Victoria Falls in July will likely share that theme too.
After 16 years working on WLI at WWT, I am leaving to take up the post of MedWet coordinator, continuing work to protect wetlands, but now with a focus on the Mediterranean through the Ramsar Regional Initiative. It has been a huge pleasure working with wetland education colleagues across the globe, and having the privilege of visiting many of you to see work at first hand. I am continually enthused and impressed with the passion and energy of everyone that works to get the message about wetlands across in such engaging and imaginative ways.
I will miss working with you all hugely, but am confident that the International Engagement Team (Connor, Alex and Maria Elisa) will continue to support and develop the network, alongside Mr Suh, Seongbo and the team at Ramsar Regional Centre East Asia who support the WLI Asia-Oceania network.
Keep up your great work and I hope to stay up to date with your news and activities.
This text has been edited from the original which you can see on www.ramsar.org/news
What do a Dalmatian Pelican feeding on the shores of Greece’s Lake Kerkini, a damselfly laying her eggs the rushes of the Camargue, France, and a student in an African wildlife school reviewing a module on waterbirds have in common?
The answer lies in the efforts of the Tour du Valat. Established in 1954 by naturalist and philanthropist Luc Hoffmann in the Camargue, the Tour du Valat has spent the last seven decades championing the wise use and preservation of wetlands.
From its inception, the Tour du Valat has been synonymous with scientific research and practical implementation strategies to sustain and restore wetland habitats. This commitment has enriched human understanding of these vital ecosystems; its work has also resulted in tangible conservation outcomes.
The Tour du Valat’s work spans many types of wetland management, including biodiversity conservation, water management, and sustainable development, ensuring that these rich yet fragile environments continue to thrive.
The Tour du Valat has played a major role in supporting the work of the Convention on Wetlands. It hosts the Secretariat of a Ramsar Regional Initiative called MedWet, which is coordinated by the former Head of WLI Chris Rostron.
As a partner to the Mediterranean Wetlands Observatory, the Tour du Valat brings wetlands expertise and important data to the table. After a decision at the Convention’s recent 63rd Standing Committee, the Tour du Valat has also agreed to host a training course related to National Wetland Inventories. This collaboration ensures that wetland conservation strategies are informed by the latest science and are effectively implemented on both a national and regional scale.
Over the years, the Tour du Valat has championed restoration projects both in the Camargue and beyond, fostering biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods in local communities.
As the Tour du Valat celebrates its 70th anniversary, it continues to lead and inspire in the world of wetlands conservation. Its legacy of scientific excellence, strategic partnerships, and successful conservation practices have had a profound influence—one that is expected to endure for generations to come.
The Ramsar Regional Center – East Asia (RRC-EA) and Diyasaru Park organized the 1st WLI Asia-Oceania Conference on 17-21 June 2024 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. More than 75 participants from 14 countries of the WLI Asia-Oceania network attended the conference. The 10th anniversary event of Diyasaru Park was held back-to-back with the conference in coordination and collaboration with the RRC-EA, Diyasaru Park, Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation (SLLDC), Western Province Tourism Board of Sri Lanka, and national and local partner organizations.
The first day of the conference began with opening messages from the Secretary of the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing, followed by messages from representatives of the RRC-EA/WLI Asia-Oceania Secretariat and WWT/WLI Global. The Hon. Prime Minister of the Government of Sri Lanka also welcomed the participants and highlighted the importance of wetlands and the role of wetland centers.
Keynote presentations from wetland expert, WLI Europe/Migratory Birds for People and Diyasaru Park shared insights on connecting people and wetlands. A series of presentations by participants showcased the CEPA activities of each wetland center or organization as part of the learning sessions during the first two days of the conference.
The third day was structured to hear about the ongoing program of WLI Global and WLI Asia-Oceania, and to discuss the effective implementation of the WLI Asia-Oceania activities at regional, national, and site level. During the open forum, members shared their experiences and ideas on how to expand and strengthen the network in the Asia and Oceania. Participants were invited and given a guided tour of Beddagana Wetland Park, one of the WLI Asia-Oceania member sites in Sri Lanka.
On the following day, at the 10th Anniversary of Diyasaru Park hosted by SLLDC, members took part in various activities including a guided tour of the park, tree planting, and exhibition booths. During the anniversary celebration, the RRC-EA, WWT, and Diyasaru Park signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the National Coordinator for WLI Asia-Oceania in Sri Lanka. A welcome dinner was hosted by the Office of the President of Sri Lanka, where the President delivered a speech congratulating the first WLI Asia-Oceania conference and highlighting Sri Lanka’si ongoing efforts in wetland conservation.
The conference concluded with a field trip to an emerging wetland eco-tourism site, the Seethawaka Wet Zone Botanical Garden.
The Nigerian Conservation Foundation’s Environmental Education Unit, under the Technical Programme Department, is dedicated to promoting environmental awareness through diverse programs. This year’s summer camp, themed ‘Eco-Adventure Challenge’, combines ecological education with outdoor activities, fostering a deep connection to nature.
The three-weeks camp held in different wetland education centres across the country engaged over 500 children in the age brackets 5-17. The activities held at Lekki Conservation Centre from August 12th -30th 2024, features engaging activities such as vegetable gardening, wildlife watching, upcycling, bird watching, coding, tie dying, and green cooking. Campers learnt different sustainable practices, like creating upcycled crafts and cooking with biofuels. Art and craft sessions, including tie-dye with vegetable scraps, encourage creativity and zero waste. Games like football, Ludo, and basketball helps to promote teamwork and fun.
This immersive experience aims to inspire environmental stewardship and personal growth, equipping children with skills and values that contribute to a sustainable future.
Since the establishment of the Lu Jiao Creek constructed wetland in 2008, a group of nature enthusiasts—teachers, students, and parents—has formed the ‘Lu Jiao Creek Wetland Junior Environmental Patrol Team.’ They walk into this wetland and care for their local environment. Every third Sunday of the month, these team members, ages 10 to 66, gather at the Lu Jiao Creek wetland to participate in environmental monitoring across five purification sections. They observe aquatic creatures, record bird species, and continuously enhance their expertise through professional lessons.
This year in August, we invited Mr. Kuan-Tao Pan to strengthen everyone’s understanding of dragonflies. During the lesson, each team member was equipped with insect nets, observation boxes, and iPads. They ventured to the edge of the ecological pond, capturing and photographing insects firsthand. Their observations were recorded on Padlet After Mr. Pan identified and explained all captured species, everyone opened their insect boxes and let the dragonflies back into their wetland habitat. Impressively, students witnessed the fascinating moment when a Juniper Hawker dragonfly devoured a delicate damselfly right before their eyes! What a vivid example of the living ecosystem. Such hands-on experiences foster a deeper appreciation for nature among these young learners.
In the afternoon, teachers guided the newly joined team members on how to complete aquatic life surveys, water quality testing, bird observations, and garbage cleanups. Additionally, senior students who had graduated from elementary school guided their junior peers in delivering comprehensible oral reports which enabled them to convey the results of their patrols efficiently. The mentorship and companionship between students aim to cultivate an environmental consciousness, inspiring more nature-loving children to become future environmental guardians.
At the Society for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands (SCPW), we had the privilege of guiding young architecture students through the 4th SCPW Wetland Center Design Competition in partnership with SM Prime Holdings. This year’s challenge focused on the Macabebe Mangrove and Coastal Site in Pampanga, where students were tasked with designing a Wetland Center that balances human activity with wetland conservation. Before diving into their designs, students visited the Macabebe Mangrove site, learning firsthand about the critical role wetlands play in protecting our environment. This field visit gave them valuable insights into how wetlands functions and how architecture can help support these vital ecosystems.
The Design Bootcamp
During the design bootcamp, we helped student teams brainstorm and work on their designs through a series of curated learning workshops. Guided by professional mentors, they learned how to incorporate sustainable building ideas with ecological awareness. The focus was not just on creating beautiful spaces but on finding practical ways to protect nature through designs that benefit both humans and nature.
What the students taught us
The creativity and passion of the students amazed us. Their fresh ideas challenged us to think beyond traditional solutions and offered new perspectives on the future of wetland centers. Watching them work together, we were reminded of the importance of involving the youth in conservation efforts. They truly are the future stewards of our environment.
What we gained as organizers
For us at the Society for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands, this competition was another chance to connect with the next generation of designers and conservationists. It reinforced the importance of collaboration and learning, and it showed us how young minds can lead the way in finding solutions for the challenges we face today. We were able to give the future architects of the nation the opportunity to understand the complexities of designing for wetland environments in ways that fully benefit humans and wetlands.
This competition reaffirmed our belief that young people can make a real difference when given the tools and knowledge to do so. We look forward to seeing how these future architects will continue to champion the cause of wetland conservation.
Visit the competition website at www.wetlands.ph/mwcdc to learn more.
Contributed by: Dan Alessadro De Jesus,
SCPW Volunteer and Former LLBCP Trainee
The palmyra palm tree helps to reduce soil erosion and protect the wetland bunds. Our designs enhanced the traditional Palmyra tree handicrafts with new designs and colours since 2009. This has increased the popularity of the handicrafts and revived their market. More women started joining our initiative and started getting additional income.
Recently, we were selected to be in India's first art, architecture, and design biennale organised by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. We are the only NGO representing our state of Tamil Nadu in New Delhi. We consider it a great recognition of our work to create a resilient society.
The Pheasant-tailed Jacana Conservation Park conducted a summer breeding-bird survey of the pheasant-tailed jacana population from July 23rd to August 3rd. The survey aimed to evaluate the joint efforts of the Pheasant-tailed Jacana Conservation Park and local and central governments in promoting eco-friendly farming techniques to local farmers with the goal of creating more breeding habitats for the species.
The survey was performed through the coordinated efforts of park volunteers, students from National Chiayi University, and birdwatchers from all over Taiwan. Participants set off at dawn to survey the population of pheasant-tailed jacanas within their assigned survey areas, after which they uploaded their survey results using a mobile application to the park management.
Despite the impact of Typhoon Gaemi, the survey recorded a total of 1,664 adult birds, marking an increase of 5 adult birds from 2023. The population of the species was mainly concentrated in the water chestnut fields near the Pheasant-tailed Jacana Conservation Park. The survey revealed that the habitat of the pheasant-tailed jacana had expanded to farmlands which were not previously recorded.
The survey results suggest that wetlands with floating-leaved plants, such as waterlilies and water chestnut, were the dominant breeding site of pheasant-tailed jacanas. Marshes, water paddy fields, and similar environments are also suitable habitats for the species to forage and raise their young. Additionally, the survey indicated that continuous high temperatures caused by climate change had a negative effect on the growth of water chestnuts.
The Rincón de Ajo Nature Reserve is a protected natural area located at the southern end of Samborombón Bay that is part of the System of Natural Protected Areas of the Province of Buenos Aires in Argentina. Internationally recognized as a Ramsar Site, it is part of the Hemispheric Network of Shorebird Reserves and an Important Bird Area. Its environments constitute one of the most important feeding and resting sites for migratory birds in Argentina. We carried out the project ‘Management of the habitat conditions of migratory birds: management of human activity’ to mitigate the disturbances that human activities cause in the ‘Punta Rasa’ sector of the nature reserve. The partnership included the park ranger staff of the Ministry of Environment of the Province of Buenos Aires, together with the Ornithological Association of El Plata (Aves Argentinas), and BirdLife,
The objectives were to improve the habitat of the birds, organize the movements and activities of visitors, promote the appreciation of the place by the local community and the visiting public, and monitor the birds.
To control vehicular traffic, a parking lot and traffic lane were built, informative posters were placed and complemented with controls on the beach and surveys of acceptance of the ordinance. Workshops were held with tourism providers and talks were held in schools and to the general public. We also designed a brochure and decal of some of the species that visit us. To publicize the tasks that were being carried out, we had media interviews, we wrote articles in ornithological magazines, and we disseminated it in the festivals ‘Welcome to the Migratory Birds of Samborombón Bay’ and ‘Celebrating our Samborombón Bay Wetland’ that we celebrate together with the community every year.
This project, in addition to strengthening the links with the community that uses the place, gave us the possibility of re-evaluating and strengthening the management of public policies for the conservation of the protected natural area.
Two members of Baragangina Resource Management Organisation (RMO), the community organisation that manages Baikka Beel wetland sanctuary, attended a three-day workshop on ‘Wetland Ecosystem Services and Nature-based Solutions in Bangladesh’ organized by Birdlife International and IUCN from 27 to 29 May 2024 - a testimony recognising the community's role in the successful management of Baikka Beel Sanctuary.
In July 2024, although Bangladesh was gripped by a student-public movement which ultimately resulted in the removal of the long-standing government and installation of a neutral interim government, protection of Baikka Beel continued. Moreover, Baragangina RMO partnered with a local youth group called AYO Boruna which made and installed 20 nest boxes for Cotton Pygmy-goose to replace some of the old rotting ones (see photos). This was supported financially by Friends of Baikka Beel. In the absence of old trees with natural crevices, the nest box system here has helped several of these hole nesting waterbirds nest successfully each year since 2007.
Colombia's Lake Tota is becoming a testing ground for innovative wetland conservation. The Hidro-Aves Tota project combines hyperspectral imaging, drone surveys, and fieldwork to create a detailed picture of the lake's ecosystem health. It will be applied on the western side of the lake’s watershed.
This collaboration between universities, conservation groups, and local communities aims to revolutionize wetland monitoring in this lake. It will represent a first-ever approach of its type. By mapping water quality and tracking land use plus bird habitats (to estimate populations) with unprecedented precision, in hand with complementary field work, the project will inform conservation strategies and guide decision-making, in connection with local schools and communities.
Hidro-Aves Tota aims to demonstrate how cutting-edge technology and local knowledge can work together to protect vital ecosystems, potentially serving as a model for wetland conservation elsewhere. Work is about to start by this October and will last 18 months. Preliminary information can be reviewed here.
If you know about similar experiences somewhere else and could share some tips or recommendations for us, or want to be part of this project on a voluntary basis, do not hesitate to contact us at: hidroaves@abctota.org
The picturesque wetland of Santay Island was the setting for two significant cultural events: the sixth choral meeting ‘Santay enCanta 2024’ and the historical celebration ‘Bolivar returns to Santay’.
The choral meeting ‘Santay enCanta 2024’ brought together talented choirs from various institutions, promoting choral music and strengthening cultural ties in the region. Four outstanding choirs participated: La Casa de la Cultura Núcleo del Guayas, Visum Musicum, the Unidad Educativa República de Francia and the Coro Juvenil de la Universidad de Guayaquil. Each of these choirs brought their unique style and repertoire, creating an enriching musical experience for all attendees.
The event began with a warm welcome from the organisers, who highlighted the importance of choral music as a form of artistic expression and a means of fostering unity and collaboration between communities. Each choir then had the opportunity to present their repertoire, which ranged from classical pieces to contemporary compositions, including arrangements of traditional Ecuadorian music. The Casa de la Cultura Núcleo del Guayas impressed the audience with their performances high level of technique and vocal precision. Visum Musicum offered a varied repertoire that stood out for its emotion and expressiveness. The Unidad Educativa República de Francia surprised with their energy and enthusiasm, giving traditional songs modern arrangements. Finally, the Youth Choir of the University of Guayaquil closed the event with a vibrant and passionate performance that left a lasting impression on all present.
The event ‘Bolivar returns to Santay’ was held on Friday 23 August, reaffirming the importance of the history of the Isla Santay wetland, which is also a protected area of Ecuador. We re-enacted historical events: the day began with an emotional arrival in a canoe of the child Simón Bolívar, portrayed by Ángel Cruz Parrales, led by his proud father. Waiting on the main stage were teachers, students, community leaders, villagers and representatives of Amigos de Santay for the opening ceremony, which highlighted the importance of Bolívar in the history of Latin America and his influence in the struggle for independence. Students from the Jaime Roldós School presented a series of acts, including poetry, theatre, and traditional dances, which captured the essence of Bolívar's liberating spirit.
A new cycle of volunteering has begun at Fundación Kennedy for Wetland Conservation. Three of our projects have new teams of volunteer monitors, who will be responsible for leading activities in the wetlands and supporting ecosystem monitoring efforts. To prepare for this, in August, training sessions were held where the teams learned about wetlands, conservation projects, and teamwork—tools that will help them plan, organise, and lead actions in the wetlands.
Our foundation's working model consists of three major stages, and now in the final stage, the goal is to consolidate and maintain the restored ecosystem conditions and involve the community in managing their own spaces. This approach moves towards shared governance, where people actively engage in the protection and conservation of their wetlands. In this context, our engagement programmes play a crucial role.
This year, we have trained 40 volunteers, who are currently organising their first activities in the wetlands. The projects are:
- Conservation Project at Aguada la Chimba Nature Sanctuary and Urban Wetland, Antofagasta, Chile.
- Protection Project for the Wetlands of Algarrobo, Chile.
- Conservation Project for Laguna Huiscapi Wetland, Loncoche, Chile.
We are delighted to welcome our new volunteers, consolidating the transfer of knowledge and strengthening local engagement and efforts in the wetlands.
