How to structure a wetland visitor centre?
Can you help WLI member Centro de Informação, Observação e Monitorização de Aves take their next step?
Madaleno Satumbo Constantino writes:
Three years after our participation in MBP meeting in Senegal where we dreamed about a wetland centre in Lobito; two years after visiting LCC in Nigeria for experience sharing and also two years after our centre (CIOMA) was formally established and allowed as WLI member; two years after being in close contact with EVOA - Portugal; we are about to open our new wetland centre (shipping containers based) facilities in Lobito, a project funded by the WSFI.
We are now working on the organic statute and due to the lack of experience I am asking you to share some samples or ideas you think may help us to write the main guidelines to regulate the centre, documents on staffing and business structure.
The facilities are funded but we need to find the best way to manage them in a sustainable way that’s why we are asking to experienced people to share there experience and find what we can adopt and adapt.
Thanks and please, keep assisting us to make our dream real.
Contact Constantino via the comments on this story or email us and we will pass it on.
Existing resources
If you also aspire to creating a wetland visitor centre, we have some resources on the WLI website to get you started. The Handbooks, manuals and information sheets page is your starting point.
Start with the Handbook on Best Practices for the Design and Operation of Wetland Education Centres, and then the WLI visitor centre manual.