2025-26 WLI Small Grants Updates!
What better way to end the year than by announcing the launch of inspiring new projects?
The new WLI Small Grants projects supporting wetlands and youth action worldwide officially started this month!
We are delighted to introduce a new group of initiatives led by communities, schools, and organisations committed to protecting wetlands through education, creativity, and youth leadership. From urban wetlands to peat swamps and high-altitude lakes, these projects show how local action can drive meaningful global impact.
Colombo Wetland Guardians
Organisation: Love a Tree Foundation
Country: Sri Lanka
The Colombo Wetland Guardians project empowers young people from Colombo’s urban wetland communities to become active leaders in conservation. Through hands-on learning, leadership development, and digital engagement, youth are strengthening community participation and shaping a new generation committed to protecting Colombo’s wetlands.
📸 Colombo Wetland Guardians taking part in the youth engagement survey during a visit to Beddagana Wetlands
© Madhu Dissanayake
TOTUMA Amplified: Integrating Muyso and Múcura for Lake Tota
Organisation: Fundación Montecito
Country: Colombia
TOTUMA Amplified strengthens community and youth participation in protecting Lake Tota by bringing together environmental education, art, and culture. By uniting initiatives such as the Muyso Festival and the Múcura Prize, the project uses workshops, radio programmes, bulletins, and public events to consolidate TOTUMA as a long-term conservation strategy for the lake.
📸 Learning to observe, listen, and care for Lake Tota — youth at the heart of #TOTUMAamplified, Felipe A. Velasco
Empowering Schools and Communities for Wetland Conservation in Singkil Peat Swamp
Organisation: Pusat Riset Konservasi Gajah dan Biodiversitas Hutan (PKGB)
Country: Indonesia
This project strengthens wetland conservation in the Singkil Peat Swamp through education, youth engagement, and community participation. By addressing threats such as land-use change and peatland fires, it supports over 600 students and builds local capacity for biodiversity protection and climate resilience.
💚 Despite the impacts of Cyclone Senyar and severe flooding in Rawa Singkil, the PKGB team continues to show remarkable commitment to wetland conservation and community resilience.
📸 ©PKGB
Nurturing Harmony: Empowering Communities for Wetland and Crane Conservation
Organisation: Boyo Wetland
Country: Ethiopia
Nurturing Harmony focuses on protecting Boyo Wetland, a vital habitat for cranes and more than 180 bird species. Through CEPA-aligned education campaigns, school clubs, exhibitions, and community workshops, the project supports sustainable livelihoods while fostering long-term conservation awareness among students and local communities.
📸 Boyo Wetland, November — as floodwaters recede, livestock return to graze
Catch Them Young
Organisation: Nyandungu Eco-Park
Country: Rwanda
The Catch Them Young project engages youth from six schools in Kigali to promote the sustainable conservation of Nyandungu Eco-Park. Through eco-clubs, creative workshops, competitions, and community outreach, the initiative nurtures environmental values, strengthens knowledge, and encourages long-term stewardship among more than 7,000 participants.
📸 © Nyandungu Eco-Park
Conservation Awareness in Danapure Wetland
Organisation: DANAPURE Wetland & Liceo Taller San Miguel
Country: Colombia
This project raises awareness about endangered and vulnerable species in the Danapure Wetland, including the Cauca Poison Frog, glassfrogs, and the Monarch Butterfly. Through school-based activities, community engagement, and the creation of an educational video, it inspires children and local communities to protect biodiversity and wildlife.
📸DANAPURE Wetland
RIAS: Educating to Conservation
Organisation: RIAS / ALDEIA
Country: Portugal
RIAS: Educating to Conservation engages young audiences through interactive environmental education and digital media. By improving educational tools, communication, and visibility, the project strengthens RIAS’s role in conservation education and deepens public appreciation for the ecosystems and biodiversity of Ria Formosa.
📸 RIAS
WLI Small Grants
Learn more about the WLI Small Grants: see previous projects, find out how to apply in 2026, and learn how it is assessed.
Congratulations to your organization for the remarkable commitment and impact you continue to make in conserving wetlands. Your dedication to protecting these vital ecosystems safeguards biodiversity, supports climate resilience, and sustains the livelihoods of present and future generations. Through your vision, partnerships, and tireless efforts, wetlands are not only preserved but restored as living landscapes of hope and learning. This achievement is a testament to your leadership in environmental stewardship and your lasting contribution to a healthier planet.