Case Studies

Wetland Link International (WLI), a programme of the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT), is a global network of wetland education centres. Founded in 1991, it fell into decline between 1998 and 2003 due to lack of funds. Thanks to HSBC's support, since 2004 it has been able to pursue the following aims:

• To encourage and support the exchange of information and expertise internationally between those involved in wetland education programmes - particularly those operating from wetland education centres and similarly targeted sites such as field study centres, environmental education centres, zoological and botanical gardens, and aquaria;
• To advocate for, and assist in, the development of new wetland education centres and their associated programmes throughout the world;
• To improve the effectiveness of operations at wetland education centres through sharing, training and expertise exchange;
• To lobby for the greater inclusion of CEPA (communications, education and public awareness) programmes within wetlands and related conservation initiatives and instruments, and to support the development of frameworks for subsequent implementation at national, regional and global levels.

Wetland centres are recognised by the Ramsar Convention on wetlands as a principal means of delivering CEPA for wetland conservation and wise use. The Ramsar Bureau (which administers the Ramsar convention, an international treaty supporting global wetland habitats) encourages wetland centres to participate in WLI as a means of gaining access to global expertise in the field of wetland CEPA.

WLI has an active database of more than 300 wetland education centres in 63 countries and has begun to encourage regional groupings so that centres can share information and learning.

The London Wetland Centre