Wetlands International is the only global not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the conservation and restoration of wetlands. We are deeply concerned about the loss and deterioration of wetlands such as lakes, marshes and rivers. Our vision is a world where wetlands are treasured and nurtured for their beauty, the life they support and the resources they provide.
Wetlands International is dedicated to maintaining and restoring wetlands— for their environmental values as well as for the services they provide to people. We work through our network of offices, our partners and experts to achieve our goals. Most of our work is financed on a project basis by governments and private donors. We are also supported by government and NGO membership.
Our head office is based in the Netherlands. We have eighteen offices around the world; these often independent entities share the Global Strategy. We work at the field level to develop and mobilise knowledge, and use this practical experience to advocate for better policies.
How we work
We fight the underlying causes of wetlands loss and degradation. Our research and advocacy enables action to restore, safeguard and sustainably use wetlands. Our four main strategies are:
1. Mobilising the best available expertise and knowledge
Knowledge and sound science are at the core of our work. Our conservation and restoration efforts around the world serve as our test grounds to create best practices. This research in turn informs and improves our field practices so that our knowledge can be applied to other wetlands, develop additional tools and stimulate further research by others. It also allows us to scale up our findings to influence policy.
2. Conserving important wetlands
We work to save and restore the most important wetland areas: we illustrate their economic and environmental value to authorities, address adverse impacts and enable local people to meet their needs in ways that preserve the services provided by wetlands.
3. Empowering communities to take action
We give communities the tools they need to restore and wisely use wetlands. We provide knowledge and trainings, build local capacity and create access to finance opportunities.
4. Advocacy
We work to improve the policies and practices of governments and companies through our local, national and international advocacy. We empower local communities to advocate for policy changes based on their own experiences and needs. We seek to influence international treaties and conventions such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
