Side event details
Addressing the degradation, loss and wise use of wetlands requires collaborative action across society. Civil society, including local community associations, charities and other voluntary groups, plays a critical role in this. This side event explores several mechanisms to motivate, resource, and bring together civil society groups to optimise their work towards the aims of the Convention on Wetlands.
First we will launch the results of the latest World Wetland Survey (WWS). This is a citizen science programme that brings together scientists and civil society to collate and present information on the factors influencing the area and state of wetlands around the world. The survey empowers civil society groups to highlight the pressing issues facing their sites and can be a valuable way for Contracting Parties to gain wider perspectives on conservation priorities in their regions.
We will also showcase examples of locally-led responses to some of these wetland conservation challenges around the world, while discussing the value of creating mechanisms that enable truly bottom-up responses, including small grants programmes for community associations and capacity building programmes.
The session will culminate with a ceremony to award Star plaques to this year’s top 16 wetland centres for their excellence across 4 categories of good practice. Wetland Link International’s (WLI) Star Wetland Centre awards, showcase the best approaches to delivering CEPA activities at wetland sites. We reveal this year’s winners, inviting those countries in which the 16 winners are located (from all Ramsar regions) to attend and receive the awards.
OUTCOMES: A greater awareness of existing civil society programmes that help deliver elements of the Convention’s Strategic Plan, and the challenges and benefits of developing civil society initiatives. We are also targeting increased participation and use of the WWS and greater exposure (including media stories) to celebrate recognised excellence in wetland visitor centres.
MODERATOR (S): Mr Tomos Avent, Head, International Programmes, WWT
13:30 Opening remarks - Welcome & Overview of the event (Mr Tomos Avent, Head International Programmes, WWT)
13:34 Results of the World Wetland Survey and discussion of the future evolution of the survey (Dr Matthew Simpson, Society of Wetland Scientists and Ms Kim Diana Connolly, WWN Committee)
13:52 Building Capacity for locally-led response (Mrs Ratefason Z Tojotsara, Director of Protected Areas, Renewable Natural Resources and Ecosystems, Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, Madagascar)
14:05 Announcement of Wetland Link International Star Awards Winners & brief remarks from the award judging committee (Mr Suh Seong-Oh, Director, RRC-EA/Ms Kim Seongbo, Network Officer)
14.15 Presentation of the Award Certificates to centre official or CP representative (Ms Sharize Odongo, Communications Officer, Ramsar Secretariat)
14:28 Closing Remarks - Ms Tina Redshaw, (International Engagement Manager, WWT)
14:30 Event ends