WLI-Global
Chris Rostron has now started in the post of Head of WLI, based at the London Wetlands Centre, UK. Chris has run a similar wetland conservation network across the UK, and is looking forward to taking on the challenge of providing support and resources to the WLI network.
"I am keen to make contact with all WLI members and find out what WLI can do for you. A key objective is to support and develop regional networks of wetland groups across the world, to really get the message about the importance of wetlands out to local communities, businesses and government". Please contact Chris on:WLI@wwt.org.uk
WLI-Canada - a new WLI regional network is born
WLI-Canada, a new WLI regional network was launched at the Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre, Midland, Ontario on 27th August, 2007. Wye Marsh is an area of (mainly) Cattail swamp, fen, bog and woodland about two hours north of Toronto (www.wyemarsh.com and see their profile on this site). Wye Marsh has agreed to facilitate WLI-Canada and will be contacting their colleagues and friends in due course. Watch this space.
New WLI-Asia website launched - September 2007
Check out the new WLI-Asia website on www.wli-asia.org .
New WLI-Asia interschools programme
A new WLI-Asia interschools programme is underway. Follow the link from the home page of www.wwt.org.uk/wli
Hong Kong Wetland Park wins design award
Met Studios Design have won the prestigious 2007 Museums and Heritage International Award for the design of the Hong Kong Wetland Park. This was designed with the client (Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservtion Department of the Hong Kong SAR Government) and various consultants/colleagues including the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT). See www.museums and heritage.com/a_home.asp for details.
WLI-Asia symposium held in Hong Kong
The first WLI-Asia symposium was held at the Hong Kong Wetland Park (HKWP) during January 2007. The organisers included the current facilitators of WLI-Asia - the Hong Kong Government Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) and WWF-Hong Kong.
Over 80 delegates attended (almost 120 if you include various dignitaries and others) from Bangladesh, China, India, Kazakhstan, Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Thailand as well as Australia, Kenya, Switzerland and the UK.
Delegates will have received a CD and DVD of proceedings. To view presentations, visit http://www.wli-asia-symposium.com/en/mainpage06.html
New Austrian Wetland Centre
Unterwasser Reich (Underwater World) Ramsar Centre opened in Schrems Nature Park, an area of ponds, lakes , brooks, floodplain and peat bogs in north eastern Austria, in April 2006.
The wetland centre represents a collaboration between the municipality of Schrems and WWF Austria.
The director is Michaela Bodner.
Details from www.unterwasserreich.at
If your existing or planned wetland centre is not a member of WLI, then please email the WLI Coordinator, chris.rostron@wwt.org.uk. Membership is free to wetland centres.
Hong Kong and London - A special relationship
The Hong Kong Wetland Park (HKWP), run by the HK Government's Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), and the London Wetland Centre (run the international ngo Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust - WWT) have announced that they will twin with each other.
It is hoped that the twinning will help the two wetland centres develop joint marketing and training programmes, as well as initiating staff exchanges to develop capacity.
WLI in Iran
Malcolm Whitehead, WLI Coordinator, visited Iran in February 2006 to help develop CEPA around Iranian wetlands and the west and central Asian region.
Working with colleagues from the Iranian Department of the Environment, Ramsar Bureau, Ramsar Regional Centre for w. and c. Asia, the UK-based Field Studies Council,and the British Council, a number of meetings, conferences and training workshops were undertaken about wetland centres and CEPA for wetland wise use.
Some 200 people attended including Iranian and Afghan wetland/environmental professionals, relevant scientists, NGO workers, teachers, Province Governors and representatives from the UNDP Ramsar Wetland Project.
It is hoped that collaboration will continue in the future.
WLI and Ramsar sign memorandum of cooperation (MOC)
WLI and the Ramsar Convention signed a MOC at the Ramsar COP meeting in Uganda, November 2005.
Details of the MOC and the signing ceremony from:
www.ramsar.org/cepa/outreach_cepanews_e101.htm
Developing a wetland centre online manual
A manual about developing a wetland centre is available free from this website. Concentrating on the CEPA aspects of running a centre, it considers:
- Whether a wetland centre is the solution for you - why do you want one?
- What messages are you trying to convey?
- What audiences are you trying to reach?
- How to reach people through an interpretative approach
- Ways and means (treatments and media) of relaying messages and telling stories.
- Issues associated with developing and operating a wetland centre that is open to the public.
The manual is available in English, French, Spanish, simple Chinese and Portugese. Japanese and Russian versions are planned.