What is WLI?
The Wetland Link International (WLI - pronounced 'wellie') programme is a global network of wetland education centres. The network defines a wetland education centre as, "any place where there is interaction between people and wildlife and CEPA (communications, education and public awareness) activity occurs in support of wetland conservation aims".
Thus the WLI network embraces wetland nature reserves with a wide range of visitor facilities (e.g. centres run by WWT), environmental education centres, field study centres, zoological and botanical gardens, many interactive natural history museums and a wide variety of community site-based projects and programmes.
WLI network members are engaged in:
- CEPA delivery in support of connection to nature and wetland conservation objectives
- Capacity building for CEPA about wetlands
- Providing venues for appropriate professional training and development
…and who is it for?
WLI is open to any organisation, group or individual who is planning, designing or operating a place or places where there is interaction between people and wetlands, especially wetland life, with an educational and/or interpretative objective. Members may be government or non-government, professional or amateur, paid or voluntary.
E-communications will be the mainspring of the network so participation will occur at many levels, beginning with simple membership of a list-serve and e-discussion group. The number of secondary audiences will include policy makers, potential funders and wider environmental professionals beyond education/interpretation etc.
Anyone that needs, or can share, practical advice on activities related to the core activities of WLI is welcome to join the network as a participant.
WLI developed from a range of desires, including:
- A desire to reduce the feelings of isolation of those involved with on-the-ground CEPA activities at centres
- A desire to share knowledge and practical expertise around the world
- A desire to raise the status and importance of CEPA activity in the realisation of conservation and sustainable development objectives
- A desire to produce solutions.
The WLI network is endorsed by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (through a memorandum of understanding) and coordinated by WWT.
What does WLI do?
WWT believes that the bringing together of people and wildlife for the benefit of both remains a powerful tool in the communications, education and public awareness (CEPA) process. The development of new and innovative methods of doing this, managing the interaction in ways that minimise impact and are sympathetic to both landscapes and natural systems, all deserve special attention. At a global level the revised WLI network will focus on these processes and imperatives and the CEPA programmes associated with them.
WLI has the following objectives:
- 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 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.
Contact WLI
Chris Rostron, WLI Global Coordinator
Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust
WWT London Wetland Centre
Queen Elizabeth's Walk
Barnes, London
SW13 9WT
T: (+44) 020 8409 4400
F: (+44) 020 8409 4401
E: WLI@wwt.org.uk