An emergency and an opportunity: a message from WWT's chair

26 August 2021

WWT's Chair, Barnaby Briggs, reflects on his first experience at WWT Slimbridge and the last 75 years, and looks forward to the future of the charity.

When I was nine or ten years old, I came to Slimbridge for the first time.

I remember it being cold and misty. The hides were magical places that opened onto fields of geese. In one hide I remember being shown a Peregrine by someone I of course assume was Sir Peter Scott himself. It seemed to me then, and still does now, that these flocks of wild birds were extraordinary – how did they find their way at all and how did they know about this special place?

In September 1946 Peter Scott established the Wildfowl Trust on the banks of the River Severn in Gloucestershire. Over the next 75 years, driven by the passion and expertise of our employees and volunteers, and the vital encouragement of our supporters, WWT has grown into a leading international wetland conservation charity. We’re dedicated to creating a world where healthy wetland nature thrives and enriches lives and are as energetic and ambitious as ever as we look forward to the future.

Since WWT Slimbridge opened 75 years ago we have opened a further nine sites across the UK. They showcase the wonders of wetlands and the wildlife that live there, and the multiple benefits that these unique and beautiful habitats provide. Over 40 million visitors have connected with nature and we are continually developing new and inspiring ways to engage people from all backgrounds with wetlands. Beyond our sites we’ve delivered a huge range of pioneering conservation, research, monitoring and community projects in the UK to create, restore and protect wetlands.

WWT also works around the world. We have helped to create and restore wetlands on every continent and along critical global flyways for waterbirds. We engage with local communities to understand the threats to wetlands, so that they can take the lead to protect and restore them, helping to support a rich mix of wildlife and the people that depend on them. We also work with decision makers around the world to highlight the importance of preserving these vital habitats.

As we celebrate these achievements we are also looking to the future. With this in mind we have set ourselves four new overarching ambitions to guide and focus our work so we can make the most impact. We’re also clear that wetlands can offer real solutions to many of the urgent challenges that we are facing - climate change, flooding, pollution and even our own wellbeing. For example, peatland stores twice as much carbon as all the world’s forests combined. Our own research is also showing that salt marshes, such as those at our reserve at Steart, in Somerset, are capable of storing carbon far more efficiently than forests.

Yet despite this, wetlands are disappearing three times faster than forests. 64 per cent of the world’s wetlands have disappeared since 1900¹, and in the UK it is estimated that 90 per cent of our wetlands have been lost in the last 400 years. With 40 per cent of the world’s species reliant on wetlands in some way, the loss of these valuable places is forcing many species to the brink of extinction. These extraordinarily biodiverse places are also essential for people. Their loss is our loss too and it’s being increasingly acknowledged that their decline poses a threat to the livelihoods and wellbeing of millions of people around the world.

That is why it’s now more important than ever to create a network of healthy wetlands and ensure that decision makers understand their value. We will also do more to connect people with wetlands and the wildlife that lives there, and inspire them to take action in the places where they live and work. We are facing a period of enormous threat to our planet but also an enormous opportunity. I hope you will join our celebrations, on line and on site, and also join our movement to protect the wonders of wetlands, for everyone, everywhere.