Saving species

WWT has been saving wetland species ever since the Severn Wildfowl Trust was established in 1946. We take an action planning approach to this, first producing a single species action plan, then a prioritised list of the most important conservation projects. We then focus our work on the most critical projects – those which will deliver the greatest conservation gain.

Our international projects focus on globally Critically Endangered species including the rarest bird in the world - the Madagascar Pochard - and those which can act as flagships for wetland conservation along international flyways, such as Spoon-billed Sandpiper and Baer’s Pochard.

We take a partnership approach to saving species including working with international conventions such as the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement, Convention on Migratory Species, East Asian – Australasian Flyway Partnership, and Ramsar Convention.

We have particular skills in close-order study and management of small populations, wildlife health and in conservation breeding, and these are used to deliver hands-on recovery of species such as Black-tailed Godwit and Spoon-billed Sandpipers using a technique called headstarting.