The World Wetland Network raises awareness of the role of local people in wetland conservation, supports their active involvement and builds their capacity to deliver effective wetland conservation.
Main activities
The World Wetland Network or WWN is a global network of more than 145 NGO and CSO members representing over 525,000 people from all regions of the world. We were established at Ramsar COP10 in Changwon, Republic of Korea, in 2008. Our network is recognised in several resolutions of the Ramsar Convention.
Our aim is to raise the visibility of civil society organisations (CSOs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to help them achieve the objectives of the Ramsar Convention. We help small NGOs to prepare well for Ramsar COPs (Conferences of the Parties), to maintain contact during the COP, and to participate effectively.
We give local communities a voice in shaping international policy for wetland conservation. With the COPs, we maintain contact, helping to exchange information, share best practice and advocate for wetlands.
How can WWN support members?
- Provide support, information and ideas on the wetland conservation challenges you face
- Represent members and your wetlands at Ramsar COP
- Report on the status of your wetlands via WWN’s citizen science tool
- Offer guidance from our committee of experts
- Share news of members’ actions with two bulletins a year
Main objectives for Ramsar COP15
- Support Youth Engaged in Wetlands to participate
- Promote the natural flow of water
- Present an enhanced participatory study of the state of the world’s wetlands
- Facilitate effective civil society participation
Key documents
Our work is guided and informed by these key documents:
Strategic Plans
Our Strategic Plans run for three years, and are produced by the committee in consultation with all members.
Terms of Reference
WWN’s Terms of Reference, agreed in 2017
All WWN representatives
Download the complete list of all WWN regional and sub-regional representatives
WWN survey of NGOs
We survey wetlands NGOs and civil society to find out their needs and expectations as part of the Ramsar process. We have carried this survey out twice, in 2015 and 2022. Read the report from 2022 or 2015. Read the full report.
We support a group of passionate young wetlands conservationists to amplify their voice at Ramsar COPs
We help find out the state of the world’s wetlands, in a participatory science survey carried out in 2017 and 2020
We make sure the Ramsar Convention hears the voices of small NGOs and CSOs
Rivers need to follow their natural flow. We are advocating for this at IUCN World Congress and Ramsar COP
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