Main activities
Ramsar engagement
We make sure the Ramsar Convention hears the voices of small NGOs and CSOs.
Natural flow
Rivers need to follow their natural flow. We are advocating for this at IUCN World Congress and Ramsar COP.
State of world’s wetlands
We help find out the state of the world’s wetlands, in a citizen science survey carried out in 2017 and 2020.
Youth Engaged in Wetlands
We support a group of passionate young wetlands conservationists to amplify their voice at Ramsar COPs.
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. It was 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.
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. Here are the completed plans.
About WWN
A downloadable one-page introduction to WWN
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 surveyed wetlands NGOs to find out their needs and expectations as part of the Ramsar process.
Annual reviews
WWN email bulletins
Join us
If you are an NGO working in the field of wetland conservation, then you should join us! To join WWN, please send an email to the Deputy Chair.
Contact form
The people on WWN’s committee are dispersed around the world. This contact form will first reach part of the team in the UTC timezone, who will then forward it as necessary.
Privacy Policy
Read our privacy policy here.
