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 COP 14

  • Support the Youth Engaged in Wetlands group to participate in Ramsar COP14
  • Conduct a citizen science wetland survey in 2020 and present the results at COP14 in 2021
  • Influence and create resolutions including to support the natural flow of water for wetlands
  • Facilitate effective civil society participation at COP14

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.

Terms of Reference
WWN’s Terms of Reference, agreed in 2017

About WWN
A downloadable one-page introduction to WWN

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.
Read the full report or read the summary.

  • Youth Engaged in Wetlands
    We support a group of passionate young wetlands conservationists to amplify their voice at Ramsar COPs
  • APOWA India
    State of the World’s Wetlands
    We help find out the state of the world’s wetlands, in a participatory science survey carried out in 2017 and 2020
  • 9th Euroepan Ramsar Meeting audience
    Ramsar COP
    We make sure the Ramsar Convention hears the voices of small NGOs and CSOs
  • Large gravel accretion in a wide river with hills and vegetation to the side
    Natural Flow
    Rivers need to follow their natural flow. We are advocating for this at IUCN World Congress and Ramsar COP

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