Wetlands International

Wetlands International is the only global non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to the conservation and restoration of wetlands. It plays a pivotal role in international environmental governance, particularly through its formal association with the Ramsar Convention.

Institutional Framework and Evolution

Historical Timeline

• 1937: Founded as the International Wildfowl Inquiry, focused primarily on protecting waterbirds.
• 1954: Renamed the International Waterfowl & Wetlands Research Bureau (IWRB), expanding its scope to include the habitats (wetlands) themselves.
• 1996: Formally became Wetlands International after merging with the Asian Wetland Bureau and Wetlands for the Americas.
• Headquarters: Ede, The Netherlands.

Organizational Nature

• It is an independent, not-for-profit global organization.
• It is supported by government and NGO memberships from around the world.
• It operates as a science-based organization, bridging the gap between field-level research and global policy-making.

Core Global Initiatives and Reports

The International Waterbird Census (IWC)

• One of the largest and longest-running citizen science programs in the world.
• Coordinated by WI, it monitors waterbird populations across more than 100 countries.
• Data from the IWC is used to identify Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites) and track the health of global flyways.

The Waterbird Populations Portal (WPP)

• An online platform launched to provide current and historical estimates and trends for over 800 waterbird species.
• It assists governments in meeting their obligations under the Ramsar Convention and the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS).

Global Mangrove Watch (GMW)

• An online platform that provides near real-time data on mangrove extent and changes.
• Developed in collaboration with JAXA and NASA, it is the evidence base used by WI to advocate for “Mangrove Breakthroughs.”

Wetlands International and the Ramsar Convention

International Organization Partner (IOP) Status

Wetlands International is one of the six International Organization Partners (IOPs) of the Ramsar Convention. In this capacity, it:

• Provides technical and scientific advice to the Contracting Parties.
• Assists in the implementation of the “Wise Use” concept.
• Helps develop the criteria for identifying Ramsar sites.

Wetlands International South Asia (WISA)

Establishment and Reach

• Founded: 1996, with its office in New Delhi, India.
• Legal Status: Registered as a non-profit Society in India in 2005.
• Scope: Covers India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and the Maldives.

Key Projects in India

• Management of Ramsar Sites: Historically involved in long-term conservation projects for Chilika Lake (Odisha) and Loktak Lake (Manipur).
• Wetlands of India Portal: Developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to act as a dynamic knowledge platform for wetland managers.
• Indian Rhino Vision 2020: Collaborated on habitat management within wetland-rich protected areas like Kaziranga and Manas.
• Capacity Building: Provides training to state wetland authorities on the Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT) tailored for Indian conditions.

Strategic Focus Areas (2020–2030)

Essential Trivia for UPSC Prelims

• Status Check: Wetlands International is not an intergovernmental organization (IGO); it is an international NGO, though many governments are its members.
• The “Source to Sea” Approach: WI promotes this holistic management strategy, recognizing that the health of coastal wetlands depends on the management of upstream river basins.
• World Wetlands Day: Celebrated on February 2nd annually; WI is a primary global coordinator of events and awareness campaigns for this day.
• Wise Use Concept: While coined by the Ramsar Convention, WI is the primary body responsible for developing the practical guidelines used by countries to define “sustainable utilization” of wetlands.