Wetlands International

Wetlands International is a global organisation that works to sustain and restore wetlands and their resources for people and biodiversity. It is an independent, not-for-profit, global organisation, supported by government and NGO membership from around the world.

Based mostly in the developing world, it has 20 regional, national or project offices in all continents and a head office in Ede, the Netherlands.

The NGO works in over 100 countries and at several, very different scales to tackle the most pressing problems affecting wetlands. With the support of dozens of governmental, NGO and corporate donors and partners, it supports over 100 projects.

Wetlands International's work ranges from research and community-based field projects to advocacy and engagement with governments, corporate and international policy fora and conventions. Wetlands International works through partnerships and is supported by contributions from an extensive specialist expert network and tens of thousands of volunteers.

It was founded in 1937 as the International Wildfowl Inquiry and the organisation was focused on the protection of waterbirds. Later, the name became International Waterfowl & Wetlands Research Bureau (IWRB). The scope became wider; besides waterbirds, the organisation was also working on the protection of wetland areas.

Later, organisations with similar objectives emerged in Asia and the Americas: the Asian Wetland Bureau (AWB) (initiated as INTERWADER in 1983) and Wetlands for the Americas (WA) (initiated in 1989). In 1991, the three organisations started to work closely together.

In 1995, the working relation developed into the global organisation Wetlands International.

Wetlands International works in many thematic areas throughout the world, but is the leading scientific expert on peatlands and climate change, as well as wetlands and waterbird migration, based on extensive research as well as field projects.

Currently, Wetlands International has four strong areas of work, which are:

From the Chinese marshes to the turberas of Argentina and peatswamp forests of Central Kalimantan, Wetlands International has become the global expert in peatland restoration and conservation.

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