This publication informs on management and finance options to achieve emissions reductions and enhance other vital ecosystem services from peatlands.

This booklet is aimed for facilitating greater dialogue on the relationship between wetlands and people that will lead to the conservation and restoration of wetlands, community revitalization, capacity development and international exchange in Asia and in the world. It was published in “Inventory of Cultures and Technologies of Wetlands” project (2008-2011), which was funded by the Japan Fund for Global Environment of the Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency. Original Japanese version is available.

A unique pattern of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 outbreaks has emerged along the Central Asia Flyway, where infection of wild birds has been reported with steady frequency since 2005. We assessed the potential for two hosts of HPAI H5N1, the bar-headed goose (Anser indicus) and ruddy shelduck (Tadorna tadorna), to act as agents for virus dispersal along this ‘thoroughfare’.

The scope of this study encompasses the Upper Niger Basin in Mali, focussing on the downstream Inner Niger Delta up to Tombouctou. It focuses on the core bottlenecks and options with regard to IWRM and green development in the basin and steps which have been set – in terms of knowledge development, stakeholder engagement, implementation (emerging practices) - towards a more integrated approach.

It is shown that peatlands are characterized by specific biological diversity on the genetic, species, ecosystem, and landscape levels. They often present the best preserved areas, habitats, and shelters for biological species. Peatlands form a specific environment and play a significant part in the regulation of climate due to their participation in the water and carbon cycles. They are characterized by a wide range of biodiversity; spatial heterogeneity; and a particular structural and functional integrity, which is determined by the interrelations between excessive moisture, peatland vegetation, and peat. The scope of all the features mentioned presupposes a specific, often ambiguous, response of peatlands and their biodiversity to climate change.

 Overview of IWC in the African-Eurasian region 2011 and annual national totals (2009-2011) 

This publication provides a methodological framework for enhancing the monitoring of migratory and wintering waterbirds in the Black Sea coastal region of Georgia, Turkey and Ukraine.

The draft National REDD+ Strategy of Indonesia demonstrates that Indonesia has major ambitions to tackle its significant emissions from peatlands and conserve these unique ecosystems. This ambition is greatly welcomed and urgently needed. Some critical issues in the report, however, need to be addressed if Indonesia is to achieve its targets effectively and in a way that is environmentally, socially and economically sustainable.

This report provides results of gap analysis of IWC in coastal wetlands of Georgia, Turkey and Ukraine, first of all in relation to current status of its methodology and infrastructure, as well as to present count data for key coastal wetlands.

The Azov–Black Sea area of Ukraine is annually used by millions of waterbirds as a stopover during their spring and autumn migrations. The first step towards development of a migratory waterbird monitoring
system is an overview of existing information, which includes three main blocks – scientific publications, results of waterbird counts during migration seasons and recoveries of ringed birds. The results of this
analysis are presented in this book.

This article provides recommendations for implementing telemetry studies on waterfowl on the basis of our experience in a tracking study conducted in three countries of sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of the study was to document movements by duck species identified as priority candidates for the potential spread of avian influenza.

In this study, historical data derived from over 80 years of bird ringing are combined with recent satellite tracking data to delineate migration routes, movement chronology and habitat use patterns of waterfowl in relation to H5N1 outbreak locations. Results confirm migratory linkage between breeding and moulting areas in northern Kazakhstan and southern Siberia, with nonbreeding areas in the Caspian, Black and eastern Mediterranean Sea basins, as well as with South Asia. 

This report describes the World Wetlands Day activities in Desa Sawah Luhur, Kec. Kasemen, Serang-Banten, Indonesia on 2nd of February 2011. World Wetlands Day 2011 comes exactly 40 years since the Convention on Wetlands was signed in 1971 in the city of Ramsar, Iran. This makes its celebration in every Ramsar member country a very special one. Indonesia, with its continued commitment to the protection and conservation of wetlands for the benefit of present and future generations, is no exception.

We monitored avian influenza in wild and domestic birds in two different regions in Nigeria to investigate the presence and persistence of avian influenza virus in African birds. We found low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) H5N2 viruses in three spur-winged geese (Plectropterus gambensis) in the Hadejia–Nguru wetlands. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that all of the genes, except the non-structural (NS) genes, of the LPAI H5N2 viruses were more closely related to genes recently found in wild and domestic birds in Europe.

The report provides sequenced maps and statistics on the area of peatlands converted for oil palm plantations in Sarawak from 2005-2010. It builds on forest cover change and plantation concession boundary mapping results from the ongoing project ‘Transparent Mapping for Sustainabe Oil Palm Plantation Development’. This document briefly reports on the results of project activities providing maps and associated statistics on the impact of oil palm plantations on forest and peatland conversion in Sarawak during the period 2005-2010.

Indonesia contains 21% of the global total mangrove area with 45 of the world's 75 true mangrove species can be found there. This report aims to provide the current state of mangrove ecosystems in Indonesia.

This publication presents the results of the first simultaneous waterbird counts at key coastal wetlands in Ukraine, Georgia and Turkey

This study suggests that the continental-scale dynamics of HPAI H5N1 are structured as a number of persistence areas delineated by domestic ducks, connected by rare transmission through migratory waterfowl.

This review describes outcomes of a 2010 horizon-scanning exercise building upon the first exercise conductedin 2009. The aim of both horizon scans was to identify emerging issues that could have substantial impacts on the conservation of biological diversity, and to do so sufficiently early to encourage policy-relevant, practical research onthose issues.

The project Integrated Management of Water Resources and Livelihoods on the Río Paz, El Salvador – Guatemala is undertaken as part of the Wetlands and Livelihoods Programme. It promoted the participatory generation of management recommendations that arose directly from the knowledge and needs of the communities of the lower basin. These recommendations focus on the principal themes that link the provision of ecosystem services to livelihoods.

Como parte del Programa Humedales y Medios de Vida, se realiza el Proyecto Gestión integrada de recursos hídricos y medios de vida en el río Paz, El Salvador – Guatemala, el cual impulsa la construcción participativa de recomendaciones de gestión, elaboradas a partir de los conocimientos y las necesidades de las comunidades de la cuenca baja, que aborden las principales problemáticas que vinculan la provisión de servicios ecosistémicos y los medios de vida.

This  report  presents  the  first  national  assessment  of  peatlands  in Malaysia.  It  identifies  remaining peatlands  of  high  conservation  value,  the loss of peatlands and the use of these carbon dense area for for instance palm oil production.

This booklet summarises what is known about the status of waterbird populations in different parts of the world. It shows how numbers and population trends compare from region to region, and how they changed between the 1970s and the 2000s.

When the climate will change in the Sahel, this will have an impact on the flooding of the Inner Niger Delta and, therefore, also on its ecological and economic functions. This report evaluates the human-driven changes in the hydrology of the Upper Niger and the possible additional impact of a climate change. The data sets used by Zwarts et al. (2005) are re-analysed and updated (as far as possible) for recent years: annual rainfall in the Upper Niger Basin, annual river discharge of Bani and Niger upstream of the Inner Niger Delta, water use (dams and irrigation schemes upstream of the Inner Niger Delta), and maximal annual flood extent of the Inner Niger Delta. 

Globally we are facing a water crisis. This booklet aims to highlight the links between this water crisis and biodiversity loss. Both are the result of the same root causes and both problems reinforce each other. The booklet draws on the knowledge and understanding developed by Wetlands International and its partners over many years and is supplemented with key information from other, peer reviewed studies. 

Better management of terrestrial carbon stores (reservoirs) and fluxes (emissions and removals) can make a substantial contribution to reducing atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations. This Question & Answer booklet aims to give insight into the opportunities and obstacles with regard to reporting and accounting for changes in carbon stores in, and anthropogenic greenhouse gas fluxes from, terrestrial ecosystems. Special attention is paid to ‘wetland management’, a proposed new accounting activity under LULUCF for which huge emissions reduction potentials are readily available. This Question and Answer booklet on AFOLU (Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Uses) has been developed for the UN-FCCC negotiations on land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) and was produced by Wetlands International and the University of Greifswald.

The present study highlighted the importance of allocation of water for periodic inundation to maintain floodplain characteristics including aquatic/semi-aquatic vegetation cover as critical to the management of the river ecosystem. The current policy of water use focused entirely on human uses ignoring ecological requirements, and had clear adverse implications on the health of the river ecosystem.

In this paper, we describe our attempts to make quantitative research studies and precise identification of benthos species a civil procedure with a method that is not only simple but also semi-quantitative and analytical. From field tests and field practices, we propose the following method as the civil procedure. 

The report presents the first overview ever of peatland carbon data for all countries and regions of the world.  For every country/area information is given on extent and status of peatlands, volume of the peat resource and on CO2 emissions from different types of land use, both for the year 1990 as well as for the year 2008.

OPIDIN is a predictive model to forecast the flooding of the Inner Niger Delta when the water starts to raise. OPIDIN is an acronym for Outil de Prediction des Inondations dans le Delta Intérieur du Niger. A first version of OPIDIN was developed in 2009 within a study carried out by Royal Haskoning (lead), Altenburg & Wymenga Ecological Consultants and Wetland International. This study was financed by “Partners for Water”, a joint initiative of six departments of the Government of the Netherlands. Wetlands International (Séveré) took the initiative to explore the possibilities to extend the model and asked A&W to investigate how OPIDIN may be extended and improved.

This UNEP publication features many case examples of the work of Wetlands International. Editor Ritesh Kumar collected showcases from Wetlands International from all around the world; from the mangroves of West Africa to the peatlands in Southeast Asia. “Dead planet, living planet: Biodiversity and ecosystem restoration for sustainable development” is a contribution to the UN’s International Year of Biodiversity and is a complement to the UNEP-hosted Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) which is bringing visibility to the wealth of the world’s natural capital.

This is the first peer reviewed scientific article on the global carbon dioxide emissions due to peatsoil degradation and loss, with a focus on Southeast Asia. The article is based on the work for the report Peat-CO2 that presents the shocking figures about emissions due to drainage and fires in Southeast Asia.

This paper shines light on the issue of greenhouse gas emissions due to conversion of areas with peatsoils for palm oil production, including for biodiesel. The paper will focus on palm oil in Southeast Asia; the most relevant area for vegetable oil production on peatlands, with alarming greenhouse gas emissions as a result.

This book presents a baseline of information that helps understanding of how WASH and wetland service provision are connected, why these linkages are vital and how they can be better managed. Furthermore, the publication presents a set of principles to be taken on by sector professionals as a way forward to improve integration in the future. The publication is the result of an ongoing collaboration between individuals and organisations from the wetland conservation sector and the water supply, sanitation and hygiene sector.

This report summarises the results of the Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) from 1987 to 2007, comprising counts at 6,705 sites in 27 countries. A total of 1,387 sites met at least one of two criteria of internationally important sites according to the Ramsar Convention. Of these, 312 sites were reported to support more than 20,000 waterbirds, and 1,382 sites recorded more than 1% of the biogeographic population of at least one species of waterbird. The Asian Waterbird Census (AWC), conducted each year in January, is a waterbird and wetland-monitoring programme initiated in 1987 within the framework of the International Waterbird Census.

A Quick Scan of Peatlands in Central and Eastern Europe reviews the status, con
servation and use of peatlands in the countries participating in the BBI-Matra Programme (Belarus, Russian Federation, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia and Turkey). Geographically, it covers central and eastern Europe together with the non-European part of the Russian Federation.

This fact book provides insight in the global greenhouse gas emissions from peatlands. It was made to inform delegations at the UN climate change conventions. 

This publication is a background document for a new regional Ramsar initiative, which includes a brief overview of current status of coastal wetlands and main threats to them, legal framework and conservation activities related to coast and coastal wetlands, present mission, vision, key targets and objectives of BlackSeaWet Initiative.

BlackSeaWet vision

The publication is made within the framework of the Wetlands International project "Establishing the foundations for the launch of a Black Sea Regional Initiative for the wise use of coastal wetlands (BlackSeaWet)". The Portfolio of Actions was prepared by national teams involved in the project. Present actions needed for coastal wetlands conservation and sustainable use are represented in a format understood by donors. It is supposed that the Portfolio will be used to achieve objectives of the new Ramsar regional initiative (BlackSeaWet).

An analysis of the National Inventory Submissions of European countries with respect to GHG emissions from peatlands/organic soils with identification of gaps and proposals for improvement. This report was produced for the UNFCCC climate change meeting in Bonn, August 2009. The substantial greenhouse gas emissions from peatland drainage can largely be avoided through peatland rewetting and restoration. There is, however, doubt to whether emission reductions from peatland can be correctly quantified and transparently reported. This report analyses the most recent (2009) National Inventory Submissions of 10 European countries to evaluate their experiences with the reporting of anthropogenic peatland emissions.

This report looks at methane emissions from wet peatlands, discusses the mechanisms behind these emissions, and presents tentative emission factors. This report was produced for the UNFCCC climate change meeting in Bonn, August 2009. Huge reductions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions can be attained by rewetting drained peatlands. A post-2012 framework aiming at peatland rewetting must, however, also address associated methane (CH4) emissions.

This report provides the lessons learned during the implementation of the Green Coast programme in in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD) Province and Nias Island, in Aceh province in Indonesia during the period between the year 2005 and the 2008. This lesson learned document particularly studied various information and the field data that related during the project periode. Hence, this result expected will provide the information of project realisation sufficiently.

The infection of wild birds by highly pathogenic strains of avian influenza (AI) virus was virtually unknown – apart from one instance of the disease appearing in common terns in South Africa in 1961 – before the Asian strain of highly pathogenic AI virus (AIV), H5N1, began to expand across the world. Outbreaks of clinical disease in Eurasia have resulted in visible mortality among populations of free-ranging wild birds in a multitude of species.

This book draws on the experiences of four projects (in Indonesia, Kenya, Zambia/Malawi and Mali) that combined conservation and development goals. The four projects demonstrated – each in a different way – how improving livelihoods and conserving wetlands can go hand in hand. The book tells the story of the problems that the individual projects faced, and how they were addressed. In addition, there is a review of seven other wetland-based projects from around the world.

This paper evaluates IPCC approaches to greenhouse gas emissions from managed organic (peat) soils and notices that the IPCC Guidelines 2006. This report was produced for the UNFCCC Climate Change Talks in Bonn, June 2009. Peatland drainage leads to peat oxidation, resulting in large losses of carbon and nitrogen to theatmosphere with an estimated global magnitude of 2-3 Gt/CO2-eq per year. The conservation and restoration of peatlands can provide a major contribution to the mitigation of climate change. Improving guidance and capacity for reporting of peatland emissions will prove valuable to the current negotiations towards a post-2012 climate agreement.

Globally very significant GHG benefits can accrue by avoiding peatland degradation and by actively restoring peatlands. This report, produced for the UNFCCC Climate Change Talks in Bonn, June 2009, addresses the question whether the results of such actions are measurable, reportable and verifiable.

A guidebook on wetlands around Moscow, which serve as popular holiday destinations. The wetland areas described include the Cranes Homeland area, Pskovsko-Chudskaya Lowland, the National Parks of Losiny Ostrov,  Meshchera, Meshchersky, Ugra, Smolenskoye Poozerye and Pleshcheevo Ozero, and the Nature Reserves of Oksky, Polistovsky, Rdeisky and Tsentranlo-Lesnoi.

The Wader Atlas is a compilation of current knowledge of the numbers, distribution and movements of one of the most remarkable groups of birds in the region covered by the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA). Long-term waterbird count data have been combined with an extensive literature review, especially published results of bird ringing and national bird atlases, to produce maps showing the population boundaries that are used as a basis of the conservation of these species.

Bio-rights is an innovative financing mechanism for reconciling poverty alleviation and environmental conservation. By providing micro-credits for sustainable development, the approach enables local communities to refrain from unsustainable practices and be actively involved in environmental conservation and restoration. Micro-credits are converted into definitive payments upon successful delivery of conservation services at the end of a contracting period.

This is a policy review and capacity building needs assesment for integration of High Altitude Wetlands into River Basin Management in Bhutan, China, India and Nepal. The Hindu Kush Himalayas is replete with wetlands distributed throughout the region at different latitudes, longitudes and altitudes. Fed primarily by melting glaciers, these wetlands play an enormous role in ecological and economic security of the region through their wide range of ecosystem services, including supporting local livelihoods, regulation of hydrological regimes, carbon sequestration and support to biodiversity.

The booklet gives information about Sedili kechil, conservation efforts in the areas, its ecosystem and biodiversity.

A report on the policy options to include peatlands in UN-climate policies. Produced as input for Wetlands International's policy activities during the UNFCCC climate summit (COP 14) in Poznan, December 2008. Produced by Joanneum Research, Austria, Commissioned by Wetlands International

In December 2005 the Central Kalimantan Peatland Project (CKPP) was established with the overall objective of conserving the natural and economic value of the peatswamp areas of Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. This report describes the experience and lessons learned over the three-year project. It explains the project's approach, the challenges of succesful peatland restoration and conservation, the project's achievements, and future opportunities for this area and other peatland regions in Indonesia.

Through the production of this draft document, the CKPP consortium would like to invite comments from people interested in CKPP’s work.

This book and its wonderful photographs by Jan van de Kam bring to life the dramatic journeys of migratory shorebirds in the East Asian – Australasian Flyway, the importance of their staging sites and the need for international cooperation to maintain this cycle. "Invisible Connections" is a wonderful photographic journey that follows the migration of shorebirds flying from their breeding grounds in the Arctic through East Asia to Australasia. It highlights one of nature's most spectacular phenomena and reveals the surprising and little-known connections that exist between countries, habitats and people through this migration.

The objective of this guideline is to provide the reader with an appropriate knowledge and understanding over the aspects of mangrove silviculture (planting) for coastal protection.

This study was driven by two objectives: to develop a framework and methodology for assessing the outcomes of conservation-poverty reduction initiatives and to apply it to such initiatives in wetlands to understand conditions and methods that can support the integration or balancing of ecosystem conservation with poverty reduction.

As a side event of COP10 2008, Wetlands International Japan held a workshop titled "the Cultural Values of Wetlands: Case Studies from Agia."

The book reports the whole program/ speeches/ addresses, along with power point materials used during the session.

"Wetlands"

This booklet provides you with a all the most recent facts and figures about peatlands, with a focus on tropical peatlands. Subjects that are explained are peatland occurance, their rate of degradation globally, carbon loss and impacts on climate change and facts about restoration efforts.

 This project final report presents an overall summary of this conservation project supported by Shell China Exploration and Production Company Limited (SCEPCo) in 2006-2007.

 This report is the result from the Rapid Assessment of Biodiversity and Community around Hongjiannao Wetland, Shaanxi Province, directed at the conservation of the Relict Gull in Hongjiannao Wetland. China.

UNDP-GEF-Government of China funded project

UNDP-GEF-Government of China funded project

On 8 November 2007 the People’s Government of Shaoxing City hosted a symposium, organised by Wetlands International, entitled ‘Healthy Wetlands, Healthy People’. The opening sessions were chaired by Chen Kelin, Director of Wetlands International - China, and the technical sessions and discussion by Mike Ounsted, Chair of the Wetlands and Livelihoods Working Group.

On the Green Coast project we have been overwhelmed by the press coverage for theproject. This document gives an overview of what others write about us.

This report describes the process and outcomes of the post tsunami environmental challenges. It describes findings related to environment and policy issues in critical areas such as coastal defences, fisheries, livelihoods and reconstruction.

Five road shows were conducted in India with the aim to present the policy research findings before the community through NGOs and CBOs and
to seek suggestions to make strong policy recommendations. This report describes the outcomes of the workshops.

The need to establish a coastal green belt following the post-tsunami scenario has led to unregulated and disoriented rehabilitation work that are likely to have serious negative consequences. This publication sets out specially designed guidelines to ensure that well integrated greenbelts emerge in conformity with basic standards and policies set out for coast conservation

This pubication describes in a short and simple way the main ecological characteristics of  mangroves in Thailand.

 A clear focus on gender is well reflected in the objectives of the Green Coast project, because they are understood as part of the wider context of power relations and inequities, land tenure and access to resources and services. Hence, the project takes into account the specific roles, rights and responsibilities of men, women, boys and girls. The degree in which gender concerns are addressed can be used as a benchmark to both measure policy plans, and impact and effects of the small grants.

This study highlights the lessons learned from the mangrove/coastal ecosystem restoration efforts in Aceh since the 2004 tsunami. 

The best practise guidelines aim to provide the reader with appropriate knowledge and understanding over the different aspects of mangrove silviculture (planting) for coastal protection.

This booklet focusses on some of the best practises and interventions attemted in the eco-restoration and the tsunami rehabilitation activities, with a hope to help analyse and understand interventions in the context of massive disasters like the tsunami and thereby also help in enabling policy processes of governent, donors and aid agencies.

Green reconstruction aims to improve the quality of life for communities and affected individuals whilst minimising the negative impacts of reconstruction on the environment and maintaining the long-term biological diversity and productivity of natural systems. The Green Reconstruction Policy Guidelines highlights areas of reconstruction that can have the most direct impact on natural resources.

This first comprehensive global assessment on the links between peatland degradation and climate change shows that clearance, drainage and fires in peatlands emit more than 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide every year, equivalent to 10% of global emissions from fossil fuels.

Protection and restoration of peatlands are among the most cost- effective options for climate change mitigation

This publication sets the global standard in presenting estimates of the numbers and trends of waterbird populations throughout the world. This fourth edition provides a comprehensive update on information last provided in 2002 and summarizes population data on 878 waterbird species. Please download as it is out of print

This is a final report of the study on "Ecological Assessment of Waterbirds and Wetlands along the Ranong and Phang-Nga Coastal Areas, Thailand" carried out by Wetlands International-Thailand Office with financial support from the IUCN Thailand. For full report of the study, please contact: Mrs. Benchawan Teerakul (benchawan-t@psu.ac.th) or Mr. Donnapatr Tamornsuwan (dodkung@yahoo.com).

The Coastal HAbitats and Resources Management (CHARM) project was a five year collaborative project between the European Union (EU) and the Royal THai Government (RTG), implemented through the Department of Fisheries (DoF) and CHARM,s own staff. CHARM attempted to produce a coastal resource management framework through the promotion of co-management between the RTG at all levels and the private sector, non-government organisations and local communities.

The African Waterbird Census (AfWC) has taken place in the month of January and July every year since 1991. During the April 2001 - March 2004 period, a total of 40 countries took an active part in the African Waterbird Census activities, and 1050 wetlands were covered at least once (cdrom available).

Les dénombrements des oiseaux d'eau en Afrique sont entrepris chaque année aux mois de janvier et juillet depuis 1991. Durant la période d'avril 2001 à mars 2004, un total de 40 pays ont pris part activement aux activités du dénombrement des oiseaux d'eau en Afrique, et 1050 zones humides ont été couverts au moins une fois (disponible en cdrom).

Cet « Atlas du Bassin du fleuve Niger », édité avec l’appui technique du World Wildlife Fund (WWF), est consacré à faire mieux connaître l’importance de ces ressources du bassin. Il constitue un guide de découverte du bassin du Niger à travers une série de cartes thématiques dont les principales donnent un aperçu des sites d’importance en matière de diversité biologique et pour la sécurité alimentaire.

The publication is devoted to development of the Southern Bug meridional river corridor.

It is a brief overview of biodiversity, distribution of rare plant and animal species and the most valuable nature areas.

The report provides the most recent estimates of population sizes of migratory shorebirds in the East Asian - Australasian Flyway and identifies internationally important sites by species and country.

In 2020, Africa is expected to produce a relatively small but substantial part of the global biofuel demand. Millions of hectares will be turned into large scale biofuel plantations.

Especially natural areas of wetlands and rainforest – the hotspots for biodiversity - are vulnerable for this development.

Peatland degradation, deforestation and fires cause these areas to contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. International investors and development agencies recognise the potential cost efficiency of avoided further carbon emissions at relatively low costs. Such measures, however, cannot be effective without the full support of local communities.

The publication contains facts and figures about water problems; descriptions of milestones in international water policy, highlighting the EU Water Framework Directive; the principles of public participation in Integrated River Basin Management; information about the activities of international and national rivers networks and partnerships, and much more.

Final report on the project "Small rivers of Ukraine: public parrticipation in their conservation and sustainable use".

As part of a joint Dutch-Ukrainian project in the Sivash, Wetlands International coordinated an assessment of the impact of irrigation agriculture on this internationally important coastal wetland’s biodiversity. This is a case study that illustrates some of the consequences of agricultural development on Black Sea wetlands.

Black Sea Coastal Wetlands have great value for migratory waterbirds in the African-Eurasian Flyways. This report, developed by Wetlands International lays out a long-term programme for monitoring in the Azov Sea region to underpin conservation efforts.

This publications provides a directory of the coastal wetlands of the Azov-Black Sea. Although the Black Sea coastal wetlands are of vital importance for both human society and wildlife, because of extensive human activity, they are amongst the most threatened habitats. The large network of diverse and distinctive coastal wetlands in the Black Sea region belongs to an intricate system of marine, riverine and steppe environments. 

The book summarises our current understanding of flamingo biology, with detailed discussion of population dynamics, evolution and systematics, migration and movements, feeding, reproduction and conservation.

Tasek Bera is home to the indigenous Semelai people. Like other indigenous people, the SEmelais havea  stron affinity to their natural surroundings. Through generations, they have adapted to survial in this area through utilising their natural resources. This book documents how the Semelai's use plants and flowers around Tasek Bera for medicinal, prophylatics, intoxicants and as aphrodisiacs.

These priorities were developed, discussed and adopted at the international workshops “The Importance of The Black Sea Coastal Wetlands, Especially for Migratory Waterbirds” and “Conservation, Restoration and Wise Use of Wetlands resources along the Black Sea Coast”, held in February and September, 2000 in Odessa.

This publication contains information on all 22 Ukrainian wetlands of international importance designated as Ramsar site (31-12-98).

A project completion report on an aerial survey conducted over rarely visited, remote wetlands of the northern Tanami Desert, north-western Australia, presenting data on waterbird species and numbers following exceptional inundation.

This report shows the status of Waterbirds in North Africa, Europe and Western Asia. This is the first time that factual distrubution maps are displayed of a wide range of waterbirds in this region. This publication helps to take the right decisions regarding wetland areas and waterbirds. This publication is out of print but may be downloaded for free on this page. Click here for more information about the International Waterbird Census.