Our Actions

Palm oil production on peat

The demand for vegetable oil derived from oil palm is rapidly expanding. Approximately 90% of world production takes place in Indonesia and Malaysia. Unfortunately, around 20% of palm oil plantations in Southeast Asia are on peat soils, which until recently were covered by peat swamp forests. The drainage of these carbon-rich organic soils for plantations is causing massive greenhouse gas emissions.

Wetlands and Biofuels

Biofuels are liquid transportation fuels produced from crops as alternatives to petroleum-based gasoline and diesel. Biofuels demand and production is exploding globally, driven by government directives and the ambition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Green Coast - the Tsunami Response

Through Green Coast we restored thousands of hectares of coast that were damaged by the Tsunami. Green Coast adopted a unique approach: restoration & management of coastal ecosystems, such as mangroves, sand dunes and coral reefs through a community-led approach. This improved the biodiversity and economic well-being of hundreds of coastal communities in five countries: India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)

Wetlands International has been a critical member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) since 2007. RSPO is an association of companies involved in the production, marketing and use of palm oil, and non-governmental organisations involved in conservation and sustainable development. The aim of RSPO is to promote the growth and use of sustainable palm oil.

Improving biofuels policy in Europe

With some clear successes, Wetlands International has been strongly involved in the EU Renewable Energy Directive. We are currently working closely with other NGOs to guide the implementation policies and limit the adverse land use impacts of biofuels demand.

UNFCCC Climate Talks in Bonn (June 2011)

New sessions have been held in Bonn, Germany on June 6-17of the UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC), continuing work from agreements made in Cancun, Mexico in 2010. Through active participation in the meeting and two side events we promoted the conservation and restoration of tropical and temperate peatlands for the critical role they play in regulating the climate.  Furthermore, at the subsequent Adaptation Fund Board meeting on June 19 the importance of Strategic Impact Assessments in board funded projects was highlighted.

Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction & World Reconstruction Conference

At the Third Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (Geneva, May 8-13) and its  World Reconstruction Conference (WRC, May 10-13) Wetlands International highlighted the role of ecosystems like wetlands to reduce the impact of extreme weather events such as extreme rainfall or extreme droughts. 

UNFCCC Climate Talks, Bonn (Aug 2010)

UNFCCC Climate Summit in Cancún (29 Nov.-10 Dec. 2010)

We advocated for solutions that will help to halt the loss of wetlands at the UN Climate conference in Cancún, Mexico (29 November – 11 December 2010) where Parties gathered to achieve next steps on the road to a new climate deal. We campaigned to make sure that peatland emissions will be addressed, but also to make sure that projects financed by the Adaptation Fund do not harm wetlands.

World Water Week (September 5-11, 2010)

Raising the significant role of wetlands in maintaining fresh water flows for biodiversity and for people.

This year's World Water Week took place from 5-11 September in Stockholm. This year Wetlands International used the meeting to highlight the role that wetlands play in supporting people and biodiversity and the importance of water management to maintain these vital services (click to watch the presentation).