Our projects

Wetlands International is the only global not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the conservation and restoration of wetlands. We are deeply concerned about the loss and deterioration of wetlands such as lakes.

A list of case studies

  • Building ecosystem resilience to escape a humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia

    The remote Somali region in northeast Ethiopia is one of the most challenging Sahelian environments we’ve ever worked in. This is a parched landscape of seasonal rivers and small ephemeral wetlands that is currently facing a severe humanitarian crisis. Years of low rainfall have contributed to one of the worst drought in decades, hitting 10 […]

  • Ensuring food and water security in Mali

    Nearly two million people directly depend on the waters of the Upper Niger River and seasonal wetlands in Mali’s Inner Niger Delta. While armed conflict grabs most of the attention in northern Mali, the loss of water due to upstream withdrawals is a key factor undermining the foundations of security in this region. This is […]

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  • Conservation and sustainable use of mangroves in the Sine Saloum Delta, Senegal

    The Sine Saloum Delta is a biodiversity-rich mangrove ecosystem on Senegal’s Atlantic coast. More than 100,000 inhabitants depend on the mangroves for their livelihoods. The Delta faces many threats including destructive use of the mangroves and climate change impacts. In order to reduce the pressure on these ecosystems we are supporting livelihoods, improving knowledge and […]

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  • Building with Nature Indonesia

    Reaching scale for coastal resilience The initiative “Building with Nature Indonesia” aims to build stable coastlines with reduced erosion risk through a unique integration of mangrove restoration, small scale hard-engineering and sustainable land use. In doing so we enhance coastal security for 70.000 vulnerable people by avoiding further coastal flooding and erosion in Central Java and […]

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  • Towards vibrant wetlands in the Mahanadi delta and Kosi-Gandak floodplains, Indian

    The Mahanadi delta and Kosi-Gandak floodplains in India are not only home to dolphins and turtles, they are also home to more than 21 million people.  In these densely populated areas, we restore wetlands and improve water management to reduce the risk of disasters. We help vulnerable communities to adapt to climate change and improve […]

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  • Saving the Wular Lake, Kashmir while fighting flood and drought risks downstream

    Wular Lake is one of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia. Rapid degradation of Wular Lake has had an enormous impact on community health and livelihoods. We are helping these communities by developing an integrated management plan for restoration of the lake and its catchment. Wular Lake, is one of the largest freshwater lakes in […]

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  • Strengthening coastal resilience for communities in Nusa Tenggara Timur, Indonesia

    The province of Nusa Tenggara Timur in Indonesia is dry and covered by mountains and volcanoes. It is known for its extreme weather conditions. Here we help to reduce the impacts of frequent disasters on vulnerable communities. As part of an integrated risk reduction approach we improve water management, promote sustainable livelihoods, restore coastal eocsystems […]

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  • Bringing back Uganda’s Rwambu Wetland

    In the not so distant past, the people of Rwambu, Uganda were up against a quickly shrinking water table, largely created by agricultural expansion and bad management of the wetland. Water no longer sufficiently saturated the ground and erosion occurred all over. As a result, water supply, both for drinking and household needs, was in very […]

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  • Towards sustainable palm oil

    Approximately 90% of world palm oil production takes place in Indonesia and Malaysia. Of these plantations around 20% is grown on peat soils, which used to be covered by peat swamp forests. The drainage of these carbon-rich organic soils for plantations leads to massive CO2 emissions, soil subsidence, and ecological and social problems. We aim […]

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  • 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. Sustainable or unsustainable? Biofuels have an important role to play in our transition from fossil to renewable energy sources. Produced sustainably, […]

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  • Soy and wetlands

    Soy is one of the most important agricultural commodities in the world, used mainly for animal feed fulfilling the meat demands in the world (70%), for biodiesel and for various food products. Soy bean cultivation is increasing at an alarming rate in South America. This has, in the last 15 years, led to monocultures at […]

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  • Greening the pulp and paper industry

    The pulp and paper industry is booming in Southeast Asia. The pulp wood plantations, primarily Acacia crassicarpa, are often grown on carbon rich and biodiversity dense peatlands, in particular in Indonesia. This causes high carbon emissions and loss of tropical forest and wetlands. Our aim Wetlands International raises attention for the adverse consequences of the […]

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