Background

Wetland Education CEPA (Communication, Education, Participation, Awareness, and Capacity Building) is an important tool recommended by the Ramsar Convention for supporting and implementing strategic plans at various levels of wetland conservation. It plays a key role in garnering public support for wetland protection. Over the years, the work of Wetland Education CEPA in China has laid a solid foundation, with many excellent cases emerging. This proiect aims to establish wetland centers to promote wetland education in China's natural wetland reserves, enhance the professional abilities of wetland educators and organizations, assist conservation areas in creating wetland education models, and organize and refine excellent practices and cases of wetland education in China.

Mission

The mission of this project is to enhance the wetland education capabilities of wetland conservation areas in China by establishing wetland education centers.

Focus Area 1: Build Wetland Education Model Sites

This project focuses on internationally and nationally important wetlands, national wetland parks, and national parks (wetland types). The primary objective is to establish wetland education centers, starting with wetland education planning, and highlighting the unique resources of different wetlands. Through various levels of educational activities within the CEPA framework, the project aims to build clear, distinctive model sites that represent the level of wetland education in China. Key tasks include wetland education planning, professional capacity building, activity planning, and other comprehensive wetland education activities.

Focus Area 2: Refine and Promote Excellent Wetland Education Cases in China

Since China joined the Ramsar Convention, wetland protection has made significant progress, with many excellent cases of wetland education emerging. Notably, after the implementation of the Wetland Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China and the Ramsar Convention’s Conference of the Parties in Wuhan, wetland education in conservation areas entered a new development phase. As a result, more excellent wetland education cases have appeared. Organizing and refining these cases is the first step toward national promotion.

Focus Area 3: Establish Domestic and International Wetland Education Exchange Platforms

Currently, wetland education in China is characterized by uneven regional development and unequal distribution of social resources. Strengthening communication and cooperation between regions is essential to improving professional capabilities and the overall level of wetland education across the country. Establishing international wetland education exchange platforms will help promote China’s outstanding wetland cases and introduce international wetland education concepts, thereby boosting the confidence and motivation of conservation areas to engage in wetland protection and education efforts.