A dedicated group of 15 conservation professionals from Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam participated in the first in-person Regional Wetland Health and Vitality Course, held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on 20 – 24 March 2025. This training aligned with the Indo-Burma Regional Ramsar Initiative (IBRRI) Strategic Plan 2019-2024, which identifies key capacity gaps among wetlands practitioners in the region. Participants gained practical skills and knowledge designed to enhance their efforts in advancing wetland conservation across the Indo-Burma region.
As the first-ever in-person training by the Wetland Learning Hub team, the course marked a second significant milestone following the successful completion of the first online training in Wetland Health and Vitality for Indo-Burma by 83 wetland professionals. The course was delivered through the Wetland Learning Hub by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) – which is an IBRRI member and one of the six Ramsar International Organisation Partners – with support from IBRRI and the UK government’s Darwin Initiative.
The first two days provided participants with the opportunity to share their experience, presenting both challenges and successes from their respective countries. The curriculum covered a wide range of topics, including the importance of assessing organisational capacity and reporting on conservation impact, wetland management, and monitoring effectiveness. Specific case studies, including WWT’s wetland conservation work in Cambodia’s Lower Mekong Delta, provided valuable lessons in practical application.
The group then headed to the field at Anlung Pring Protected Landscape, a designated Flyway Network Site of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP), where they engaged in hands-on exercises in Ecosystem Services Assessments, Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments, and Visitor Experience Assessments. These exercises allowed participants to apply their classroom knowledge in the field, gaining first hand experience in evaluating and managing wetland areas.
A recurring theme throughout the course was the conservation of the Sarus Crane (Grus Antigone), which is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This species was used as a focal point to discuss various conservation measures, vulnerability to climate change and the role of community-based ecotourism efforts, among other topics.
On the final day, the course focused on empowering participants to become leaders in wetland conservation, equipping them with tools to champion wetland causes in their home countries. Topics such as advocacy, policy influence, and wetland engagement techniques were covered to ensure participants left with a comprehensive understanding of how to drive change at local, national, and regional levels.
The course represented an important step forward in strengthening capacity for wetland conservation in the Indo-Burma region. The knowledge shared and the connections made will support participants in making a lasting impact in safeguarding wetlands and their vital ecosystem services. IUCN, as the Secretariat for IBRRI, will continue supporting efforts to advance and strengthen wetlands conservation across the region.
