ABOUT US
WWT protects wetlands and wildlife. We believe all you need to start making the world a better place is imagination, passion and a trusty pair of boots.
We are the UK’s leading wetland conservation charity
Almost all life depends on wetlands for water, food, or habitat. Yet a third of all wetlands have been destroyed. We are pioneers in saving threatened wetland wildlife, a centre for excellence in conservation science and experts in wetland management and creation.
We have big ambitions for the next 25 years...
WWT was founded by Sir Peter Scott as a conservation charity to protect wetlands for wildlife and people. We believe that showing people first-hand how amazing wetlands are can ignite their passion to help us conserve them – so we also welcome one million visitors every year to our unique wetland reserves.
Our six big goals: What we want the world to look like by 2040
1) The UK's wetlands and their wildlife are thriving and increasing
2) Everyone in the UK can access wetlands that provide amazing experiences and inspire support for their conservation
3) Wetlands in the UK are recognised as part of our natural infrastructure providing space for wildlife and people and vital services to us all
4) Decision makers globally understand the threats to wetland nature and are taking ambitious action to remove them
5) Wetlands are managed in a way that benefits wetland nature and enhances people's lives across the the world
6) Risks are decreasing for all wetland nature and no species have gone extinct
Why wetlands?
If rainforests are the lungs of the planet, then wetlands are the lifeblood. As much as we need air to breathe, we need water to live. The conservation of our wetlands is essential to all life on Earth.
What are wetlands?
Wetlands are found across the world, ranging from giant deltas, mighty estuaries and mudflats to floodplains and peatlands that humans have relied on for hundreds of years.
Some wetlands are famous, such as the Okavango delta, Arctic tundra and the Pantanal. Some wetlands are as humble as the bog and pond at the end of your garden, marshy bits of land so easily overlooked yet so crucial for protecting our environment.
Wetlands are threatened
The threats to wetlands are many and varied, ranging from drainage and pollution to invasive species and the overharvesting of wetland resources.
Without conservation intervention, wetlands are often seen as wastelands or non-productive land so they’re filled in or destroyed, as people don’t realise the wider impact for all life. They’re no longer providing the benefits that they once did and could again, and pressures upon them are increasing as both human populations and demands on natural resources grow.
