Participants and course facilitators, including Bena Smith (International Wetland Management Advisor at WWT), Tina Redshaw (International Engagement Manager at WWT), and WWT’s Cambodia team, at Anlung Pring Protected Landscape CBET Centre.
The Wetland Learning Hub Team
From January 20th to 24th, a dedicated group of 15 conservation professionals from Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Myanmar participated in the Regional Wetland Health and Vitality Course in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, as part of their training with the Wetland Learning Hub. The course was delivered by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) with support from the UK government’s Darwin Initiative and IUCN/IBBRI and equipped participants with practical skills and knowledge to advance wetland conservation efforts in the Indo-Burma region.
The course marked a significant milestone for the Wetland Learning Hub, WWT’s platform for wetland education and training. The mission of the Wetland Learning Hub is to equip conservation professionals and volunteers with the skills and knowledge necessary to protect global wetlands for future generations. This course represented the first-ever in-person training organised by the Wetland Learning Hub team and followed the successful completion of the first online training in Wetland Health and Vitality for Indo-Burma by 83 wetland professionals.
The first two classroom-based days in Phnom Penh provided participants with the opportunity to share their local experiences, 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 Assessment, Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment, and Visitor Experience Assessment. These exercises allowed participants to apply their classroom knowledge in the field, gaining firsthand experience in evaluating and managing wetland areas. A recurring theme throughout the course was the conservation of the sarus crane, a waterbird of global conservation concern, and listed as Vulnerable on IUCN’s Red List. This species was used as a focal point to discuss various conservation measures, vulnerability to climate change and the role of community-based ecotourism (CBET) 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 and along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. We are confident that the knowledge shared and the connections made will allow participants to make lasting impact in safeguarding wetlands and their vital ecosystem services.
Please visit https://wetlandlearninghub.org to learn more about the Wetland Learning Hub and upcoming courses.
Course participants engaging in group activities at Anlung Pring Protected Landscape, supported by staff of the CBET centre and WWT Cambodia.