On World Wetlands Day 2026, the Living Lakes Network joins the global celebrations by launching the campaign One with Wetlands, highlighting wetlands not only as ecosystems of critical ecological value, but as living cultural landscapes shaped, protected and sustained by communities over generations.
Across the world, wetlands are deeply connected to people’s identities, traditions, livelihoods and traditional knowledge systems. From sacred lakes and community-managed marshes to traditional crafts, agroecology and environmental education initiatives, wetlands reflect a long-standing relationship between humans and nature—one that remains essential in the face of climate change and biodiversity loss.
Yet wetlands continue to disappear at an alarming rate. More than half of the world’s wetlands have been lost over the last century, threatening biodiversity, water security and the cultural heritage embedded in these landscapes. The degradation of wetlands also erodes traditional knowledge systems, particularly those of Indigenous Peoples and local communities who have acted as stewards of these ecosystems for generations.
Wetlands, traditional knowledge and cultural heritage
Through the One with Wetlands campaign, Living Lakes emphasizes the vital role of traditional and local knowledge in sustaining wetland ecosystems and preserving cultural identity. These knowledge systems support sustainable use, community monitoring and adaptive management, complementing scientific approaches and offering practical solutions to today’s environmental challenges.
Across the Living Lakes Network, this relationship between wetlands and people is visible in many forms. In South Africa, community custodianship and generational knowledge guide the protection of freshwater lakes and surrounding wetlands. In Sri Lanka, wetland biodiversity conservation around Madampa Lake is combined with education and wellbeing initiatives that engage local youth. In Colombia and Mexico, traditional practices linked to high-mountain lakes, agroecology, artisanal production and community-based tourism demonstrate how wetlands sustain both ecosystems and livelihoods. In the Philippines, wetlands such as the Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary are not only biodiversity hotspots, but also ancestral homelands where Indigenous communities maintain a deep cultural and spiritual connection to the water.
Recognising and integrating traditional knowledge into wetland conservation and governance is not only effective—it is also a matter of environmental justice. Inclusive, community-based approaches strengthen conservation outcomes while supporting cultural continuity, social cohesion and human well-being.
Wetlands Week: community-led wetland conservation worldwide
As part of World Wetlands Day, Living Lakes is launching Wetlands Week, a coordinated communication initiative taking place in the days following 2 February. During Wetlands Week, the network will highlight one Living Lakes member organization per day, showcasing diverse local experiences in community-led wetland conservation from different regions of the world.
Each day, a dedicated story will share how wetlands are protected, restored and valued through community action, cultural practices, education and intergenerational knowledge transfer. Together, these stories form a shared global narrative: wetlands thrive when communities are at their heart.
Through this collective effort, Living Lakes aims to amplify local voices, strengthen global solidarity and reaffirm a simple but powerful message: protecting wetlands means protecting culture, knowledge and life itself.
Living Lakes invites partners, supporters and the wider public to follow the campaign throughout Wetlands Week and to join us in recognising that we are truly one with wetlands.
This initiative is part of the Living Lakes Biodiversity and Climate Project, funded by BMUKN through IKI and supported by German Postcode Lottery, Kärcher, Lonza, Ground Lake, Georg Fischer Foundation, and many individual donors.