“The International Training of Trainers on Wetland Management, a course focusing on the facilitation of multi-stakeholder processes and curriculum development, a training endorsed by the Ramsar Secretariat in Gland, Switzerland, finally came to China.”
With these words our colleague Esther Koopmanschap contributed to the launch of the Yangtze Wetland Protection Area Network International Training Center. From 13-23 October this ‘original’ international TOT, organized by Wageningen UR Centre for Development Innovation (CDI) in the Netherlands since 2004 annually, was adapted on request of WWF China for 25 very motivated Chinese experts involved in wetland management. Among them were site managers of nature reserves, staff of wetland parks, and staff of NGOs in the Central and Lower Yangtze Basin.
The TOT programme focused on facilitating participatory wetland management planning. It was organized on Chongming Island, Shanghai, and was guided CDI and WWF China (Shanghai office). This adapted TOT programme marked the starting point of the “International training center of Yangtze Wetland Protected Area Network”, co-initiated by the China State Forestry Administration, the Shanghai Forestry Bureau and WWF.
It is expected that from 2011 to 2015 the Center will develop various kinds of training programmes for wetland managers, wetland users and policy makers in the Yangtze River Basin by cooperating with WWF China, Wageningen University, and many other organizations. This cooperation of partners wishes to contribute to the provision of innovative ways to protect wetland ecosystems and guide the road towards common visions of stakeholders for healthy wetlands and eco-city development: advocating ‘man and nature in harmony’.
“This is a very good start”, Mr. MA Guangren, the director of Wetland Conservation and Management Center of the SFA said during the launch of the new Yangtze Training Center, “the Chinese government has paid great attention to wetland conservation over the last 10 years, and has close contact with the Ramsar Convention Secretariat”.
“We hope that by 2020, the Yangtze Training Center will not only support wetland conservation in China, but also share its experience with the whole of South-East Asia.”
This article also appeared in the Ramsar Bulletin Board.
Esther Koopmanschap and trainees in the training