Madrid, 15th May 2018: Fundación Global Nature (FGN), a Spanish entity dedicated to nature conservation, has contributed for 25 years to protecting lakes and wetlands in Spain and worldwide. The 2018 Ramsar Awards have acknowledged this work in the "Wetland Wise Use" category due to Fundación Global Nature’s integrative approach, involving all concerned stakeholders in wetland protection. Since its creation, FGN promotes making nature conservation and socio-economic development compatible, especially supporting sustainable and profitable farming activities.
The Ramsar Wetland Conservation Awards recognise since 1996 the achievements of individuals, organisations and governments around the world for the conservation and wise use of wetlands. The Ramsar Convention points out that these ecosystems are vital for human survival, but they still continue to be degraded: "since 1900, over 64 % of the world’s wetlands have been destroyed".
This award reinforces Fundación Global Nature’s mission and entails a great encouragement to continue implementing conservation activities for wetland habitats and the animal and plant species that depend on them. Since its foundation, FGN took the first steps towards the restoration of the La Nava Wetland in Spain, a 2,200-hectare steppe wetland that was drained in 1968 and that is currently listed as a Ramsar Site. La Nava restoration is one of the most important milestones in nature conservation in Spain.
Fundación Global Nature is a member of the Living Lakes international network and has worked in more than 100 wetlands, 8 of which are Ramsar Sites. In addition, it has developed international projects for wetland protection and restoration in Colombia, Guatemala, the Philippines, Mozambique, Paraguay, the Dominican Republic, Senegal and Sri Lanka. FGN’s work has benefited a total surface of 14,000 hectares, with a total investment of more than € 18 million, which has contributed to creating employment in rural areas, proving that wetland wise use is possible. In this sense, Fundación Global Nature promotes making nature conservation and socio-economic development compatible, especially including a sustainable and competitive farming sector. FGN continues developing new projects to reinforce the conservation efforts and restore other wetlands, such as LIFE Paludicola or LIFE Estepas de La Mancha.
The 2018 Awards Ceremony will take place at the 13th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (COP13) that will be held in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) on 21 - 29 October 2018. The winner of each of the three categories (‘Wetland Wise Use’, ‘Wetland Innovation’ and ‘Young Wetland Champions’) will receive the Evian Special Prize of US$ 10,000 offered by the Danone Group as part of its support to the Convention.
Fundación Global Nature was nominated to this award by Valencia’s Regional Government due to the close collaboration between the two entities since 2011 to promoted wetland conservation and restoration.
Further information:
http://www.globalnature.org/en/living-lakes/europe/albufera