SWS Europe and the Alliance join forces to strengthen the link between science and actions
A strategic collaboration to mobilize scientific expertise in support of threatened wetlands.
In collaboration with the University of South Bohemia, around 75 wetland scientists, practitioners and students gathered for the 21st edition of the annual Society of Wetland Scientists Europe (SWS Europe) meeting in České Budějovice, Czech Republic. Built around the theme of “Functional Wetlands as a Part of Landscape Hydrological Connectivity and Resilience”, the conference favoured direct engagement over scale, with no parallel sessions, cultivating meaningful exchanges and ensuring all messages get shared full visibility across the room. The meeting stood out for its inspiring gender balance and a notable mix of students, researchers and practitioners brought together for this edition.
The Mediterranean Alliance for Wetlands took the floor, presenting the protocols developed for civil society empowerment on advocacy and restoration to bridge science and actions. This contribution is a result of the reaffirmed partnership between the two structures, as SWS Europe has been a key technical partner of the Alliance since its inception. In this setting, the Alliance was able to engage directly with scientists, practitioners and students, who could, in time, become future consultants on civil society-led restoration projects. The Alliance’s model of science-based advocacy relies on close cooperation between scientific expertise and on-the-ground actions.
The presentation walked the participants through two of the Alliance’s core tools: the Red Alert System, which mobilizes rapid international support when a wetland comes under direct threat, and the Green Light Protocol, which guides the co-creation of restoration projects from the ground up. Both were framed as an invitation for participants to engage directly with sites currently at risk.
By the end of the week-long meeting, one idea kept surfacing: linking science and action is not just a proposal but a necessity to effectively respond to the threats facing wetlands.
Held annually, and at times in collaboration with international conferences such as INTECOL or WETPOL, SWS Europe has established itself as an essential gathering for the wetland science community. The 22nd edition will take place in Leipzig, Germany, from 5 to 9 July 2027, continuing this vital momentum between science, expertise and collective action that the Alliance intends to keep building on.
