Communication, Education, Participation and Awareness Program

The Ramsar Convention's Program on Communication, Education, Participation and Awareness (CEPA) was established to help raise awareness of wetland values and functions. The CEPA Program calls for coordinated international and national wetland education, public awareness and communication. The Program also encourages the promotion of training in the fields of wetland research, management and wardening.

CEPA activities and wetland education centres

World Wetlands Day

World Wetlands Day (WWD) is celebrated each year on 2 February. It marks the anniversary of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention) in Ramsar, Iran, on 2 February 1971.

WWD was first celebrated in 1997. Since this time government agencies, non-government organisations and community groups across the world have celebrated World Wetlands Day by undertaking actions to raise public awareness of wetland values and benefits and promote the conservation and wise use of wetlands.

The Australian Government produces an annual publication, Wetlands Australia - National Wetland Update , to be released in time for WWD. The magazine aims to bring attention to Australia's achievements and continuing challenges in wetland conservation and wise use.

Queensland Wetlands Program

The Queensland Wetlands Program has delivered a range of new mapping, information and decision-making tools that will enable government agencies, landowners, conservationists and regional land care bodies to protect and manage wetlands for future generations. Details of all Queensland Wetlands Program products can be found on WetlandInfo .

Wetland Link International - Australia

Wetland Link International (WLI), an initiative of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust in the UK, is a major platform of the Ramsar Convention's Program on CEPA. WLI aims to improve links between wetland educators at all levels.

There are many centres across Australia dedicated to wetland education or with a strong focus on wetlands. They are associated with many types of wetlands, including, in some cases, Ramsar sites. They range from small, non-staffed interpretation facilities to staffed, highly developed centres. The World Wetland Network contact for Oceania, including Australia, is Wetland Care Australia .

Australian wetland education centres

If your wetland education centre would like to be listed here, please contact wetlandsmail@environment.gov.au.

Banrock Station Wetland and Wine Centre
PO Box 346, Holmes Rd, Kingston on Murray, SA 5331, Australia
(08) 8583 0299
www.banrockstation.com.au

Bicentennial Park Visitors Centre
PO Box 170, Concord West, NSW 2138, Australia
www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Visiting/venues_and_parks/bicentennial_park

Boondall Wetlands Environment Centre
PO Box 53, 31 Paperbark Drive, Boondall, Taigum, Queensland 4034, Australia
(07) 3403 1490
www.brisbane.qld.gov.au

Bowali Visitors Centre
PO Box 71, Jabiru, NT 886, Australia
(08) 8938 1121
www.environment.gov.au/parks/kakadu

Broome Bird Observatory
Crab Creek Road, Broome, Western Australia 6725, Australia
(08) 9193 5600
www.broomebirdobservatory.com

Christmas Island Tourism Association
PO Box 63, 2 Gaze Road, Christmas Island, Western Australia 6798, Australia
(08) 9164 8382
www.christmas.net.au

Clancy's Lagoon Visitor Centre
PO Box 175, Pickford Road, Biboohra, Mareeba, Queensland 4880, Australia
www.mareebawetlands.com

Coastal Environment Centre
PO Box 522, Narrabeen, NSW 2101, Australia
(02) 9970 1675
www.pittwater.nsw.gov.au/environment/cec

Cockburn Wetlands Education Centre
184 Hope Road, Bibra Lake, Western Australia 6163
(08) 9417 8460
www.cockburnwetlands.org.au

Coolart Wetlands and Homestead
PO Box 84, Lord Somers Road, Somers, Bainarring, Victoria 3926, Australia
13 1963
www.parks.vic.gov.au

Dharnya Centre
Sandridge Track, Barmah, Victoria 3926, Australia
13 1963
www.parks.vic.gov.au

Herdsman Lake Wildlife Centre
Herdsman Lake Wildlife Centre, Cnr Flynn St & Selby St, Wembley, Western Australia
(08) 9387 6079
www.wagouldleague.com.au

Hunter Wetlands Centre, Australia
PO Box 292, Wallsend, NSW 2287, Australia
(02) 4951 6466
www.wetlands.org.au

Manly Environment Centre
41 Belgrave Street, Manly 2095, New South Wales, Australia
(02) 9976 2842
www.mec.org.au

Serendip Sanctuary
Serendip Sanctuary, 100 Windermere Road, Lara, Victoria 3212, Australia
13 1963
www.parks.vic.gov.au

St Kilda Mangrove Trail and Wetlands
PO Box 8, Salisbury, South Australia, 5108, Australia
0413 975 064

Tamar Island Visitor Interpretation Centre
West Tamar Highway, Legana, Tasmania, 7277, Australia
03 6327 3964
www.parks.tas.gov.au

The Aquatic Environment Education Centre at Wonga Wetlands
PO Box 323, Riverina Highway (Howlong Rd), Albury, NSW 2640, Australia
www.wongawetlands.nsw.gov.au

Walkabout Creek Freshwater Study Centre
60 Mt Nebo Rd, The Gap, Queensland 4061, Australia

Window on the Wetlands
www.nt.gov.au/nreta/parks/find/windowwetlands.html