GLobal Wetland Inventory and Mapping

The IWMI Global Wetlands initiative will provide a multi-purpose and multiple-scale inventory with core data elements which will be built through a combination of continental and regional initiatives with regional and national delivery of the outcomes in order to ensure greater relevance and effective dissemination of wetland related information.

The project aims to provide a multiple-scale and purpose-driven global wetland mapping and inventory data resource through continental and regional projects that can support further wetland assessment and management.

This will be achieved through:

• Analysis of the extent of wetland mapping and inventory data and techniques and where practicable make these available to researchers and managers using effective knowledge exchange approaches
• Refinement of current mapping and inventory techniques in relation to gaps or inadequacies in existing mapping and inventory and where necessary provide further technical guidance, including that for effective data management
• Production of a global overview and map based on continental and regional analyses of wetlands, making use of previously produced wetland directories and modern data sources and technology, to support implementation of the Convention, e.g. listing of under-represented wetland types
• Development of a regional knowledge exchange and capacity to undertake wetland inventory through integrated analyses of wetland condition and trends as recommended by the Ramsar Convention

More details on each of the core projects of the Global Wetland Inventory and Mapping initiative can be found through the links on the left of this page.