A Campaign to Protect Wetlands Has Launched

Wetlands for Life is an international conservation campaign led by EAZA (the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria). The campaign was launched on 2 February 2026, World Wetlands Day, and will run until 2027.

The aim of the campaign is to increase understanding of the importance of wetlands and to support concrete wetland conservation and restoration projects. The campaign brings together zoos and aquariums from across Europe and highlights the role wetlands play in biodiversity and human well-being.

What are wetlands – and why do they matter?

Wetlands are areas where water is permanently or seasonally present. They include habitats such as bogs, peatlands, ponds, rivers, river deltas and flood meadows. Wetlands are vital ecosystems: they purify water, store carbon, reduce flood risks and provide habitat for a vast number of species.

Up to 40% of the world’s plant and animal species depend on wetlands, as does one in eight people worldwide. Despite this, wetlands are among the most threatened ecosystems on Earth. Climate change, land-use change and pollution have led to a rapid loss of wetlands, with far-reaching consequences for both nature and people.

Animal stories reveal the importance of wetlands

During the Wetlands for Life campaign, we explore wetlands through the stories of animals – from otter families and beaver siblings to other species closely tied to wetland habitats. Through these stories, we gain insight into the role wetlands play in animal survival and how changes in these environments affect entire ecosystems.

Join us

Wetlands for Life invites zoos, aquariums and their audiences to take part: to learn, share knowledge and make everyday choices that support the future of wetlands and the life that depends on them.

Wetlands matter. Protect them today for tomorrow.