Society of Wetland Scientists facts for kids

The Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS) is a group of scientists and experts from all over the world. They work together to protect and study wetlands. Wetlands are special areas like marshes, swamps, and bogs. They are very important for nature.

SWS is a non-profit organization. This means they use any money they make to help their mission, not to make a profit. Their main goal is to make sure everyone understands how important wetlands are. They want to use good science to guide how we protect and restore these special places. SWS is based in Washington DC, United States. It has over 3,000 members globally. Anyone who cares about wetlands can join.

How SWS Works

The Society of Wetland Scientists has different groups to help them do their work. These groups help members connect and focus on specific wetland topics.

Global Chapters and Local Focus

SWS has fifteen regional chapters around the world. These chapters help members in different areas work together. For example, there are chapters for Asia, Canada, Europe, and various parts of the United States. This helps SWS address local wetland issues.

Special Interest Sections

SWS also has ten sections that focus on specific topics within wetland science. These sections organize meetings and workshops. They cover areas like:

• Biogeochemistry (how chemicals move through wetlands)
• Education (teaching others about wetlands)
• Global Change Ecology (how wetlands are affected by climate change)
• Peatlands (a type of wetland with lots of decaying plants)
• Public Policy and Regulation (rules and laws about wetlands)
• Ramsar (an international treaty for wetland protection)
• Wetland Restoration (bringing damaged wetlands back to health)
• Wildlife (animals that live in wetlands)
• Women in Wetlands (supporting women in wetland science)

Becoming a Wetland Professional

SWS is linked to the SWS Professional Certification Program. This program helps identify people who are highly skilled in wetland science. It makes sure they meet high standards.

What is a Professional Wetland Scientist?

A Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS) is someone who has proven they have the right education and experience. They are experts in studying and managing wetlands. Getting certified means their peers (other wetland scientists) recognize their skills. It also shows they follow strong ethical rules in their work.

Steps to Certification

To become a PWS, you need to meet both education and work experience requirements. There is also a step called Wetland Professional in Training (WPIT). This is for people who have the right education but are still gaining work experience.

History of SWS

The Society of Wetland Scientists started a long time ago to bring wetland experts together.

Founding and First Meetings

SWS was founded in March 1980 by Richard Macomber. He was a biologist who worked for the United States Army Corps of Engineers. In the same year, the first SWS annual meeting was held in Tampa, Florida, United States. The first president of SWS was James F. Parnell from the University of North Carolina Wilmington.

The Wetlands Journal

In 1981, SWS published the first issue of Wetlands. This was the society's main international journal. A journal is like a special magazine where scientists share their research. At first, it shared information from the annual meeting. Over time, Wetlands became a quarterly journal. This means it is published four times a year. It shares new research with wetland professionals all over the world. Today, Springer publishes the journal for SWS.

Protecting Lake Ohrid and Studenchishte Marsh

SWS helps protect important wetlands around the world. One example is their work with Lake Ohrid and Studenchishte Marsh.

A Special Ecosystem

Since 2015, the SWS Europe Chapter has been working to protect Lake Ohrid in North Macedonia. This lake is one of the most biodiverse inland waters on Earth. This means it has many different kinds of plants and animals. Next to the lake is Studenchishte Marsh. This marsh is the last part of a much larger wetland that used to be there.

Working for Ramsar Status

SWS has supported local groups like EDEN and Ohrid SOS. These groups wanted to make Lake Ohrid and Studenchishte Marsh a Wetland of International Importance. A Ramsar site is a wetland recognized globally for its importance. This recognition comes under the Ramsar Convention, an international agreement to protect wetlands.

In 2017, a proposal was sent to the Macedonian government. It asked for Studenchishte Marsh and Lake Ohrid to become a Ramsar site. In March 2018, the government agreed to nominate Studenchishte as a Monument of Nature and a Ramsar Site. In February 2021, the Ramsar status was officially confirmed. The SWS Europe Chapter also released a special statement. It explained why the Lake Ohrid ecosystem is so important. It also suggested ways to protect and restore it for sustainable development.