Royal Dutch Shell and global NGO Wetlands International have established a five-year partnership to enhance the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands by Shell and its affiliates. It will strengthen the capacity of Wetlands International through building in-house business skills and sharing knowledge in the communication, HR and finance disciplines. The partnership was signed by Jeroen van der Veer, Chief Executive of Royal Dutch Shell and Jane Madgwick (CEO Wetlands International).

The partnership is in recognition of the disproportionately high global significance of wetland ecosystems in terms of biodiversity, water provision, people's livelihoods and climate change. Wetlands such as deltas, shallow marine systems, inter-tidal marshes, rivers and peatlands are also particularly vulnerable to the impacts of the energy industry policies and practices.

As part of this new partnership, Shell will seek to develop new strategies, policies and tools to protect wetlands biodiversity and people, and to fulfill its sustainable development objectives. Wetlands International will provide the knowledge about wetland areas, their values and advice on how to manage them in a more sustainable way. The cooperation will in general aim to minimise the loss of nature and negative impacts on associated livelihoods.

The activities under the partnership will promote the efficient  use of wetlands in river basins and along flyways of migratory birds; develop and demonstrate innovative mechanisms to address environmental poverty  in wetlands and address climate change mitigation and adaptation. Jane Madgwick, CEO Wetlands International: "This ambitious partnership provides a great opportunity for Shell and Wetlands International to combine their competencies and to learn from each other. We aim to leave a positive legacy from these joint activities for wetlands and their peoples, especially in developing countries".

Jane Madgwick
CEO of Wetlands International

Contact for more information:
Wetlands International
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http://www.wetlands.org/news.aspx?ID=64f8a011-07e0-4529-b2c1-d4fceb89ff17