WWT’s Post

Fantastic work being done to protect these vital wetland species! The importance of wetlands for biodiversity, climate resilience, and water management cannot be overstated. Alongside safeguarding what remains, I’d like to see bigger and bolder ambition for Britain’s wetland habitats. Natural England could take a more ambitious approach to reintroducing beavers across the country—a species that restores wetlands, creates habitat for countless species, improves water quality, reduces flood risk, and boosts climate resilience. The Dalmatian pelican, once native to Britain, was lost from our wetlands around the Middle Ages, yet its return to places like the Norfolk Broads and Somerset Levels could revitalise local economies by creating opportunities for nature tourism-not to mention reconnecting people to with Britain’s natural heritage and enriching our landscapes. Successful reintroductions across Europe show it’s possible if we think ambitiously. We need a step-change in conservation—one that not only protects what we have but actively restores our wetlands into thriving ecosystems that benefit both nature and people.