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The Nagao Wetland Fund (NWF) has supported countries in implementing targeted projects aligned with national priorities under the Convention on Wetlands. To date, it has provided direct support to more than a dozen initiatives across Asia and Oceania. The fund aims to advance wetland conservation in line with the Convention’s Strategic Plan, with a particular focus on small-scale projects that can catalyze broader conservation efforts.
Image Source: Ramsar
The Nagao Wetland Fund, established in 2016 and supported by the Nagao Natural Environment Foundation of Japan, provided direct support to more than a dozen initiatives across Asia and Oceania. It offers annual grants of up to USD 30,000 to projects that focus on issues such as site management, biodiversity monitoring, community education, or policy review. Eligible applicants include governments, researchers, non-government organizations (NGOs), and community organizations whose projects address specific conservation needs. NWF focuses on locally grounded initiatives, supporting time-bound, targeted projects that bridge information gaps, raise awareness, or explore new wetlands protection strategies. This framework enables countries to address specific ecological or institutional challenges while also fostering capacity-building for long-term conservation planning.
Notable projects include establishing a wetlands platform in Nepal for the Gosainkunda Ramsar Site, enhancing local stakeholder cooperation, and a youth-led campaign in Cambodia that raised awareness at the Stung Sen Ramsar Site through educational initiatives and invasive species control. These strategies effectively enhance public engagement and cooperation among various sectors. Some projects have supported Wetlands of International Importance designations, such as the Sibugay Wetlands in the Philippines. This initiative not only secured international recognition but also trained local stakeholders in biodiversity monitoring and facilitated the development of a community-led wetland conservation action plan.
Key themes across the NWF-funded projects include the (1) significance of community involvement in project phases, (2) impact of targeted short-term funding on achieving lasting outcomes, and (3) flexibility of the NWF model to accommodate diverse projects aligned with the Convention’s goals. As countries strive to achieve global environmental targets on biodiversity, climate change, and freshwater, NWFH demonstrates that small investments can lead to significant outcomes.
Reference:
Ramsar The Convention on Wetlands (17 June 2025). The Nagao Wetland Fund: Supporting local action for wetland conservation in Asia and Oceania. Retrieved March 2, 2026, from https://www.ramsar.org/news/nagao-wetland-fund-supporting-local-action-wetland-conservation-asia-oceania
