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Wetland Science Networking and Coordination: International Concerns C.D.A. Rubec Environment Canada INTRODUCTION Wetland conservation and sustainable develop- ment, in the context of international initiatives and concerns, has fostered a wide range of organi- zational networks and communication mechanisms. Some of these specifically focus on wetland habitat for wildlife, others on data bases for ecological classification and mitigation, and still others on specific regions or disciplines related to wetlands. An overview of these networks and a discussion of their coordination is presented in this paper. In addition, a summary is presented of the results of a workshop entitled "International Science Networks for Wetland Protection and management" held at the International Symposium on Wetlands and River Corridor Management, July 5-9, 1989 in Charleston, South Carolina. The paper concludes with two examples of wetland networks: one national and a second international in scope. WETIJ= NETWORKS A key aspect to the exchange of scientific information and to the development of effective and coordinated worldwide wetland conservation, as well as wise use and management of wetlands, is the creation of functional international wetland science networks. There are many networks in existence; however, it is unlikely that any single agency or individual is totally aware of the scope of these networks. The listing in Table 1 of over 25 such networks presents the name and supporting agency for networks known to this author. While it is by no means complete, it illustrates where one can start in considering questions such as: - What are the major issues addressed by existing wetland science and policy networks in the world? How effective are such networks and are they themselves effectively interconnected or are they operating in exclusion of each other? How do wetland networks communicate and who are their target audiences? Is there a need for more effective inter- national wetland networking, coordination, and communication? WETLAND SCIENCE COMMUNICATION Worldwide, there are in the order of perhaps 10,000 to 20,000 scientists and other profession- als involved in wetland research, management, or utilization. More individuals could be considered "wetland experts" with regard to wetland programs, policy and ownership. When publishing the results of professional research, each scientist -- depending on his or her discipline, target audience, geographic location and language -- has gotten their message across through a wide variety of journals. Journals with some wetland emphasis include those in fields such as botany, hydrology and environmental management. However, relatively few journals are entirely focussed on wetlands. Some of these (and again, this is by no means "complete") include those listed below. Years in which these journals originated suggest that the last decade has seen a slow expansion of targetted professional journals in the wetland field. Some Wetland/Peatland Journals (Dates of Initiation) Suo, (Journal of the Finnish Peat Society) 1949 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 1968 Bulletin, International Peat Society 1970 Estuaries 1978 Wetlands, (Journal of the society of Wetland 1980 Scientists) Torf. Prom., (USSR Peat Journal) 1980 Wetlands Ecology and management 1989 For both the general, non-professional wetland audience and professional wetland scientists, a wide group of wetland information newsletters and magazines have been created. These are often the vehicle for a specific organization or government agency. Such publications include announcements of meetings and positions available, short articles of topical interest, progress notes on legislation and policy, and reviews of books. They seldom are of a commercial nature. A listing of 15 newslet- ters crossing this author's desk is presented in Table 2. It reveals that a significant expansion in general wetland information communication has occurred worldwide with two-thirds of the newsletters having been initiated since 1986. The author apologizes for omitting other newsletters that may exist or for incorrectly guessing the exact year of start-up for some of these. WETLAND CONSERVATION Wetland conservation actions around the globe are, to a lesser or greater extent, coordinated by one or several of the above noted networks. Harnessing some of the energy and financing utilized in these wetland conservation programs for (1) improvement or expansion of existing wetland communication mechanisms, and, (2) for establishment of better networks, is a worthy undertaking. Even a general estimate of the resources which are currently being expended 32