Welcome to the Carpathian Wetland Initiative

The Carpathian Wetland Initiative (CWI) is a regional initiative of the Ramsar Convention that seeks to ensure and support the effective conservation and wise use of wetlands in the Carpathians and beyond.

The Carpathians are the Europe’s largest mountain range with unique natural and ecological values, including rivers, lakes, wetlands, it is a reservoir of biodiversity and water tower of the region. At the same time dynamic economic development imply profound changes and challenges in the region.

The waters in the Carpathians flow to Black and Baltic See via four large river catchments of the Danube, Dniester, Vistula and Oder rivers. These harbour a rich and important variety of wetland ecosystem types, such as forested peatlands, mires and fens, natural rivers and lakes, springs and wet meadows.