IWC60: A Global Effort to Protect Waterbirds and Wetlands

Support the 60th International Waterbird Census (IWC), one of the world’s largest and longest-running citizen science projects. Each January and February, tens of thousands of volunteers and scientists count waterbirds in wetlands worldwide to monitor population sizes and trends. For 60 years, the IWC has provided vital long-term data, surveying 57,000 wetlands in 189 countries and recording 1.9 billion waterbirds. The IWC’s consistent counts help detect changes in species and populations, guide conservation action, and support research on climate change and disease. Today, waterbirds face growing threats from climate change, land use change, and disappearing wetlands - 22% of which have been lost since 1970. The IWC’s data is essential for tracking these changes and protecting bird habitats. Your support helps: 🤝 Train and support volunteer counters worldwide 🔍 Maintain consistent global data collection 📊 Strengthen analysis of waterbird population trends 🗺️ Identify and safeguard critical wetland sites The 60th anniversary of the IWC is both a celebration and a call to action. By supporting IWC60, you help ensure that waterbirds and the wetlands they depend on continue to be counted, understood, and protected for the future.