The AEWA Secretariat would like to take this opportunity to highlight and help endorse the new “Crane Bank Ramsar Award for the Wise Use of Wetlands” which encourages young African professionals to learn more about the wise use of wetlands by enabling them to participate in a two-week tour of duty with Uganda’s Wetlands Inspection Division.

The new annual Award - created by Ramsar and made possible through a financial contribution from Crane Bank - will support the costs for two wetland managers from an African country to travel to Uganda and learn more about the successful experience of Uganda in establishing institutional and technical support for wetlands management.

It is hoped that the selected individuals will bring their knowledge and experience gained back to their home institutions - thus encouraging opportunities for intra-African cooperation and capacity building in the wise use of wetlands throughout Africa.

For more information about the Award and the application procedure please see the following page on the Ramsar Web site (submission deadline is the 1st of June 2006).