The 2024 Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS) Annual Meeting will be held at the Taipei International Convention Center from November 12–16, 2024, with the theme of Wetlands and Global Change: Mitigation and Adaptation.

Professor Wei-Ta Fang, Distinguished Professor at National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) and Chair of the SWS Asia Chapter, noted that he and Filipino scholar Isidro Savillo established the SWS Asia Chapter in 2005, with Taiwan as a founding member country.

As early as 2017, before the pandemic, SWS announced that the 2024 Annual Meeting would be held in Taipei, Taiwan. This is a highly significant event in the sustainability world. Professor Fang explained, "The 2024 SWS Annual Meeting being held in Asia for the first time, with Taipei specifically being chosen as the host city, marks a new era for the Society of Wetland Scientists in Asia. Both bringing wetland science and knowledge to countries worldwide and promoting global wetland conservation are core values of the SWS. This event further highlights Taiwan's key importance in the international wetland field."

Professor Fang stated that a sustainable environment transcends the framework of geopolitical tensions, which is of heightened significance. The SWS Asia Chapter headquarters is located in Taipei, serving 18 Asian geographically disperse member nations. Wetland management expands beyond national borders and boundaries. Thus, it serves mankind’s global welfare regardless of race, religion, or politics. Taiwan is located on the central axis in East Asia, where a single move can affect the entire region. Currently, it enjoys a very cordial relationship with SWS' main headquarters, aiming to pass on past experience and open up to the future, serving more member nations throughout Asia.

The Annual Meeting is expected to attract over 500 participants to Taiwan including those from the USA, UN officials, members, friends, and wetland professionals from some 30 countries, for experience and knowledge exchange, while showcasing Taiwan's fruitful achievements in wetland conservation. If accompanying family members are included, the number of visitors could reach nearly a thousand, which would greatly benefit Taiwan's tourism and international visibility.

Source: China Times