Ecological endeavours have been fledging in Western Australia since the 1960s and 70s in various areas. With over 80% lost in WA, wetlands have been their main focus. Through the years following Australia's signing of the Ramsar convention and the number of Ramsar sites in WA growing to 12, the ecologists and environmental groups working to protect, conserve and develop wetlands have grown manifold. The Wetlands Centre Cockburn gradually became a place of confluence for wetland ecologists, given its central location and its plight amidst the Roe 8 or the Perth Freight Link controversy.

In 2005, we started the tradition of holding WA's first-ever Wetlands Conference, celebrating World Wetlands Day, to encourage research, information sharing and scientific exchanges within the area of wetland sciences and foster networks and interchange amongst wetland professionals. Over the years it has grown to include more and more stakeholders in wetlands. But this has not been without the support of those who have helped to fund this massive endeavour and keep it going. Now in its 22nd year, we are once again reaching out to our steadfast and new supporters to help us run one of the country's biggest wetlands conferences.