International Chapter
Welcome to the International Chapter of the Society of Wetlands Scientists. This chapter brings together wetland scientists and other professionals from different countries that demonstrate a global interest in wetlands. Our co-chairs represent SWS in Latin America and the Caribbean region (Tatiana Lobato de Magalhães) and the African region (Alanna Rebelo), as well as other countries not specifically incorporated into an SWS regional chapter.
SWS International Chapter promotes the development of wetland science and management through various opportunities, such as student grants, conference support, and internships.
SWS International Chapter is pleased to provide a quarterly webinar series on tropical wetland science topics of interest.
- Check out our SWS Spanish webinars page
- Check out our LAC region Facebook page
- Check out our African region Facebook page
Webinar registration is complimentary to all SWS members. LAC webinars are in Spanish, but Portuguese and French webinars are coming soon!
International Chapter
Touré Fréjuce Amoule
Flor Aponte
Stephani Askew
Giovanni Ávila-Flores
Dingha Babila
Dingha is a PhD student at the University of Bamenda, Cameroon. His main interest lies in the sustainable exploitation and consumption of natural resources especially wetlands. He is passionate about community engagement, and awareness raising for wise use of wetlands and environmental sustainability.
Antonia Belcher
Johannes Belle
Prof Johanes Belle holds a PhD in Environmental Management with a focus on the nexus between the Environment, Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation; Master’s degree in disaster management, Advanced University Diploma in Disaster Management, BA Honours in Geography, BA + Ed, Diploma in Marketing and other qualifications.
Prof Belle is an experienced Disaster Management Professional and an Environmentalist (33 years experience); with special interest on Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for systems and community Resilience (Eco-DRR/CCA4R) under the broad theme of Nature-based Solutions (NbS). He is a member of many international and national academic, research and professional organizations. He is currently employed at the University of the Free State, Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa (UFS-DiMTEC) in South Africa
Pamela Bernabeu
EDUARDO CEJUDO
Currently working at the Water Sciences Unit (UCIA) in Cancun, Mexico (Yucatán Scientific Research Center (http://www.cicy.mx/unidad-de-ciencias-del-agua/introduccion). Personal website https://eduardocejudo.weebly.com/
Lorena Chavarro Chaux
María Denaro
Jose Andres Deosa Velilla
Andrew Der
With a total of 33 years of experience (20 as a manager) working within the Chesapeake Bay watershed, Mr. Der is currently executive principal of Andrew T. Der and Associates, LLC practicing in the water resources consulting and contracting industry regionally and nationally since 2013. Before that and since 2000, he was Director of Environmental Services for two civil engineering firms in the Washington DC/Baltimore, MD metro region. Previously, he completed 18 years of service at the Maryland Department of the Environment leaving as a manager. Specialties include regulation and compliance; assessment; watershed studies; advocacy; permitting; feasibility studies; nonpoint source pollution; wetland and stream mitigation; water quality; and Clean Water Act and NEPA, as well as various federal and state pollution and waste programs. He is an Academy of Board Certified Environmental Professionals (ABCEP) Certified Environmental Professional (CEP) by eminence, and also teaches seminars, publishes industry-related and natural resources articles, a member of industry and advisory committees, recipient of numerous awards of recognition, and provides expert testimony and media interviews.
Christel Du Preez
Gary Ervin
I earned my B.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa). After a post-doc at the University of Arkansas (Fayetteville), I took a faculty position in Plant Ecology in the Department of Biological Sciences at Mississippi State University, where I have been since 2001. I have served on the editorial board for Wetlands and on the executive committee for the South Central Chapter of SWS.
Debbie Fordham
I am a freshwater scientist, with over 10 years of working experience, currently practicing in George as a wetland and river specialist. I have authored over 100 reports and applications and constantly contribute to the scientific and local community. Most of my projects involve (as a minimum) in-depth wetland and river field delineation (including soil investigations via augering, vegetation identification, and classifying the hydrological characteristics), laboratory analysis (such as water quality and sediment analysis), classification, characterisation, ecological health and ecosystem functioning assessments (using the latest available tools), as well as impact rating, buffer determinations, mitigation recommendations and detailed rehabilitation plans. I am highly proficient using GIS software to incorporate accurate spatial analysis and visual aids (No Go Area maps etc.) into reports.
I hold a M.Sc. degree in Environmental Science from Rhodes University, by thesis, entitled: The geomorphic origin and evolution of the Tierkloof Wetland, a peatland dominated by Prionium serratum in the Western Cape.
Lukho Goso
Sofia Grimaldi Calderon
Tamara Heartsill Scalley Ph.D.
Suheil Hoosen
La Daana Kanhai
Early career scientist that focuses on the anthropogenic impacts on coastal and marine ecosystems e.g. chemical contaminants, plastic pollution, etc. Based in the Caribbean.
James Kashoborozi
JAMES KASHOBOROZI biography
JAMES KASHOOBOROZI is a Ugandan climate change activist and proven leader. He is a final year student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Environment Science at Makerere University.
He served as the Guild Representative for the 87th guild for the School of Forestry Environmental and Geographical Sciences (SFEGS) as well as the vice chairperson committee for the Ministry of Estates and Environment in the 87TH Guild house.
I served as the President for Department of Environmental Management student’s Association (DEMSA). Am a trained climate reality leader under the climate reality leadership corps for the year 2021. I also served as the class representative for bachelor of environmental science for 3 years where I delivered service in accordance to students’ and lectures’ needs.
I have been engaged in volunteering activities and working with distinguished teams and organizations to implement environmental projects.
I look forward to using the acquired and proven technical skills and theoretical knowledge to offer solutions to environmental and social challenges to ensure that nature thrives for the benefit all living creatures.
“Environment is no one’s property to destroy its everyone’s responsibility to protect.”
Steven Khosa
Manish Kumar
Judith Lacava
Rikus Lamprecht
Liezl Landman
Maria Carolina Las-Casas e Novaes
She holds a graduate degree in Environmental Management (2010), with a Master's Degree in biodiversity of coastal environments (Unesp, 2017). Currently, she is a doctoral student in Ecology at the São Paulo State University. Research lines: estuarine ecology, mangrove fisheries, crustaceans fauna, outdoor education, and human ecology.
Anton Linstrom
Romina Llanos
Tatiana Lobato de Magalhães
Research Professor | Chapter Chair at the Society of Wetland Scientists | PhD, PWS
My research interests focus on the ecology, landscape genetics, restoration, and conservation of freshwater ecosystems. I have been working on large-scale spatial patterns of aquatic plants, combining community, population, and landscape approaches.
I serve as Associated Editor of the journals WETLANDS and Aquatic Botany.
Marti Louther
Marti is a wetland biologist, with over 25 years of experience. She works in the transportation field in western Washington and is part of the Pacific Northwest Chapter.
Monica Sofia Maldonado Fonken
Sebastian Matiz Cely
Musa Mlambo
Sisipho Ngebe
Melisa Olivelli
Camryn Oschger
Mariana Ospina
Sharon Pollard
Rubén Quintana
Nirvasha Rajdeo
Alanna Jane Rebelo Ph.D.
Josue Reyes Amaya
Charlene Russell
Hajera Sana
Cynthia Priscilla Sánchez Santillán
Omar Santiago Ph.D.
Joseph Schubauer-Berigan Ph.D.
Zati Sharip
Dr. Zati Sharip is a senior researcher at the National Water Research Institute of Malaysia (NAHRIM) and serves as the Unit Head of Lake and Reservoir Research at the Water Quality and Environment Research Centre since 2007. She is also an associate to the Academy of Science Malaysia. She obtained her PhD from the University of Western Australia, Australia focusing on physical-chemical-biological interactions in a tropical lake. She has conducted various researches on more than 40 lakes and wetlands in Malaysia for more than 16 years. Her research deals with hydro-ecological and hydro-biological studies in freshwater ecosystems.
Luc Strydom
Senior Environmental Scientist with a particular interest in wetlands and vegetation ecology.
Andrea Tipe Garcia
Carlos Troche Souza
Gugulethu Tshabalala
Jana Uys
Gabriel Wanyoike
Ricardo Wong
The International Chapter was founded in 1986 and harbored foreign countries that were not included in other chapters. In 1986 the chapter had 146 members. This chapter was initially part (informally) of the Canada Group but began to emerge as a separate entity in 1985, briefly as the Overseas Region and eventually as the International Region (Region 8) Group. It was first chaired by Armando de la Cruz and Francis Heliotis. Eric Gilman filed the official documents for this chapter in 2000 (Ewel 2020). Since the 10th INTECOL International Wetland Conference in Changshu, China, in 2016, there have been two co-chairs, one for Africa and the other for Latin America and the Caribbean. Currently, the chapter has 238 members, two co-chairs, and a 3-year term for leadership (International Chapter Bylaws and Standing Rules 2022).
Current leadership
Tatiana Lobato de Magalhães, 2019-2022, 2022-2025 (re-elected)
Latin America and the Caribbean region co-chair
Alanna Rebelo, 2022-2025
African region co-chair
Past leadership
Luisa Ricaurte, 2016-2019 (LAC region)
Ian Bredin, 2018-2022 (Africa region)
Fred Ellery, 2016-2018 (Africa region)
Elijah Ohimain 2007-2015
Marinus L. Otte, 2002-2006
Eric Gilman, 2000-2002
Armando de la Cruz and Francis Helioti, 1986
Updated in August 2022
References:
Ewel, K.C. 2020. Society of Wetland Scientists: The First Forty Years. Wetland Science and Practice, 37(3): 129-149.
International Chapter Bylaws and Standing Rules (created in 2018 and updated in 2022).
South African National Wetland Indaba 2022
International Co-Chair Alanna Rebelo led a workshop for the SWS Africa Region at the South African National Wetland Indaba 2022 from 24-27 October. The workshop aimed for the newly-forming SWS Africa committee to interface with our South African members, share updates, and hear ideas. The session covered: an update on SWS Africa and the vision for the next term; a presentation on the SWS Professional Certification Program (PCP) and how it can benefit African members; talks on wetlands in other African countries from guest speakers who are involved in the SWS Africa committee; and an interactive workshop session where participants had the opportunity to discuss the potential of SWS Africa in small groups, and share their ideas and input that will be used by the new committee to guide the vision for SWS Africa going forward. The workshop was attended by 20 people and was a great success.
Students Awarded SWS Membership for Best Student Talks
Congratulations to Sebastian Matiz Cely and José Andrés Deosa Velilla for presenting the best talks of the past Colombian Ecohydrology Meeting (VI WORKSHOP EN ECOHIDROLOGÍA Y ECOHIDRÁULICA by REDECOHH, Universidad de Antioquia and Instituto Alexander von Humboldt, 30-31 August, 2022)! Because of their great work, they've been awarded a 1-year membership to SWS.
We're proud of their efforts in presenting the following talks:
- Sebastian Matiz Cely, Hoja de ruta desde el modelamiento para la remoción de mercurio en ciénaga, Universidad del Norte, Colombia.
- José Andrés Deosa Velilla, Integridad ecológica de sistemas lóticos intermitentes del bosque seco tropical a través del análisis complementario en los cambios espacio-temporales de rasgos funcionales de macroinvertebrados y fitoperifiton, Universidad de Antioquia, Colombia.
The International Chapter Co-Chair (LAC region), Dr. Tatiana Lobato de Magalhães, will talk about the SWS HumMentor Mentorship Program on August 31, 2022, at 10:55 am (Bogotá time) as part of the “VI WORKSHOP ON ECOHYDROLOGY AND ECOHYDRAULICS,” an event that will be held in a hybrid manner with the support of the University of Antioquia, REDECOHH and the Alexander von Humboldt Institute, Medellín, Colombia. The event will be broadcast through the channels: https://lnkd.in/gxGQkSii and https://lnkd.in/gSwCHrdg. The International Chapter also offers two 1-year memberships for the event's best talks.
The SWS International Chapter (Latin America and the Caribbean Region) is organizing a thematic group titled Aquatic Botany Group of the Society of Wetland Scientists. We invited interested people to the first meeting on Tuesday, June 14, 2022. Among the participants, 56 people from 12 countries (19 people are from Mexico, 10 from Colombia, 10 from Peru, 5 from Brazil, 4 from Argentina, 2 from the USA, and 1 person from other countries). The Chapter Co-Chair Tatiana Lobato de Magalhães will welcome the participants and discuss the objectives and opportunities for the group. Then we will establish the first group committee by voluntary nominations.
The SWS International Chapter hosted a meeting at the Joint Aquatic Sciences Meeting in Grand Rapids in June 2022. Around 30 participants from both regions, LAC and Africa, joined to discuss the Chapter perspectives and opportunities. We take this opportunity to thank the co-chair Ian Bredin for his 3-years of service in this position, welcome Alanna Rebelo, the co-chair-elect for the Africa region, and to thank Tatiana Lobato de Magalhães, re-elected as co-chair for the Latin America and the Caribbean region. Stay tuned for upcoming news and meetings!
Ian Bredin, Tatiana Lobato de Magalhães, and Derek Faust in the International Chapter meeting, JASM 2022, Grand Rapids, EE.UU.
The SWS International Chapter (Latin American and the Caribbean Region) organized an inaugural meeting on Wednesday, February 9, 2022, followed by a certificate course in Scientific Publication on Wetlands (SWSPCP). We hosted eight speakers (Tatiana Lobato de Magalhães, Patsy Milena Muñoz Barra, Marinus L. Otte, Gary Ervin, Gillian Davies, Kimberli Ponzio, Matthew Simpson, and Rob McInnes), two moderators (Héctor Aponte and Daniel Campbell) and more than 70 participants. See the recorded meeting on the SWS YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/gibnEhIEjJQ
NEWS
Luis Enrique Olguín Chávez from Mexico was selected as a 2021 SWS International Chapter – Latin America Grant recipient of the 2021 SWS Student Research Grant. Luis used the grant to develop his undergraduate thesis titled "Understanding reproductive aspects of the distylous aquatic plant Nymphoides fallax Ornduff (Menyanthaceae)" at the Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro. He finished his research and graduated in Biology on June 8, 2022.
Luis Enrique Olguín Chávez doing fieldwork, temporary wetlands, Central Mexico highlands.
Students Awarded SWS Membership for Best Student Talks
Congratulations to Josue Roberto Reyes Amaya, Andrea Tipe Garcia, and Lorena Chavarro Chaux for presenting the best student talks of the past Colombian Wetland Meeting (III Congreso Internacional de Ríos y Humedales)! Because of their great work, they've been awarded a 1-year membership to SWS.
We're proud of their efforts in presenting the following talks:
- Josue Roberto Reyes Amaya: Dinámica del nitrógeno en un ecosistema dependiente de agua subterránea
- Andrea Tipe Garcia: Propuesta para la evaluación del servicio ecosistémico de regulación hídrica en los humedales altoandinos de Yuracmayo, Perú
- Lorena Chavarro Chaux: Effects of Livestock Production on the Stream Health, Water Quality and Function of a Small Tributary in Mississippi
Youth Engaged in Wetlands (YEW) meeting in Tokyo in January 2020
The International chapter co-chair, Tatiana Lobato de Magalhães, attended the Youth Engaged in Wetlands (YEW) meeting in Tokyo (January 16-21, 2020). The event was hosted by the Youth Ramsar Japan and was an important moment to work on the creation of an international network for wetland professionals and scientists.
XXI Mexican Botanical Society meeting 2019
The International Chapter is very proud to announce the top presenters at the Aquatic Plants Symposium hosted by the XXI Mexican Botanical Society meeting. The winners were Dr. Nelly Jiménez and MSc. Ricardo Wong, both of them get a 1-year of free membership at the SWS. The International chapter Co-Chair, Tatiana Lobato de Magalhães, was invited as a speaker at the Symposium. Additional, she had the opportunity to introduce to the SBM committee the potential SWS/SBM affiliation.
South African National Wetlands Indaba
The International Chapter is proud to announce the top presenters at this year’s South African National Wetlands Indaba. The winners were: Nardus Bosman, Denisha Anand, Faith Mamphoka, Mthombeni Tinyiko Salome. They were awarded 1-year free membership to SWS. International Co-Chair Ian Bredin was the keynote speaker to talk about the SWS/SAWS affiliation.
Volunteers
We are proud to introduce our SWS LAC volunteer student from Peru. Karol will help us to build a wetland database in the Latin America & Caribbean region. She is doing 30 hours of volunteer work under the mentorship of Dr. Héctor Aponte and Dr. Tatiana Lobato de Magalhães.
Karol Salazar Navarro, Lima, Peru
Karol is a Peruvian Environmental Engineer from UNTELS University. She developed her undergraduate research focused on carbon capture in a coastal wetland of Lima. Karol is interested in the fields of climate change, coastal marine ecosystems, blue carbon, and environmental education linked with the latter subjects.
Are you interested in doing volunteer work at the SWS International chapter? Please, contact chapter co-chairs.
2019 International Chapter Meeting
2019 Society of Wetland Scientists Annual Meeting, Baltimore, USA. We met some International chapter members and shared awesome ideas and experiences with these fantastic people!
2019 International Wetlands of Distinction
We are very proud of having a Latin American wetland nominated as new potential Wetlands of Distinction, representing the International chapter! Congratulations Cayambe Coca, Quito, Ecuador!
2018 National Wetlands Indaba: South Africa
The South African National Wetlands Indaba was held in Kimberley, Northern Cape, from 8-11 October 2018. The Society of Wetland Scientists sponsored the awards for the best presentations at the conference. The outgoing President of the SWS, Arnold van der Valk, presented the awards at the Gala Dinner. We would like to congratulate the award winners:
- Ms. Jacolette Adam, Exigent, Richards Bay, South Africa.
- Ms. Mandy Carolissen, Geography Department, University of the Western Cape, South Africa.
- Dr. Michael Grenfell, Environmental and Water Science Unit, University of the Western Cape, South Africa.
- Ms. Margaret Lowies, Aurecon SA (Pty) Ltd, Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
L to R: Margaret Lowies, Michael Grenfell, outgoing SWS President Arnold va der Valk, and Jacolette Adam. Absent: Mandy Carolissen
I Congreso Internacional y II Congreso Nacional de Ríos y Humedales: Colombia
October 27, 2017
The SWS International Chapter - Latin America and Caribbean region, is pleased to award three memberships to outstanding participants at the I Congreso Internacional y II Congreso Nacional de Ríos y Humedales, October, 23 - 27, 2017, in Neiva, Colombia.
Best Poster
Premio a mejor Poster
Autores: Josué López, Eduardo Chica, Patricio Campo, Ana E. Ochoa, Iván Belesaca, Andrea Maza, Ximena Palomeque, Universidad de Cuenca (Ecuador)
Efecto del estrés hídrico sobre el crecimiento y supervivencia de dos especies nativas altoandinas en el Parque Nacional Cajas
Best Student Talk
Premio a mejor Ponencia de Estudiantes
Autor: Jacobo Campuzano, Universidad de Antioquia
Implementación de áreas y estrategias prioritarias para rehabilitación ecológica en el sistema cenagoso de Ayapel Córdoba
Best Wetland Picture
Premio a mejor Fotografía
Klaudia Cárdenas, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Alexander von Humboldt
Nombre de la foto: Pescador en Ciénaga de Palo
The International Chapter - Latin and Caribben region is also pleased to provide a presentation recording from I Congreso Internacional y II Congreso Nacional de Ríos y Humedales. Classification of macrohabitats: a powerful tool for comparative studies, sustainable development and environmental impact analysis in wetlands was presented by Prof. Dr. Wolfgang J. Junk (wjj@evolbio.mpg.de) from the National Institute for Science and Technology in Wetlands (INCT-INAU), Federal University of Mato Grosso (UFMT) in Cuiabá, Brazil.
View the presentation:
Without subtitles: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/5603423902788522753
With subtitles: http://sws.ontrapages.com/youtuberegistration
A Wetland Declaration was signed by over 550 participants at the conference. Read the Declaration.
2016 National Wetlands Indaba: South Africa
November 11, 2016 -
South Africa’s annual National Wetlands Indaba (NWI) was held at the Swadini Resort in Mpumalanga Province over the period 25 to 28 October 2016, with 200 delegates attending the meeting from all over the country. The word “indaba” is a Zulu word referring to important conferences held by traditional tribal leaders to discuss important matters. The word today has widespread usage in South Africa to refer to a “gathering” or “meeting”. Attendees at these meetings include wetland scientists, practitioners, decision-makers, NGO’s and other interested parties who gather to talk about wetland matters in the country. Continue reading here.
For the program and presentations, please visit http://nwi16.wetlands.web.za/programme.htm. Click here to see more images from the 2017 Indaba.
EVENTS
SWS President Max Finlayson and the co-chair of the SWS International Chapter, Tatiana Lobato de Magalhães, will attend the International Wetlands Symposium in Cuba, Ciénaga de Matanzas, November 2019. They have been invited to present talks and participate in other activities. Additionally, Tatiana will promote a contest, awarding outstanding presenters with 5 free 1-year SWS membership.
The co-chair of the SWS International Chapter, Tatiana Lobato de Magalhães, will attend the Symposium of Aquatic Plants in Mexico: Advances and perspectives at the Mexican Botany Society Meeting, Aguascalientes, Mexico, October 2019. Tatiana has been invited to present on a talk about aquatic plants and connectivity and she will use this opportunity to introduce SWS to Mexican Botany Society members and invite them to become SWS affiliated members. Tatiana will promote a contest, awarding an outstanding presenter with a free 1-year SWS membership.
https://www.socbot.mx/congreso/
The co-chair of the SWS International Chapter, Ian Bredin, will attend the South African National Wetland Indaba from the 7-11 October 2019 in Tzaneen, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Ian has been invited to present on the opportunity for South African Wetland Society members to become SWS affiliated members.
XII Simposio International "Humedales 2019" 4 al 8 de noviembre del 2019 Cuba
Information HERE
Programa II Copeju ICA 2019 - HERE
Primer Annuncio XII Simposio International Humedales 2019 - HERE
II Congreso Peruano de Humedales
- Chapter Bylaws
- Latin America and Caribbean region Facebook page
- African region Facebook page
- SWS webinar series in Spanish.
- SWS Student Mentoring Program for Latin America and the Caribbean
- Wetlands Interviews