CEPA resources and activities

The biggest CEPA outreach activity takes place every 2 February since 1997, the Convention’s annual World Wetlands Day campaign uniting the Convention on Wetlands' global community in activities to raise awareness of the value of wetlands. 

You can improve your communication, education, participation and capacity building techniques from the wide range of tools and materials available below.

Also on this page you will find key documents related to CEPA including guidelines documents, CEPA Programmes (Resolutions) and CEPA Action Plans from various countries. 

Action plans and guidelines

Guidance was prepared for Contracting Parties and other CEPA practitioners, to assist in the CEPA action planning process. It provides an easy-to-use practical tool that will guide practitioners in organising well-designed and well-run participatory action planning processes that employ a range of techniques for facilitating diverse multi-stakeholder groups. A Guide to Participatory Action Planning and Techniques for Facilitating Groups is available for download below.

CEPA practitioners will also find useful a CEPA toolkit prepared by CBD.  In this publication you will find tools concerning where, when and how to use a range of education and communication interventions. 

Below you will also find examples of CEPA Action Plans that might serve as an inspiration and encouragement.

Wetland CEPA methods

The publications below document a broad range of CEPA methodologies not all of which are focussed on wetlands. They cover Communication techniques; Communication with a focus on visitor centres; Participatory techniques and capacity building; and Methods in environmental education/ education for sustainability.

Communication techniques

Communicating Sustainability: How to produce effective public campaigns

Successful Communication: A toolkit for researchers and civil society organisations

Communication with a focus on Wetlands Education Centres

Visitor segmentation

Developing a wetland centre

Challenge for visitor centres: linking local people, visitors and protected areas

Participatory techniques and capacity building

Stakeholder engagement: Participatory approaches for the planning and development of marine protected areas

Empowering the Grassroots: BirdLife, Participation, and Local Communities

A Guide to Participatory Action Planning and Techniques for Facilitating Groups

Enhancing the Wise Use of Wetlands: A Framework for Capacity Development

Participation, Consensus Building and Conflict Management Training Course

Learning together to manage together: Improving participation in water management

Environmental education / education for sustainability

Ranger Interpretation Handbook

Enabling Ecoaction: a handbook for anyone working with the public on conservation

Education for Sustainable Development Toolkit

Education for Sustainability. From Rio to Johannesburg: Lessons learnt from a decade of commitment

Environmental Education for a Sustainable Future: Australian National Action Plan