The Society of Wetland Scientists annual meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico, marked the end of Gillian Davies’s term as president of the international organization. Gillian’s tenure was distinguished by opportunities to educate officials worldwide on the importance of wetlands in preserving natural resources. Traveling to such destinations as Taiwan, China, Portugal, Spain, Quebec City, and Washington, DC, Gillian worked with fellow scientists, businesspeople, and policy makers to make important inroads for wetland conservation, restoration, and science-based management.
Of particular note, Gillian met with the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands Secretary General to further collaborations between Ramsar and SWS.
The SWS annual meeting was attended by nearly 500 participants and featured more than 400 abstract submissions. A highlight of the event was the issuance of the Society of Wetland Scientists’ San Juan Statement on Climate Change and Wetlands. This document encourages global policy makers to continue efforts to protect and restore wetlands as a means to combat climate change.