Christine Prietto has been ‘captured’ by wetlands for over 40 years. Originally from California, she moved with her family to Newcastle, New South Wales, in the early 1980s. A love of science and teaching experience led to a job at the newly opened Shortland Wetlands Centre in 1990. It’s now the popular Hunter Wetlands Centre. Christine began as a volunteer and has taken on many roles since, including principal of the education program and chairman of the centre. Christine is still there.
‘My first connection with waterways was with rivers. Rivers were my thing, wetlands were new to me, even the word was new, but they just, you know, literally suck you in!’ she says.
‘Wetlands are great teachers. Once people get to know a wetland, learn how wetlands work and what the habitat is delivering, they’re just never cured. They are a captivated by wetlands forever.’
For Christine, wetlands aren’t just beautiful landscapes. She sees these ecosystems as dynamic places, living laboratories, where species and conditions constantly change.
‘It’s probably our most changing habitat type; it can change drastically in a week. The water has dried up, birds have gone, then all of a sudden, the water comes back and it’s a totally different landscape again.’
Christine has spent over 40 years of volunteering and working. She has led school programs, coordinated community restoration projects, and helped manage the Hunter Ramsar Wetlands site. People from all over the world have come to visit the sites she’s worked hard to protect and care for.
She has also attended 7 Ramsar Conferences of Contracting Parties (COP). This year, she’s going to her eighth – COP15 – supporting the Australian delegation as our non-government Focal Point for the CEPA program. This program was first introduced by the Convention in 1999 and supports:
Christine’s work soon connected her to a global network of wetland centres. These centres come in all shapes and sizes and link educators, conservationists and scientists through the Convention on Wetlands.
Wetland Centres and the people who run them are a very active international community. You realise the work you’re doing in your little piece of wetland is similar to what other people are doing right around the world. These people are communicators, so of course they want to connect with others,’ she says.
This deep experience makes Christine an ideal representative for Australia as the Non-government Focal Point for Ramsar’s Communication, Education, Participation and Awareness (CEPA) program.
She sees the convention as a practical, living document that is focused, flexible and strengthened by science.
‘It’s the only environmental convention that is focused on a single habitat type, and it’s continued to be practical.’
For Christine, COPs are key to keeping the convention relevant. They also give countries a chance to renew their commitments to protecting wetlands.
‘Really, it’s about commitment. Showcasing work, making new commitments, and building partnerships within regions,’ she says.
At COP15, she’s looking forward to potential talks on recognising the cultural importance of wetlands.
‘It’s a really, really beautiful component of what Ramsar is – the history of water and people. That’s the Ramsar culture.’
COP15 is held from 23 to 31 July in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.