In the context of climate change and biodiversity crisis, wetland conservation and restoration is crucial. We are passionate experts united in our dedication to the aquatic warbler and its habitats full of life. We are connected across borders to stop species extinction, making a big change to their home wetlands, achieving peace between people and inspiring respect and care for nature.
A thriving network of people and healthy wetlands, where all can enjoy the chorus of aquatic warblers for many generations to come.
The Aquatic Warbler, Europe’s rarest songbird, is on the brink of extinction. Despite previous conservation efforts in Poland, Lithuania, Belarus, Germany, and other countries, its global population continues to decline. Fewer than 11,000 singing males remain across fewer than 50 breeding sites worldwide. With threats compounding across its range and migration route, time is running out to secure the species’ survival. Past initiatives have achieved many positive outcomes—key habitats have been restored, the population in Lithuania stabilized, knowledge about the species has grown, financial mechanisms to support habitat maintenance have been developed, and even the world’s first successful translocation of the species was completed. Yet, these victories alone have not been enough.
This nine-year project could be described as the last hope for the Aquatic Warbler. It brings together the best experts in the field and spans almost the entire breeding range of the species. Moreover, complemented by the sister “LIFE AWOM” project, which focuses on critical migration sites, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to unite conservation efforts across Europe to save the species. If this combined approach cannot reverse its decline, it is likely no other strategy ever will.
The Aquatic Warbler is more than just a bird—it’s a symbol of fragile ecosystems under threat. Over the years, dedicated conservationists have achieved significant milestones: populations in Lithuania have stabilized, vast wetland habitats have been revived, and agro-environmental schemes now support farmers who protect the bird on their lands.
But the species’ global population continues to shrink. Its fate reflects the health of Europe’s wetlands—vital ecosystems that support countless species and store massive amounts of carbon, helping to mitigate climate change.
This project will safeguard these ecosystems, benefiting biodiversity, rural communities, and the planet. By developing biomass-based industries, it will create renewable energy sources and economic opportunities, ensuring long-term habitat management. The project also brings hope to Ukraine, home to some of the most critical breeding sites. Despite the challenges of war, this initiative offers pathways for both environmental and socio-economic recovery in the region.
This ambitious, nine-year-long project focuses on two main conservation strategies:
In addition, the project will:
The project will also conduct extensive monitoring to evaluate how its actions affect the environment and ensure its goals are achieved. Additionally, various activities are planned to raise public awareness and share the importance of conservation efforts more broadly.
Saving the Aquatic Warbler isn’t just about rescuing one bird species. It’s about securing a future where people, wildlife, and nature thrive together. This project tackles climate change, supports communities, and protects the intricate web of life that wetlands sustain. It’s an extraordinary effort to ensure that Europe’s rarest songbird—and all it represents—does not disappear forever.
Let’s make this last hope count. Together, we can save the Aquatic Warbler and the ecosystems that sustain us all.
Zymantas Morkvenas
Baltic Environmental Forum Lithuania
Project Manager
Phone. +37061412911
E-mail: zymantas.morkvenas@bef.lt
Partners:Funded by the EU LIFE Programme, the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania, Umweltstiftung Michael Otto, Kurt Lange Stiftung, Bird Conservation Fund, Stiftung Naturschutzfonds Brandenburg and project partners, this initiative demonstrates the power of collaboration in addressing urgent environmental challenges.
This summer, around 50 young Aquatic Warblers will find a new home in the Žuvintas Biosphere Reserve, Lithuania. The Aquatic Warbler is one of … read more
For the past four years, European conservationists have been working to save the Aquatic Warbler through translocation efforts. These efforts have been carried out in two different … read more
Twice a year, the Aquatic Warbler embarks on an epic journey between its wintering grounds in Africa and its breeding sites in Eastern Europe. Like … read more
The Aquatic Warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola) —Europe’s most endangered migratory songbird—continues to struggle for survival as habitat loss, climate change, and agricultural intensification threaten its key breeding and … read more
