Settle in for a great World Wetlands Day 2026 event.

The Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) is delighted to invite you to a special World Wetlands Day webinar exploring the power of community led river restoration. With a strong emphasis on the “World” in World Wetlands Day, this event brings together voices from across the globe.

We are thrilled to welcome both Eva Ford, Catchment Officer with the Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee in Queensland, Australia, and Dr. Trish Murphy of the Inishowen Rivers Trust in Donegal. Though separated by thousands of kilometres, their catchments share strikingly similar challenges and successes.

This engaging discussion will explore river rehabilitation, community action, accessing support, and building meaningful connections with local waterbodies. It’s a conversation about what’s possible when communities step up for their rivers.

Join us to learn, connect, and be inspired, whether you’re part of a community group, work in the water sector, or simply care about the future of our rivers.

Speakers:

Eva Ford: Eva has been a Catchment Officer and Threatened Species Champion with the Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee since 2003, building upon previous experiences in soil science, the wonders of sewerage treatment plants and water supply systems, and community fauna and fauna surveying. There are so many aspects of catchment management but her main focus is working with landholders to develop and carry out on-ground rehabilitation projects, delivering citizen science programs, fauna surveying and monitoring, and education programs for the young and not-so-young. She envisions a world where the outcomes of environmental care outweigh the ecological impacts of our modern lives, and is delighted to share her experience and knowledge to inspire those within and outside of the Mary River catchment.

Dr. Trish Murphy: Trish is a Project Officer with the Inishowen Rivers Trust (IRT), an eNGO that aims to protect, promote and enhance the rivers of Inishowen, Co. Donegal by increasing awareness and skills in the local community. The Trust was formally constituted in 2016 and became a charity in 2018. Trish has a PhD in Zoology from University College Cork and previously worked as a science educator in schools and community centres. Trish was a founding member of the Inishowen Rivers Trust, becoming its first staff member in 2020. She has co-ordinated all aspects of the Trust’s work from green engineering, volunteer engagement, community training and farmer liaison. She currently works as a Water Specialist for the ACRES Co-operation Team for County Donegal, Ireland’s Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme with 54,000 participant farmers.

Agenda (Irish time):

10:00-10:10am - LAWPRO introduction
10:10-10:50am - Eva Ford, Catchment Officer, Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee
10:50-11:00am - Tea break
11:00-11:40am - Dr. Trish Murphy, Project Officer, Inishowen Rivers trust
11:40am-12:00pm - Q&A

World Wetlands Day is celebrated on 2nd February every year.

World Wetlands Day 2026 explores the deep-rooted connections between wetlands and cultural practices, traditions and knowledge systems of communities across the world. This year’s theme is "Wetlands and traditional knowledge: Celebrating cultural heritage."

Register Now