This autumn I was meant to be in Chicago to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Wetlands Initiative and to help kick-off the next chapter of the organisation’s vital mission to protect and restore wetlands across the American Midwest. Wetlands are amongst the most threatened and fragile ecosytems on the planet: in Europe, roughly two-thirds of the continent’s wetlands were lost in the 20th century to drainage and development; and between 1970 and 2015 alone, 35 percent of the world’s wetlands were destroyed, from small ponds and streams to vast marshes and lakes. Essential for biodiversity, pollution filtration, coastal flood protection, migrating and resident wildlife, recreation, tourism, irrigation and other essential human needs such as drinking water, food, wonder and beauty, their loss releases a cascade of ruinous consequences throughout the web of life we rely upon. But the work of the Wetlands Initiative seeks to correct this diminishing, restoring wetlands to thriving life as well as working to ensure that the enlarging possibilities of people engaging with wetlands are made more widely accessible. While in the end we couldn’t be together in Chicago because of the pandemic, we realised we could still share stories of the thing that connects us – the wetlands that we love and call home.
I’ve spent the past twenty years living beside the Prespa Lakes in northern Greece, and in that time I’ve witnessed just how important these wetlands are to local communities. I’ve seen how critical they are to Prespa’s rare pelican colonies and to the region’s stunning biodiversity. And I’ve understood how they are the foundation of this remarkable place. So, in light of the pandemic upending our plans, we decided to span the continents and celebrate the fundamental idea of connection through wetlands. While the Wetlands Initiative filmed the restored waters of Illinois, I spent the summer filming the lakes of Prespa, following the shifting spell of light, the circling pelicans and the shimmering water and reeds. And together, we’ve made this short film, Wetlands: Havens of Life. We hope you enjoy it.
Video best watched in HD where possible.
Julian Hoffman 
Julian
Wow the film you have made is wonderful So pleased to have been on board of the filming… so good to see our fisherman and snake make such good appearances…
A wonderful testament to your Lake and work I hope it is being appreciated lots xx Sam ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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My thanks to you, Sam. It was such a pleasure to share that time with you here in Prespa. And I’m delighted you enjoyed the film that came out of it. Including the snake!! Sending love from here and hope our paths cross again soon. J x
Thanks for this beautiful introduction to the Prespa lakes, and for the broader view of the importance of wetlands to our world.
Thank you ever so much, Katherine! I’m so pleased you enjoyed it. And grateful for you taking the time to watch.
A wonderful film of the Prespa lakes and what such environments mean to us all. I saw them aged about twelve and will never forget their spellbinding beauty. How marvellous to live there. Irreplaceable will be the next book to read as soon as I get hold of it. With thanks for bringing all this to the awareness of us city dwellers.
Thanks ever so much for this thoughtful and kind comment, Marie-Christine. I’m so pleased you enjoyed the film, and delighted to know you’ve spent a bit of time around the lake and that they left such an impression! Yes, it’s a wonderful and continually fascinating part of the world, and I’m grateful to have called it home for the past two decades. Thanks again!