Via Pontica Foundation to mark World Wetlands Day with the audio initiative “Wetlands Speak”
To mark World Wetlands Day 2026, the Via Pontica Foundation will carry out the initiative Wetlands Speak — an audio project focusing on the soundscape of Lake Vaya, with complementary recordings from Lake Mandra.
The initiative will present authentic sound recordings made directly in the wetland environment, including bird calls, moving water, wind and other characteristic natural sounds. Through this approach Lake Vaya will be presented as an active, living ecosystem with a key role for biodiversity, ecological balance and the resilience of the city of Burgas. Lake Mandra will be included as a complementary wetland of regional importance.
Rather than relying on traditional visual formats, Wetlands Speak will encourage listening as a way of better understanding natural processes that often go unnoticed. Sound offers a direct connection to wetlands and reflects their continuous interaction with both nature and people.
The initiative is aligned with the theme of World Wetlands Day, which highlights the link between wetlands and traditional knowledge. For generations Lake Vaya and Lake Mandra have been part of the natural and cultural landscape of the region, supporting livelihoods, seasonal knowledge and long-standing relationships between communities and water.
The audio experience will be accessible via QR codes placed at selected public locations in Burgas, as well as through the Via Pontica Foundation’s online platforms, thereby providing access for both the local community and a wider audience.
Through Wetlands Speak the Via Pontica Foundation aims to raise public awareness of the importance of Lake Vaya as the leading wetland for Burgas, and to draw attention to the role of Lake Mandra within the wider network of wetlands in the region and to the need for their long-term conservation.
https://www.worldwetlandsday.org/
