The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
(www.ramsar.org)

What is the Ramsar Convention on
Wetlands?
• Oldest of the global environmental conventions
• the only global convention focussing attention on an ecosystem (wetlands)
• covers very wide range of wetlands - from coral reefs to mountains
• Ramsar, Iran - where 18 countries signed the
Convention on 2 February 1971
X so not an acronym (RAMSAR) X
• Celebrated annually on World Wetlands Day -
2 February
– 30th anniversary 2001
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
(www.ramsar.org)

Ramsar Convention:
Mission Statement
“The conservation and wise use of wetlands through local, regional and national actions and international cooperation as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world.”
(draft Strategic Plan 2003-2008)
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
(www.ramsar.org)

What is the “wise use” of wetlands?
“… their sustainable utilization for the benefit of humankind in a way compatible with the maintenance of the natural properties of the ecosystem”
(Ramsar COP3, 1987)
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
(www.ramsar.org)

Ramsar’s definition of “wetland”
“wetlands are areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres ” (Article 1.1) and
“may incorporate riparian and coastal zones adjacent to wetlands, and islands or bodies of marine water deeper than six metres at low tide lying within wetlands ” (Article 2.1)
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
(www.ramsar.org)

So….Ramsar covers
• Natural and human-made wetlands
• inland/freshwater :
– marshes, rivers, lakes, reservoirs etc.
• coastal/marine
– lagoons, estuaries, mangroves, coral reefs, seagrass beds etc.
• above ground and underground
– karst and caves
• but not deep oceans
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
(www.ramsar.org)

Ramsar Contracting Parties
Contracting Parties commit to delivering the modern Convention through 3 “pillars”:
• Wise use of all wetlands
• Wetlands of International Importance designation and management
• International cooperation
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
(www.ramsar.org)

“Accession” - how to join the
Convention
• Instrument of Accession
– letter from Head of State
• Designate first Ramsar site
– on accession - name of site and map
– then complete Ramsar site Information
Sheet (RIS)
• send instrument and site designation to UNESCO the Convention’s depositary
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
(www.ramsar.org)

The Ramsar Convention today
• 133 Contracting Parties
– others in process of joining (accession)
– from Africa, central Asia, Caribbean,
Oceania
• 6 Ramsar Regions:
– Africa, Asia, Europe, Neotropics, North
America & Oceania
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
(www.ramsar.org)

The Ramsar Convention today
• 1185 Wetlands of International
Importance “Ramsar sites”
– 1 million hectares
– size: from <1 ha to > 6 million ha
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
(www.ramsar.org)

Wetlands of International
Importance (Ramsar sites)
• selected under one or more of 8 criteria, e.g.:
• a representative or good example of a wetland type in a country
• support important biodiversity
• important life-cycle sites for species
– e.g. turtle nesting beaches
• specifically for waterbirds or fish
– e.g. spawning or nursery areas
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
(www.ramsar.org)

Wetlands of International
Importance (Ramsar sites)
• Multiple use sites
– recognises and supports their values and functions for people
• flexible and inclusive of many different types and sizes of wetlands:
– largest: Okavango Swamp, Botswana
• >6million hectares
– smallest: Hosnie Spring, Christmas Island
• 1 hectare
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
(www.ramsar.org)

The “Ramsar process and bodies”
• Contracting Parties (countries)
• Meetings of Contracting Parties (COPs)
– main decision-making meetings
• Standing Committee
– intersessional governance body
• Scientific & Technical Review Panel
– prepares advice and guidance on technical topics
• Ramsar Bureau
– the Convention’s Secretariat, based in Switzerland
– 19 policy, technical and administrative staff
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
(www.ramsar.org)

Ramsar’s International
Organisation Partners (IOPs)
• 4 international environmental NGOs
– BirdLife International
– IUCN - the World Conservation Union
– Wetlands International
– World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)
• important and continuing contribution to
Convention implementation
– at local, national and global scales
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
(www.ramsar.org)

Links with other organisations
Cooperation with:
• other NGOs and networks
• regional environmental organisations
• other environmental conventions
– 3rd Joint Work Plan with CBD (adopted
April 2002)
– Ramsar: lead implementing partner for
CBD inland waters
– joint activities developing with UNCCD,
CMS, UNFCCC, MAB etc.
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
(www.ramsar.org)

Key features of the Ramsar Convention
• recognises wetlands (goods and services) as vital for human wellbeing (food and water security) and poverty alleviation
• supports practical wetland sustainable utilization by countries
• open, collaborative and flexible mechanisms
– both ecosystems and species
– both sites and broad-based sustainable use
• supports implementation not a “compliancebased” convention
• provides practical guidance on many topics
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
(www.ramsar.org)

The Ramsar “tool-kit” - wise use handbooks
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
(www.ramsar.org)

The Ramsar “tool-kit” - wise use handbooks
• 9 Handbooks
• English, French & Spanish published 2000
• CD-ROM available now (August 2002)
• bring together:
– Guidelines adopted by Ramsar COP7 (Costa Rica,
1999) and earlier COPs
– relevant COP Resolutions and Recommendations
– case studies
• assist implementation - improved access to guidance
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
(www.ramsar.org)

The Ramsar “tool-kit” - wise use handbooks
1. Wise Use of Wetlands
2. National Wetland Policies
3. Reviewing laws & institutions
4. Integrating wetlands into river basin management
5. Local communities’ & indigenous peoples’ participatory management
6. Communication, education & public awareness -
Outreach Programme
7. Strategic Framework &
Guidelines for the List of
Ramsar Sites
8. Managing Ramsar Sites and other wetlands
9. International cooperation
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
(www.ramsar.org)

Ramsar Convention - further guidelines for COP8 (2002)
Scientific & Technical Review Panel (STRP)
• additional guidance on wetlands and:
• Inventory
• Impact assessment
• Ecological character & assessment methods
• Integrated Coastal Zone
Management
• Ramsar site designation
• Management planning
(new guidance)
• Water allocations and management
• Climate change
• Restoration
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
(www.ramsar.org)

Ramsar COP8
• 17-26 November 2002
• Valencia, Spain
• will approve Resolutions, new guidelines, 2nd Strategic Plan, budgets and Convention modus operandi
• Resolutions and guidelines on Ramsar
Web-site:
– http://www.ramsar.org
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
(www.ramsar.org)

www.ramsar.org
• all you ever want to know about the
Ramsar Convention but didn’t know who to ask….
– What’s New?
– Convention key documents
– Outreach
– Wise Use Resource Centre
– Ramsar Forum - listserve
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
(www.ramsar.org)

Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
(www.ramsar.org)