Ramsar site
A Ramsar site is a wetland designated as internationally important under the Ramsar Convention, an environmental treaty established in 1971. This treaty aims to promote the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands, which are vital ecosystems characterized by the presence of water. Wetlands can be natural or artificial and vary widely, including lakes, rivers, estuaries, mangroves, and coral reefs. To be classified as a Ramsar site, a wetland must meet specific ecological criteria related to its uniqueness and its role in supporting biodiversity, particularly concerning rare or endangered species.
Since the Ramsar Convention took effect in 1975, over 2,500 sites worldwide have received this designation, with participation from more than 170 national governments. While member states are responsible for the management of their Ramsar sites, the convention does not impose penalties for non-compliance, focusing instead on cooperative efforts to safeguard these critical habitats. The largest Ramsar site in the United States is the Everglades National Park in Florida, highlighting the significance of such sites in global conservation efforts. Overall, Ramsar sites are crucial for maintaining ecological balance and supporting biodiversity in various biogeographic regions.
Ramsar site
A Ramsar site is a wetland officially designated as being of international importance under the terms of the Ramsar Convention. Otherwise known as the Convention on Wetlands, the Ramsar Convention is an intergovernmental environmental treaty created by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1971. National governments that recognize the Ramsar Convention are obliged to take steps to ensure the environmental protection of wetlands formally classified as Ramsar sites. This classification is reserved for rare and unique wetland types and wetlands that require careful maintenance to support the conservation of biological diversity.
Overview
Wetlands are any habitat where water is essential to the local environment and wildlife. There are many types of wetlands with widely varying characteristics. A wetland can be natural or artificial. Many wetlands are permanent, but some are temporary. Wetlands may feature flowing or static freshwater, saltwater, or brackish water. Some common wetlands include lakes, rivers, estuaries, mangroves, rice paddies, coral reefs, and underground aquifers.
The concept of Ramsar sites began with the 1971 signing of the Ramsar Convention in Ramsar, Iran. Since it took effect in 1975, the Ramsar Convention has provided the official, globally recognized framework for identifying wetlands of international importance. All parties that join the Ramsar Convention agree to ensure the conservation and wise use of designated wetlands—including the wise use of all wetlands in national environmental planning—and to consult with other parties in the Ramsar Convention regarding the implementation of the convention itself. While each state that participates in the Ramsar Convention is responsible for carrying out the convention’s mission within its borders, the convention’s daily operations are overseen by the Ramsar Secretariat from the Gland, Switzerland, headquarters of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
More than 2,500 sites around the world have been designated Ramsar sites, and more than 170 national governments participate in the Ramsar Convention. Although the Ramsar Convention does not have the authority to punish member states for violations, it plays a critical role in protecting threatened wetlands classified as Ramsar sites. To qualify as a Ramsar site, a given wetland must meet certain established criteria. These criteria are divided into two categories. The first, Group A, states that a wetland can only be considered a Ramsar site if it contains a representative, rare, or unique example of a natural or near-natural wetland type found within the appropriate biogeographic region. The second, Group B, states that a wetland can only be classified as a Ramsar site if it supports vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered species or threatened ecological communities; populations of plant and animal species important for maintaining the biological diversity of a particular biogeographic region; or plant and animal species at a critical stage in their life cycles; or provides refuge during adverse conditions. Additional qualifying criteria are based on the presence of certain species or subspecies of water birds and fish.
Bibliography
Bridgewater, Peter, and Rakhyun E. Kim. “The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands at 50.” Nature Ecology & Evolution, vol. 5, 2021, pp. 268–270. Springer Nature, doi.org/10.1038/s41559-021-01392-5. Accessed 18 Mar. 2021.
"Golden Milestone for Cobourg Peninsula: World’s First Ramsar Site Celebrates 50 Years of Indigenous-Led Conservation." Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, 7 May 2024, www.ramsar.org/news/golden-milestone-cobourg-peninsula-worlds-first-ramsar-site-celebrates-50-years-indigenous-led. Accessed 20 May 2024.
“The Convention on Wetlands and Wetlands of International Importance.” U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 2 May 2024, www.fws.gov/international/wildlife-without-borders/ramsar-wetlands-convention-background.html. Accessed 20 May 2024.
“The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.” Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Australian Government, 20 Oct. 2023, www.environment.gov.au/water/wetlands/ramsar. Accessed 20 May 2024.
“Ramsar Sites (Wetlands of International Importance).” Biodiversity A-Z, 2020, biodiversitya-z.org/content/ramsar-sites-wetlands-of-international-importance. Accessed 20 May 2024.
“Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites).” Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, www.ramsar.org/about/wetlands-of-international-importance-ramsar-sites. Accessed 20 May 2024.