Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance is an international treaty aimed at the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands, which are vital ecosystems for biodiversity and human well-being. Opened for signature on February 2, 1971, in Ramsar, Iran, this agreement emerged in response to declining waterfowl populations attributed to the loss of wetland areas worldwide. The Convention has been ratified by over 150 nations and currently includes more than 2,400 designated sites recognized for their ecological significance.
Under the Ramsar framework, member countries are encouraged to develop comprehensive management plans for wetlands, incorporating input from local communities and indigenous peoples. The Convention emphasizes education and the establishment of monitoring programs to track ecological changes within these critical habitats. Each country is required to designate at least one wetland of international importance and to prioritize wetland conservation in national land-use planning. The governing body of the Convention holds conferences every three years to review progress and allocate resources, ensuring ongoing commitment to global wetland conservation efforts. The administrative center, known as the Ramsar Bureau, is based in Gland, Switzerland.
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Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance
THE CONVENTION: International agreement that provides a framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands
DATE: Opened for signature on February 2, 1971
As the first international agreement to address issues surrounding the conservation of natural resources, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, also called the Convention on Wetlands, broke new ground in global environmental efforts.
During the 1960s, concerns began to grow regarding the decline in populations of waterfowl in many parts of the world. One of the major factors causing this trend was the reduction in the number and size of the world’s wetlands, which are habitats heavily used by waterfowl. In order to address these interrelated environmental issues, representatives of various nations came together to develop the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance. This agreement, reached by delegates from eighteen nations on February 2, 1971, in Ramsar, Iran, broke new ground in global environmental efforts; it was the first international treaty to address the conservation and wise use of a natural resource.
The Ramsar Convention, also referred to as the Convention on Wetlands, came about because the importance of to the global and the needs of humans, as well as the need for an international approach to deal with wetlands, had become apparent. Wetlands are important because of their high and their role in water purification, water storage, flood abatement, and recharge. Many wetlands extend across national boundaries; for example, fish may hatch in the wetlands of one country but be caught as adults in those of another country. Also, many birds migrate hundreds or thousands of kilometers twice each year and need to rest, feed, and breed in the wetlands of many countries.
The Ramsar Convention, which entered into force on December 21, 1975, has been ratified by more than 150 nations, and the list of areas designated as “wetlands of international importance” has grown to more than 2,400. Key issues of the convention include urging member nations to develop management plans for wetlands that include the involvement of local communities and indigenous peoples, to promote wetlands education, and to establish programs that have the ability to detect changes in the ecological character of wetlands. Under the treaty, each country is obligated to implement the convention in four basic ways: It must designate at least one wetland for inclusion in the list of wetlands of international importance, it must include wetlands conservation and wise use as a major focus within its national land-use planning, it must promote wetlands conservation by establishing nature reserves on wetlands and promoting wetlands education, and it must consult with other countries concerning the implementation of the convention.
The policymaking body of the convention is the Conference of the Contracting Parties. Each member nation sends representatives to a conference every three years for the purpose of receiving and reviewing reports on the work of the convention and for approving the work and budget of the convention for the next three years. The Ramsar Convention is administered by the Ramsar Bureau, located in Gland, Switzerland. The bureau is advised on a regular basis by the Standing Committee and the Scientific and Technical Review Panel, each of which is composed of representatives from various member nations. The work of the convention is funded by contributions from the member nations.
Bibliography
"The Convention on Wetlands and Wetlands of International Importance." US Fish & Wildlife Service, 2 May 2024, www.fws.gov/program/international-affairs/ramsar-convention-wetlands. Accessed 22 July 2024.
Gell, Peter A., C. Max Finlayson, and Nick C. Davidson. "An Introduction to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands." Ramsar Wetlands, 2023, pp. 1-36, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-817803-4.00018-8. Accessed 22 July 2024.
Hunt, Constance Elizabeth. Thirsty Planet: Strategies for Sustainable Water Management. New York: Zed Books, 2004.
Smardon, Richard C. Sustaining the World’s Wetlands: Setting Policy and Resolving Conflicts. New York: Springer, 2009.