Ramsar convention is the only global environment treaty dealing with a particular ecosystem. It is meant to stop the loss of wetland areas now and in the future. Ramsar convention on wetlands it is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands. Wetlands have been the cradle of human culture, but their ecological functions are still of extreme importance, as testified by the adoption of the ramsar convention on wetlands of international importance.
Ramsar convention on wetlands department of conservation. As of 2019 there are 2,341 ramsar sites, covering 252,479,417 hectares. The convention on wetlands of international importance, called the ramsar convention, is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. The ramsar convention takes a broad approach in determining the wetlands which come under its aegis. Intergovernmental treaty framework for action and cooperation.
Established in 1971 in iran, the ramsar convention on wetlands initially aimed to conserve wetland ecosystems, in particular for their importance as a. All in all, this manual serves as a fine example of the specialized publication. Vi has been supplemented by the ramsar advisory mission, a technical. Major obligations of countries which are party to the convention are. A guide to the convention on wetlands, ramsar, iran, 1971 w hen the ramsar manualwas first compiled by t. National report on the implementation of the ramsar convention on wetlands pdf. The world wetlands day is celebrated on february 2 nd of every year which marks the date the convention of wetlands was adopted on february 2 nd, 1971. The ramsar convention was adopted in february 1971 and came into force in december 1975. The ramsar wetland classification system is an important tool by which the convention identifies wetlands underrepresented in the list of wetlands of international importance in order to encourage their designation and appropriate long term management. Ramsar convention on wetlands of international importance was created to promote the conservation of wetlands and their wise use and management. Adjusting this minimum estimate to include only wetlands that fit the more restricted definition of wetlands used here results in an estimate of 688 million ha of freshwater wetlands 558 million ha of. The ramsar wetlands convention association of state. The convention on wetlands of international importance ramsar. The ramsar conventions mission is the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world.
The ramsar convention provides a framework for voluntary international cooperation for wetland conservation. It is an intergovernmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. Implications on the conservation and wise use of wetlands in africa abstract. The most significant of these is the ramsar convention on wetlands. Wetland restoration, adaptation and ramsar convention.
Costa rica has recently modified the ramsar definition to reflect the predominance of coastal wetlands and mangrove ecosystem. The conventions mission is the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development. Ramsar convention on wetlands of international importance. The 2nd of february each year is world wetlands day. Ramsar convention simple english wikipedia, the free. According to the convention, 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 meters. The international convention which forms the basis for their identification is commonly referred to as the ramsar convention after the city in iran where the convention was signed in 1971. The ramsar 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. Designate wetlands for inclusion in the list of wetlands of international importance. The ramsar conventions mission is the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development. World wetlands day was founded to help raise awareness of. Apr 26, 2019 ramsar convention on wetlands it is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands. The ramsar convention the convention on wetlands of international importance especially as waterfowl habitat, sometimes also known as the ramsar convention from its place of adoption in 1971 in iran, is an intergovernmental treaty which provides the framework for international cooperation for the conservation of wetland habitats. Wetlands are defined in article 1 of the convention as areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that.
Contracting parties1 to the ramsar convention meet every 3 years to progress. Wetlands are areas where water is the primary factor controlling the environment and the associated plant and animal life. Parties to the ramsar convention address this through three main pillars of implementation. Ramsar convention an overview sciencedirect topics. Ramsar convention is an intergovernmental treaty for the conservation and wise use of wetlands. Wetland restoration, adaptation and ramsar convention guidance. Ramsar convention typology of wetlands request pdf. A guide to the convention on wetlands ramsar, iran, 1971. New zealands report on the implementation of the ramsar. For the purpose of this convention 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. The convention on wetlands of international importance, also known as the ramsar convention, uses a broad definition of the types of wetlands covered in its mission, including lakes and rivers, swamps and marshes, wet grasslands and peatlands, oases, estuaries, deltas and tidal flats, nearshore marine areas, mangroves and coral reefs, and human.
Promote, as far as possible, the wise use of wetlands in their territory. The ramsar convention on wetlands the destruction of wetlands has led to several initiatives to protect and restore them. The typology was loosely based on the classification of wetlands and deepwater habitats of the united states and referred to the definition of wetlands adopted by the convention in 1972. More recently, a minimum estimate of global wetlands ranged from 748 to 778. The convention is an international treaty for the conservation and wise use of. The text of the convention and other details can be accessed on ramsar conventions website. Recognizing the importance of protecting such water bodies, the government of india became a contracting party to the only international treaty primarily focused on protecting wetlands ramsar convention the convention on wetlands of international importance especially as waterfowl habitat adopted on 2 nd february 1971 and came. The definition of the word wetland, under the convention, is any land area that is saturated or flooded. Adaptation options for wetlands in the murraydarling basin. The ramsar convention has adopted a very inclusive definition. The ramsar convention on wetlands 1971 produced an international, intergovernmental treaty which defined wetlands somewhat. Wetlands and people international water management institute. Wetlands are areas of marsh, fen, peatland, or water, whether natural or artificial. The ramsar convention popularly known as wetlands convention defines wetlands in a very broad sense.
The ramsar convention on wetlands was devel oped as a means to call. Interestingly, the ramsar convention contains a broad definition of. It is named after the city of ramsar in iran, where the convention was signed in 1971. Convention on wetlands of international importance.
Convention on wetlands of international importance especially as waterfowl habitat ramsar, iran, 2. As defined by the convention, wetlands include a wide variety of habitats such as marshes. Ramsars carrots and sticks art, vi allows the conference of parties to make general or specific recommendations to the contracting parties regarding the conservation, management and wise use of wetlands and their flora and fauna. Ramsar sites are wetlands of international importance that have been designated under the criteria of the ramsar convention on wetlands for containing representative, rare or unique wetland types or for their importance in conserving biological diversity.
Ramsar sites wetlands of international importance acronyms areas countries marine terms definition wetlands protected by national governments to fulfil their obligations under the convention on wetlands of international importance commonly called the ramsar convention. Wetland restoration, adaptation and ramsar convention guidance prof nick davidson deputy secretary general, ramsar convention. Davis and published in 1994, it was enthusiastically welcomed as an essential vade mecumthrough the sometimes bewildering world of ramsar resolutions, guidelines, and terminology. The ramsar convention on wetlands of international importance especially as waterfowl habitat is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands. Extending wetlands protection under the ramsar treatys wise use obligation 411 nations. At the center of the ramsar philosophy is the wise use of wetlands. The convention on wetlands of international importance, especially as waterfowl habitat, or ramsar convention, is an international treaty designed to address global concerns regarding wetland loss and degradation. In 1971, an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands was signed at ramsar. Ecological character descriptions and management plans are also on the database if currently available. The ramsar convention on wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty adopted on 2 february 1971 in the iranian city of ramsar, on the southern shore of the caspian sea whose mission is the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local, regional and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution. Mission goal the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world. Policy for jamaicas system of protected areas, 1997 mangrove, coastal and wetland policy, 1997 natural resources conservation authority act permit and licence regulation, 1999 the convention on wetlands of international importance ramsar convention.
The ramsar convention the convention on wetlands of international importance, especially as waterfowl habitat is an international treaty to protect wetlands. Chapter 2 explains the role of valuation in decisionmaking. The convention adopts an the convention adopts an extremely broad approach in determining the wetlands which. The convention on wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty. The ramsar convention the need for a convention on wetlands on february 3rd 1971, in the little iranian town of ramsar, nestling between the alborz mountains and the caspian coast, the representatives of 18 nations put their signatures to the text of a remarkable treaty. The ramsar conventions typology of wetlands was adopted in 1990 along with an information sheet for describing ramsar sites. For the purpose of this convention waterfowl are birds ecologically dependent on wetlands.
An introduction to ramsar what is the convention on wetlands of international importance especially as waterfowl habitat. The signing of the convention on wetlands took place in 1971 at the small iranian town of ramsar. Ramsar convention on wetlands synonyms, ramsar convention on wetlands pronunciation, ramsar convention on wetlands translation, english dictionary definition of ramsar convention on wetlands. It also recognizes that wetlands have economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value. It recognizes that wetlands are an important ecosystem. The ramsar convention encourages the development of three key documents for each ramsar site. All ramsar convention contracting parties are required to complete a. Ramsar documents department of agriculture, water and the. The convention on wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty adopted on 2 february 1971 in the iranian city of ramsar, on the southern shore of the caspian sea. The following types of wetland have been identified in the region, using the definitions of the ramsar convention ramsar convention bureau, 2000. Recognizes wetlands importance to communities, cultures, governments, and businesses and encourages wetland conservation and wise use of wetlands. The convention on wetlands of international importance.
The ramsar convention s typology of wetlands was adopted in 1990 along with an information sheet for describing ramsar sites. Ramsar sites are wetlands considered to be of international importance. The primary purposes of the treaty are to list wetlands of international importance and to promote their wise use, with the ultimate. Perhaps one of the best current definitions of a wetland, at minimum for the context of this paper, was that set by the ramsar convention.
Since then, the convention on wetlands has been known as the ramsar convention. The convention uses a broad definition of wetlands as 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. Convention, have no legally backed definition of wetlands, whilst the countries like spain and uganda have incorporated the ramsar definition into national legislation with out any modification. List of ramsar wetlands of international importance wikipedia. Convention on wetlands of international importance especially. Apr 25, 2017 the ramsar convention policies are implemented by the consistent partnership with other organizations and the support from its partners. However, the conference of parties passed a resolution on invasive.
Basic ramsar convention is formally known as convention on wetlands of international importance, especially as waterfowl habitat. The typology was loosely based on the classification of wetlands and. The ramsar convention on wetlands department of agriculture. May 07, 2016 mission goal the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world.
Ramsar information sheets ecological character descriptions management plans the australian wetlands database gives access to the ramsar information sheet for all australian sites. This is the list of wetlands of international importance as defined by the ramsar convention for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value. Ramsar convention on wetlands definition of ramsar. They occur where the water table is at or near the surface of the land, or where the land is covered by water. The ramsar convention on wetlands was signed in ramsar, iran, in 1971.
Ramsar sites in india, ramsar convention on wetlands pmf ias. Thus, though nowadays the name of the convention is usually written convention on wetlands ramsar, iran, 1971, it has come to be known popularly as the ramsar convention. Ramsar convention typology of wetlands springerlink. Ramsar convention jncc adviser to government on nature. There are presently 158 contracting parties to the convention, with 1758 wetland sites, totaling 161 million hectares, designated for inclusion in the ramsar list of wetlands of international importance. The ramsar convention on wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty adopted on 2 february 1971 in the iranian city of ramsar, on the southern shore of the caspian sea whose mission is the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local, regional and national actions and international cooperation, as a. The ramsar convention was the first of the modern instruments seeking to. The convention on wetlands of international importance holds the unique distinction of being the first modern treaty between nations aimed at conserving natural resources. The ramsar convention was held in 1971 in ramsar, iran, to provide a framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. Ramsar documents department of agriculture, water and. Wetland policies, included as table 1 in ramsar wise use handbook 2 4th edition, 2010. An important feature of ramsar is its approach to the once. List of ramsar wetlands of international importance.
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