The convention on wetlands, called the ramsar convention, is the intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. The ramsar convention on wetlands of international importance especially as waterfowl habitat 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. Considering the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands as regulators of water regimes and as habitats supporting a. Convention on wetlands of international importance espe cially as waterfowl habitat. Wetlands of international importance ramsar convention. Ramsar sites are wetlands considered to be of international importance. 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. Designate wetlands for inclusion in the list of wetlands of international importance. Ramsar convention 1971 pdf download criteria,ramsar sites in india the convention on wetlands, 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. As of 2019 there are 2,341 ramsar sites, covering 252,479,417 hectares. Ramsar convention is formally known as convention on wetlands of international importance, especially as waterfowl habitat. Convention on wetlands of international importance especially as. That date is celebrated as world wetland day now objectives.
The mission of the ramsar convention, as adopted by the parties in 1999 and refined in 2005 and 2011 is the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local, regional and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the. At the time of joining the convention, each contracting party undertakes to designate at least one wetland site for inclusion in the list of wetlands of international importance. Convention on wetlands of international importance especially as waterfowl habitat ramsar pdf 617kb plain language summary the ramsar convention was adopted as the first of the modern global nature conservation conventions and, today, is a highly regarded and. Promote, as far as possible, the wise use of wetlands in their territory. Convention on wetlands of international importance especially as waterfowl habitat 1971 ramsar, 2 february 1971 protocol, paris, 3 december 1982 amendments to. The list of wetlands of international importance ramsar. Ramsar convention on wetlands department of conservation. Wetlands are the source of water that supports all forms of life. The text of the convention and other details can be accessed on ramsar conventions website. List of ramsar wetlands of international importance. Ramsar convention on wetlands it is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands. The republic of korea has designated eight such sites. The ramsar convention the convention on wetlands of international importance, especially as waterfowl habitat is perhaps the most significant intergovernmental agreement on wetlands.
Today, this country has 14 ramsar sites, also known as wetlands of international importance. The ramsar convention encourages the designation of sites containing representative, rare or unique wetlands, or wetlands that are important for conserving biological diversity. Pdf the convention on wetlands of international importance, also referred to as the ramsar convention, is a treaty devoted to wetland. Convention on wetlands of international importance especially as waterfowl habitat.
Ramsar sites in india with map, largest ramsar sites in. Convention on wetlands of international importance. Each contracting party shall designate suitable wetlands within its territory for inclusion in a list of wetlands of international importance, hereinafter referred to as the list which is maintained by. It provides for national action and international cooperation regarding the conservation of wetlands, and wise. The ramsar convention has long recognized the importance of wetland economic valuation in contributing to wellinformed planning and decisionmaking, and in 1996 ramsars 6 th meeting of the conference of the. The conventions goal is to achieve ramsar listing for as many wetlands throughout the world as meet the criteria of international importance. Wetlands are selected as ramsar sites for the list of wetlands of. The convention on wetlands ramsar 1971, commonly known as ramsar convention, is a crucial intergovernmental treaty, with mission conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local. Ramsar site at the time of joining the convention, each contracting party undertakes to designate at least one wetland site for inclusion in the list of wetlands of international. The convention on wetlands of international importance the ramsar convention was signed in ramsar, iran on 2 february 1971. The convention on wetlands of international importance. As the 40th ramsar site in the united states, the niagara river corridor joins other iconic american wetlands, including everglades national park and the okefenokee national.
Convention on wetlands of international importance the. This includes all lakes and rivers, underground aquifers, swamps and marshes, wet grasslands, peatlands, oases, estuaries, deltas and. Celebrating our wetlands of international importance wwd1999. A guide to the convention on wetlands ramsar, iran, 1971. 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 convention o n wetlands of international importance what ramsar is. Information sheet on ramsar wetlands ris, page 4 b describe briefly the type of boundary delineation applied. Materials presented on this website, particularly maps and territorial information, are asis and asavailable based on available data and do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the secretariat of the ramsar convention concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or. It grew out of date quickly, however, especially because the work completed by the conference of the. Together, these wetlands cover an area of 1,543 square miles. They are recognized as being of significant value not only for the country or the countries in which they are. Wetland ecosystem, measures to protect wetlands, nwcp. It is named after the city of ramsar in iran, where the convention was signed in 1971 every three years, representatives of the contracting parties meet as the conference. The convention on wetlands of international importance ramsar convention serves to maintain these important ecosystems.
Convention on wetlands of international importance especially as waterfowl habitat ramsar, iran, 2. Wetlands of international importance ramsar sites ramsar. It was signed on 2 february 1971 at ramsar in iran. Our vision is a world where wetlands are treasured and nurtured for their beauty, the life they support and the resources they provide.
The ramsar convention provides a framework for voluntary. The convention on wetlands of international importance especially as water fowl habitat, sometimes also known as the ramsar convention from its place of. The convention on wetlands of international importance what ramsar is. Ramsar wetlands are wetlands deemed to be of international importance under the ramsar convention. Ramsar convention on wetlands of international importance. Conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands. Concerns about the loss of wetlands and waterbirds throughout europe in the 1960s led to the creation of the first modern international treaty aimed at managing natural resources sustainably.
Conservation was the original motive in the only international agreement to cover a specific single group of ecosystem types. With more than 150 contracting parties, including the republic of korea. In 1971, an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands was signed at ramsar. At the time of joining the convention, each contracting party must designate at least one wetland site within their territory for inclusion in the list of wetlands of international importance the ramsar list these ramsar sites acquire a new national and international status. At the center of the ramsar philosophy is the wise use of wetlands. In 1971, an international convention was held in ramsar, iran and participants signed a treaty entitled, the convention o n wetlands of international importance, especially as waterfowl habitat. A ramsar site is a wetland site designated to be of international importance under the ramsar convention the convention on wetlands, known as the ramsar convention, is an intergovernmental environmental treaty established in 1971 by unesco, which came into force in 1975. The inclusion of a ramsar site in the list embodies the governments commitment to take the steps necessary to ensure that its ecological character is maintained.
Published by the ramsar convention bureau, gland, switzerland. 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. More than ninety countries are contracting parties to the convention. Once designated, these sites are added to the conventions list of wetlands of international importance. Despite our efforts to promote their importance, loss and damage to wetlands and their biodiversity continues. Convention on wetlands of international importance the ramsar convention this convention aims to stop the world from losing wetlands and to conserve, through wise use and management, those that remain. Wetlands of international importance under the convention on wetlands of international importance especially as waterfowl habitat often referred to as the convention on wetlands or the ramsar convention. The government of thailand signed the ramsar convention in 1998, promising to work toward wetland conservation. The ramsar convention provides a framework for voluntary international. Convention manual was first published in 1994, it was welcomed as an essential. The convention on wetlands 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. Ramsar convention on wetlands 10th conference of parties the ramsar convent ion the convention on wetlands of international importance known as the ramsar convention is an intergovernmental treaty for the conservation and wise use of wetlands.
An introduction to ramsar what is the convention on wetlands of international importance especially as waterfowl habitat. As defined by the convention, wetlands include a wide variety of habitats such as marshes. 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. Ramsar convention an overview sciencedirect topics. Major obligations of countries which are party to the convention are. In doing so, it provides protection for the habitats of.
Ramsar convention 1971 pdf download criteria,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. 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 official name of the treaty, the convention on wetlands of international importance especially as waterfowl habitat, reflects the original emphasis upon the. The ramsar list was established in response to article 2. A summary of the manual was presented to the first meeting of the conference of. The convention recognised the vital importance of protecting not.
The convention on wetlands of international importance, also referred to as the ramsar convention, is a treaty devoted to wetland conservation. Influences on the successful implementation of the. 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. Convention manual was first published in 1994, it was welcomed as an essential guide to. This ramsar site designation is particularly meaningful to me as i have personal connections to the area. In 1971, an international convention was held in ramsar, iran and participants signed a treaty entitled, the convention on wetlands of international importance, especially as waterfowl habitat. Managing wetlands is a global challenge and the convention presently counts 171 countries as contracting parties, which recognize the value of having one international treaty dedicated to a single ecosystem the convention uses a broad definition of wetlands. The importance of wetlands national environment and. Convention on wetlands of international importance especially as waterfowl habitat ramsar, 1971 the contracting parties, recognizing the interdependence of man and his environment.