Ramsar FAQs
Trivia questions on the Convention on Wetlands
Historical
Where does the name "Ramsar Convention" come from?
| The Convention on Wetlands -- formally entitled "The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially as Waterfowl Habitat" -- was signed at an international conference in Caspian seaside town of Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, and the treaty has been known informally by that name ever since. The name should be written Ramsar Convention, not RAMSAR. |
Which nations signed the Final Act in Ramsar, 2 February 1971, recommending the Ramsar treaty to their governments?
| Signatory nations: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany (Federal Republic), India, Iran, Ireland, Jordan, Netherlands, Pakistan, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, USSR, and the UK |
| Intergovernmental organizations participating in the Ramsar conference, FAO and UNESCO |
| Participating NGOs, CIC, IBP, ICBP, IUCN, IWRB and WWF |
Where was the original 1971 Ramsar conference meant to be held, before Ramsar, Iran, was substituted because of its better facilities?
|
Which international non-governmental organizations played an instrumental role in the evolution of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands?
|
Which five international NGOs have been officially recognized as "International Organization Partners" of the Ramsar Convention?
|
What was the first Ramsar Wetland of International Importance?
| Cobourg Peninsula, Northern Territory, Australia, 220,700 ha, designated 08/05/74. |
The Present
Which Contracting Parties have the most Wetlands of International Importance?
|
Which Contracting Parties have the most surface area (in hectares) designated for the Ramsar List?
|
What are the largest Wetlands of International Importance?
| Ramsar Site | surface area in hectares | designated |
|
Queen Maud Gulf, Northwest Territories, Canada |
6,278,200 ha |
24/05/82 |
| Grands affluents, Congo | 5,908,074 ha | 13/12/07 |
| Sudd, Sudan | 5,700,000 ha | 06/06/06 |
|
Okavango Delta System, Botswana |
5,537,400 ha |
09/12/96 |
| Plaines d'inondation des Bahr Aouk et Salamat, Chad | 4,922,000 ha | 01/05/06 |
| Delta Intérieure du Niger, Mali | 4,119,500 ha | 01/02/04 |
| Malagarasi-Muyovozi Wetlands, Tanzania | 3,250,000 ha | 13/04/00 |
| Pantanal Boliviano, Bolivia | 3,189,888 ha | 17/09/01 |
|
Reentrancias Maranhenses, Maranhao, Brazil |
2,680,911 ha |
30/11/93 |
|
Gueltas
et Oasis de l'Aïr, Niger |
2,413,237
ha |
16/09/05 |
|
Polar Bear Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada |
2,408,700 ha |
27/05/87 |
What are the smallest Wetlands of International Importance?
| Ramsar Site | surface area in hectares | designated |
|
Hosnie's Spring, Christmas Island, Australia |
1 ha |
11/12/90 |
|
Ile Alcatraz, Kamsar/Boke, Guinea |
1 ha |
18/11/92 |
|
Somerset
Long Bay Pond, Bermuda, UK |
1 ha |
11/05/99 |
|
Gulf of Tubli, Bahrain |
2 ha |
27/10/97 |
|
Hungry
Bay Mangrove Swamp, Bermuda, UK |
2 ha |
11/05/99 |
|
Lover's
Lake, Bermuda, UK |
2 ha |
11/05/99 |
|
Warwick
Pond, Bermuda, UK |
2 ha |
11/05/99 |
|
Is-Simar, Malta |
5 ha |
29/01/96 |
|
Tourbière du Lac Noir, Algeria |
5 ha |
04/06/03 |
|
Parc
de Tsarasaotra, Madagascar |
5 ha |
09/05/05 |
When and where have the Ramsar Convention's meetings of the Conference of the Contracting Parties been held?
|
The Conference of the Parties numbers are used to designate the Convention's Resolutions and Recommendations; e.g., Recommendation 5.1 and Resolution VI.17 both deal with problems at Ramsar sites in specific Contracting Parties, adopted at Kushiro and Brisbane respectively.
Is there a recommended wording to the signs marking Wetlands of International Importance?
The 19th Meeting of the Standing Committee recommended the following wording for "signage" at Ramsar sites:
Decision SC19.18: The Contracting Parties should endeavor to place descriptive signs at all Ramsar sites, and these signs should include the Ramsar logo, as well as the following suggested text as amended to meet particular circumstances:
THIS SITE, COVERING xxx HECTARES, HAS BEEN DESIGNATED BY THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT FOR INCLUSION IN THE LIST OF WETLANDS OF INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE ESTABLISHED UNDER THE CONVENTION ON WETLANDS, THE INTERNATIONAL TREATY SIGNED IN RAMSAR (IRAN) IN 1971 TO PROMOTE THE CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF WETLAND AREAS WORLDWIDE.
The protection and management of this site is under the responsibility of: [name and address, including telephone and fax numbers, of the appropriate agency].
Variation for countries with a federal system:
ON THE PROPOSAL OF [NAME OF THE STATE/PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT], THIS SITE, COVERING xxx HECTARES, HAS BEEN DESIGNATED BY THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT .... [continues as above]
Here are good and bad examples of Ramsar site signs
For
more information about the Ramsar Convention, please contact the Ramsar
Convention Secretariat, Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland
(tel +41 22 999 0170, fax +41 22 999 0169, e-mail 
).
Started in 1996, updated 2 June 2008, Dwight Peck, Ramsar.
