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Ramsar COP7 DOC. 26

19/04/1999

COP7's logo "People and Wetlands: The Vital Link"
7^th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties
to the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971),
San José, Costa Rica, 10-18 May 1999

Ramsar COP7 DOC. 26

Information document

Status of Projects Managed by the Convention Bureau for Triennium 1996 to 1998

as of 31 December 1998

Project Number	Project Title / Description		Project Funders during Triennium			Total Expenditure 1996-1998	Balance
				SFR		SFR	SFR
7002	Management Guidance Procedure (MGP).
	Technical missions, at the request of the countries concerned, to Ramsar sites included in the Montreux Record in order to prepare recommendations on how to address the problems involved. Management Guidance Procedures (MGP) over the past triennium have been carried out in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Islamic Republic of Iran, Italy and Trinidad and Tobago. A joint government/Ramsar Commission was established in Greece. Preparatory work has been carried out in Croatia and full MGPs are planned for the end of 1998 or early 1999 in India, and Spain.		Carried forward	141,171		82,633	103,914
			Switzerland	10,000
			Australian NGOs	1,605
			RSPB	26,032
			Other income	7,739

			Total	186,547


7009	Ramsar Newsletter
	Periodic publication of the Convention bulletin in English, French, and Spanish. These project funds complement the core budget allocation. When funds are available, a German translation is also made, but unfortunately recent issues have not been produced in German because of lack of funds. It is hoped that this will be a temporary situation.		Carried forward	27,032		95,648	10,582
			France	9,198
			WWF	10,000
			Core	60,000

				106,230

7026	Twinning of Wetlands of International Importance
	(Camargue/Danube)
	A three-year project planned for the period 1993-1995 for assistance by the Bureau in designing and helping to co-ordinate information and expert exchanges between France and Romania for the management of the Camargue and the Danube Delta. Future activity in relation to the remaining funds will be determined in consultation with the Government of France.		Carried forward	72,800		66,498	6,302






7036	Information Materials for Developing Countries
	A small-scale long-term project which enabled the Bureau to provide information materials, including publications and video cassettes, to developing countries in the context of promotional work under the Convention.		US - EPA			1,364	103
Closed



7038	MedWet I
	A major initiative aimed at arresting and reversing the degradation of Mediterranean wetlands by establishing a forum of governments of Mediterranean countries, the CEC, the Ramsar Bureau, WWF, Wetlands International, and the Station biologique de la Tour du Valat; the main emphasis in this first phase of the project was on EU countries while Phase II addressed non-EU countries (see Project 7068).		Carried forward	-223,611		250,128	0
Closed
			European Commission:
			ACNAT	441,468

			MEDA	32,271

7043	Wetland Conservation in Poland
	Support for the development of a national wetlands plan and its implementation in Poland; also the publication in Polish and English of the resulting national wetland overview and action plan entitled The Strategy of Wetland Protection in Poland.		Donor: USA			14,493	6,926




7051	Wetland Database / Directory Expertise
	Support for the development of the Ramsar literature database. A consultant was appointed to set up and compile a database of wetland experts, particularly from developing countries and countries whose economy is in transition, and thereafter to maintain the database. The database was launched on World Wetlands Day, 2 February 1998 and currently has entries on over 350 experts from 68 countries.		Donor: USA			24,359	3,618







7053	Swiss Grant 1994 / African Regional Meeting 1994
	The Swiss annual grant for work in Africa was used, together with funds from France, South Africa, and the UK, in support of Ramsar's African Regional Meeting in Kenya (29.08.94 - 02.09.94); part of the Swiss grant was also used to support Wetlands International's flyway studies in Africa.		France	19,608		19,608	0
Closed			(Late payment)




7054	CIS Inventory
	Support for a project co-ordinated by Wetlands International for the identification and inventory of wetland sites of international importance in the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The balance of funds was used to supplement a grant to the Russian Federation from the Small Grants Fund (Proj. 7500).		Donor: USA			12,570	0
Closed




7055	Countries with Economy in Transition
	Support, in parallel with the Small Grants Fund for Wetland Conservation and Wise Use (see Project 7500), for wetland conservation in countries whose economies are in transition.		Donor: USA			47,300	0
Closed


7056	Neotropics: Training/Education (Wetlands for the Future)
	Support for wetland training and education in the Neotropics in the context of the agreement between the Government of the United States and the Bureau concerning the partnership for effective implementation of the Convention in the Western Hemisphere in honour of the Convention's 25th Anniversary. Projects are jointly approved by the US Department of State, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau. Expenditure to date has funded 78 projects in the Neotropics in the field of training and capacity building. It has also covered the appointment of an intern from the Neotropics (initially from Guatemala and currently from Honduras) to gain international experience working in the Ramsar Bureau in Switzerland and to give technical assistance to the Regional Coordinator for the Neotropics. The monies in the balance have all been committed.		Balance forward	157,778		1,171,900	218,385

			USA	795,737










7057	Manual (French)
	Translation and publication of the French version of the Ramsar Manual. The remaining funds are to be used for updating the text and subsequently disseminating it.		Donor: Switzerland			12,459	12,177



7058	Brisbane Conference 1996
	Support from the host country, channelled through the Bureau, for the organization of the 6th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties in Australia in March 1996.		Carried forward:	-271,689		538,947	0
Closed
			Australia	810,636

7059	Swiss Grant 1995
	In addition to supporting Wetlands International's flyway studies in Africa, the 1995 grant for work in Africa covered assistance to Togo for adhesion to the convention and travel and subsistence costs of participants attending a regional meeting in Uganda.		Donor: Switzerland			60,929	0
Closed



7060	Pan-European Regional Meeting 1995
	Support for Ramsar's Pan-European Regional Meeting held in Varna, Bulgaria in May 1995, covering the cost of the conference facilities and materials, travel and subsistence costs of sponsored participants and staff, and hospitality provided at the meeting.		France	30,876		0	0
Closed			(Late payment)




7061	Brisbane Conference of the Parties - Delegate Support
	Support for delegates and observers from developing countries and countries whose economies are in transition to attend the 1996 Conference of the Parties.		Australia	130,530		698,292	0
Closed			AusAID	43,510
			Austria	3,495
			Belgium	3,959
			Canada-CIDA	21,449
			Denmark	41,388
			France	11,825
			Germany	44,257
			Japan	117,150
			Netherlands	61,639
			Norway	18,638
			Sweden - EPA	17,450
			Switzerland	80,000
			UK - Dept of Env.	36,570
			WWF	5,000
			Cross charges	61,432
			Total	698,292

7062	Economic Valuation of Wetlands Publication
	Publication in English of Economic Valuation of Wetlands -		Carried forward	14,788		49,002	0
Closed	Publication in English of Economic Valuation of Wetlands - A Guide for Policy Makers and Planners, prepared for the 1996 Conference of the Parties. The project allowed for translation of the text into French and Spanish, but other funds, including core, were used for the publication of the translations.		Sweden	28,463
			Caixa Catalynia	5,751



7063	Wetland Biodiversity Publication
	Publication of Wetland Biodiversity in connection with the celebration of the Convention's 25th Anniversary; the publication was printed in India. The remaining funds are being used for its dissemination.		Carried forward	20,463		12,492	7,971

			India	Printing

7064	Brisbane Conference Technical Session
	Funding for a workshop Funding for a workshop held at the Brisbane Conference of the Parties, focusing on expanding local community participation in Ramsar wetland management. Final transactions were made at the start of the 1996-1998 triennium.					745	0
Closed




7066	25th Anniversary Pledges
	In honour of the Convention's 25th Anniversary, pledges from a number of Contracting Parties have been earmarked for support of goals listed in the Ramsar Strategic Plan 1997-2002. Certain Contracting Parties pledged funds to be used in their own countries. Listed here are the Contracting Parties and NGOs whose pledges have been channelled through the Bureau. Some of the funds have been allocated to the Small Grants Fund for Wetland Conservation and Wise Use (see Project 7500), some to other projects (see Projects 7002, 7070, and IUCN 75413). Nine additional projects have been funded during the triennium. The remaining funds received by the Bureau are being used for further activities defined in the Strategic Plan.		Hungary	9,920		270,915	176,470
			New Zealand	1,364
			Switzerland	360,000
			United Kingdom	55,050

			Pledges received and transferred
			to projects
			Denmark/Danida	228,071
			Hungary	15,080
			Iceland	8,530
			Switzerland	286,039
			UK	50,000
			Australian NGOs	4,427
			RSPB	7,188
			WWF	25,000

7067	25th Anniversary Campaign
	Production in English, French, and Spanish of a brochure on the Convention for the Brisbane Conference in 1996; a brochure for decision makers on the economic valuation of wetlands; and a multiple-language poster sent to all Contracting Parties to publicize World Wetlands Day.		Japan	34,890		33,566	1,324
Closed



7068	MedWet II (LIFE) Extension
	The second phase of a major initiative, aimed at arresting and reversing the degradation of Mediterranean wetlands by establishing a forum of governments of Mediterranean countries, the EC, the Ramsar Bureau, WWF, Wetlands International, and the Station biologique de la Tour du Valat; the main emphasis in Phase I was on EU countries while Phase 2 addressed non-EU countries, namely Albania, Algeria, Croatia, Morocco, and Tunisia. This project is presented on the European Commission's web site as one of its "successes".		European	1,171,039		1,173,100	-2,061
Closed			Commission (LIFE)







7069	Swiss Grant 1996
	The annual grant for work in Africa was used for a site inventory in Benin; conservation measures prior to the addition to the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance of a site in Algeria; a site inventory and wise use analysis in Mali; the organization of a subregional meeting of wetlands experts held in May 1997 in Senegal; and payment to a consultant to prepare a paper on national legislation related to the Convention for presentation at a regional workshop in Mozambique.		Switzerland	101,742		101,003	739
Closed






7070	Special Requests Project
	The funds in this project (donated by WWF as its 25th Anniversary Pledge - see Project 7066) are designed to be made available at short notice to governments, NGOs, and other bodies (normally within Ramsar Contracting Party States, though exceptionally in non-Party countries) for activities related to the Convention and Strategic Plan which only require limited funds. Expenditure to date has funded six projects.		WWF	25,000		22,214	2,786







7071	Swiss Grant 1997
	The 1997 grant for work in Africa was used for the assessment of potential Ramsar sites in The Gambia; for initial studies on populations of water birds in a Ramsar site in Gabon; for the preparation of a management plan for a national park in Niger; for an emergency rehabilitation plan in a biosphere reserve in Senegal; for Wetlands International's 1997 African Waterfowl Census Report; and for seed funding for a project to evaluate wetland systems in the Southern African Development Community (SADC).		Switzerland	135,605		98,496	37,109







7072	MedWet 2 Co-ordination
	WWF's Mediterranean Programme provided funds to cover the MedWet Co-ordinator's part-time salary and travel and office expenses in 1997 and 1998.		WWF	210,000		210,027	-27



7073	Seventh Meeting of the Conference of the Parties
	Expenditure relating to the 7th Conference of the Parties in Costa Rica in 1999.		Greece	8,000		112,517	393,672
			USA State 98+99	119,575
			Core Budget	170,000
	* These amounts were paid directly to the COP7 Trust		Reserve Fund	158,614
	Fund opened in Costa Rica.		Switzerland	50,000
			Total	506,189
		*	US FWS	100,000	$
		*	Netherlands,Embassy	50,000	$
		*	Spanish Int'l
			Cooperation Agency	45,000	$
			Promised
		*	Spain, MoE	105,000	$

7074	African Intern
	Financial support to provide the training of an intern from Africa and to expose him/her to the workings of the Convention as an instrument for international co-operation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands. The intern gives technical assistance to the Bureau's Regional Co-ordinator for Africa.		USA	45,270		61,131	-23,133





7075	Workshop on Biodiversity of Inland Water Systems
	Funding for the organization of a three-day workshop in July 1997 in Wageningen, Netherlands on Biodiversity of Inland Water Systems - A Review of Initiatives and Terms of Reference for Implementation. The workshop, organized jointly by the Bureau, Wetlands International, and IUCN brought together some 20 technical experts working on the biodiversity of inland waters so as to co-ordinate their input into the Global Biodiversity Forum 8 and SBSTTA meeting held in Montreal in August/September 1997.		Netherlands	39,810		39,810	0
Closed







7076	Austrian-Kenyan Twinning Project on Studies on White
	Stork in their Wintering Grounds		Austria	5,795		9,016	-3,405
	Support from the Austrian Federal Ministry for Environment and the Provincial Government of Styria for the Bureau to draw up a contract with the East African Wildlife Society to conduct studies on Austrian-African migratory birds that winter in tropical Africa with special emphasis on European White Stork in their wintering grounds. It is hoped that Austria will be in a position to provide additional funds for the continuation of the studies.
			Promised funds
			Austria	2,025






7077	Uganda Pan-African Regional Meeting
	6-10 July 1998 preparatory meeting for the 1999 Conference of materials, travel and subsistence costs of sponsored participants and staff, and hospitality provided at the meeting.		Sweden/Sida	84,814		259,814	0
			Switzerland	170,000
			Regional Represen-	5,000
			tative's Budget Allocation


7078	Latvia Pan-European Regional Meeting		Finland	466		185,163	-67,689
	3-6 June 1998 preparatory meeting for the 1999 Conference of the Parties, covering the cost of the meeting facilities and materials, travel and subsistence costs of sponsored participants and staff, and hospitality provided at the meeting.		Germany-MoE	40,250
			Hungary	10,000
			Latvia (in country)	7,637
			Norway	2,175
			Sweden, EPA	18,253
			UK	38,693
			Promised funds
			Austria	8,140
			France	36,900
			Norway	22,649

7079	Evian Project		Received to date:
	The Evian project, known formally as the 'Caring for Water Resources and Water Quality Initiative', is a portfolio of activities in support of the Convention, funded by the Groupe Danone (which includes the Evian mineral water company) and the French Global Environment Facility (FFEM), and developed with the support of the Government of France. the town of Evian, and in particular the Conservatoire du Littoral. * Some activites in 1997 were subcontracted and funds were transferred to contractees.		France/FFEM	59,006		144,543	21,103
			Danone	106,640

		*	Total project budget:
			1997-1999	1,662,500





7080	Costa Rica Pan-American Regional Meeting
	17-20 June 1998 preparatory meeting for the 1999 Conference of the Parties, covering the cost of the meeting facilities and materials, travel and subsistence costs of sponsored participants and staff, and hospitality provided at the meeting.		Switzerland	44,520		85,982	0
Closed			Regional Represen-	13,332
			tative's Budget Allocation
			USA - WFF 7056	28,400
			Allocation


7081	Swiss Grant 1998
	The 1998 grant for work in Africa covered the balance of seed funding for a project to evaluate wetland systems in the Southern African Development Community (SADC); development of an integrated management plan at a Ramsar site in Botswana; support for the development of a common approach to shared water catchment areas in Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Togo; support for a public awareness campaign on invasive species in wetlands; completion of the national wetland policy in Zambia; and Wetland International's 1998 African Waterfowl Census Report.		Switzerland	135,480		61,513	73,967









7082	COP7 Workshop on Indigeneous Peoples' Involvement
	in Wetland Management (Brisbane Recommendation 6.3)		WWF	4,500			4,500
	Funding for a workshop being convened at the 1999 Conference of the Parties by WWF, IUCN's Social Policy Group, and the Caddo Lake Institute.



7083	Costa Rica Conference of the Parties - Delegate Support		Austria	4,603			663,455
	at 31 March 1999		Belgium	19,775
	Support for delegates and observers from developing countries and countries whose economies are undergoing transition to attend the 1999 Conference of the Parties.		France	50,000
			Germany	40,735
			Hungary	29,700
			Italy	53,000
			Japan	100,000
			Netherlands	74,869
			Sweden, SIDA	146,457
			Switzerland	50,000
			United Kingdom	21,105
			From 7061	15,321
			UNESCO	29,000
			WWF	28,890

			Total	663,455

7084	Asian Regional Meeting
	Preparatory meeting for the 1999 Conference of the Parties, covering the cost of the meeting facilities and materials, travel and subsistence costs of sponsored participants and staff, and hospitality provided during the meeting which was held in.Manila, Philippines February 1999. There are still monies to be returned from Malaysia, which was the original site of the meeting.		Sweden, Sida	160,888		116,888	44,000







7085	New Zealand Oceania Regional Meeting
	December 1998 preparatory meeting for the 1999 Conference of the Parties, covering the cost of the meeting facilities and materials, travel and subsistence costs of sponsored participants and staff, and hospitality provided at the meeting.		Sweden - Sida	16,483		18,983	0
			France, Evian	2,500




7087	Japan Asia Fund
	A fund set up for the 1997, 1998 and 1999 voluntary contributions from Japan. Conditions for the use of this fund are being drawn up.		Japan 1997	211,677			457,757
			Japan 1998	246,080
			Promised
			Japan 1999	100,000

7500	Small Grants Fund for Wetland Conservation and Wise Use (SGF)		Austria	20,000		2,039,824	536,116
	Assistance for wetland conservation and wise use initiatives in developing countries and countries whose economy is undergoing transition. The Fund's resources are being directed to small-scale projects not traditionally covered by larger funding agencies. Some of the funds in the project reflect 25th Anniversary Pledges. All monies have been committed, the balance reflects second payments awaiting written reports.		Denmark/DANIDA	228,071
			France, MoE	19,551
			Germany, MoE	100,650
			Iceland	24,170
			Monaco	883
			Netherlands	89,068
			New Zealand	1,157
			Sweden, EPA	96,000
			Sweden, Sida	761,125
			Sweden, WCF	2,692
			Switzerland/DDA	420,000
			United Kingdom	21,105
			OMPO	20,000
			WWF	20,000
			Core transfers	290,000
			Total	2,114,472

75413	Brisbane Recommendation 6:3		Australia	21,500		40,393	54,648
(IUCN)	These funds have been channelled directly to IUCN's Social Policy Unit for implementation of Brisbane Recommendation 6:3, in the form of guidelines to encourage active and informed participation of local and indigenous people in wetland management, for submission to COP7.		Switzerland	40,000
			UK	23,541
			WWF	10,000
				95,041

The Convention today

Number of » Contracting Parties: 167 Sites designated for the
» List of Wetlands of
International Importance: 2,122 Total surface area of designated sites (hectares): 205,366,160

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