The 9th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties

What is the COP?

The implementation of the Ramsar Convention is a continuing partnership among the Contracting Parties or member states, the Standing Committee, and the Convention Secretariat, with the advice of the Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP) and the support of the four International Organization Partner NGOs. Every three years, government representatives of the Contracting Parties meet as the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP), the policy-making organ of the Convention which reviews the general trends in the implementation of the Convention as reflected in the National Reports and adopts decisions to improve the way in which the Convention works. The programme of each meeting of the Conference also includes a series of technical sessions which analyze issues of importance in the field of wetland conservation and wise use, including further interpretation and development of the key Convention concepts. Ramsar COPs have gained the reputation of being highly effective events, allowing an active involvement and participation of the non-governmental and academic community.

Ordinary meetings of the Conference of the Contracting Parties have been held at: 1. Cagliari, Italy, 1980; 2. Groningen, Netherlands, 1984; 3. Regina, Canada, 1987; 4. Montreux, Switzerland, 1990; 5. Kushiro, Japan, 1993; 6. Brisbane, Australia, 1996; 7. San José, Costa Rica, 1999; and 8. Valencia, Spain, 2002.

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