31st Meeting of the Ramsar Standing Committee
| CONVENTION ON WETLANDS (Ramsar, Iran, 1971) 31st Meeting of the Standing Committee Gland, Switzerland, 6-10 June 2005 |
 | DOC. SC31-16 Addendum |
Agenda item 8.11
Future implementation of scientific and technical aspects of the Convention
Annex 2
Note by the Secretariat
1. As requested by Decision COP9 SG-6 of the Subgroup on COP9, attached is COP9 DR2 Annex 2, which provides an initial estimate of the costs of delivering the 25 tasks the STRP has recommended to Standing Committee as priorities for the STRP's work during the 2006-2008 triennium.
2. The Standing Committee should note that subsequent to the circulation of DOC. SC31-16, some further advice on priorities and costings has been received from the STRP, and this is included in the draft Annex 2. Subject to the Standing Committee's decisions on this matter, a revised version of DR2 Annex 1 will be prepared so as to harmonise the two Annexes.
3. Provisional estimated costs for each of these recommended priority work plan tasks are provided in the event that those tasks will require the assistance of expert consultants for the preparation of draft guidelines, reviews and other materials. Costs include consultancy time and the costs of participation in Working Group workshops and other STRP meetings, as appropriate.
4. More precise costings will need to be developed once the STRP and its expert Working Groups have undertaken their initial work to review and develop the scope for the delivery of each priority task. Note also that it may be possible for some costed tasks to be undertaken through experts' existing capacity and in-kind institutional support.
5. The total for undertaking STRP's priority work during the 2006-2008 triennium is initially estimated as CHF 415,000.
COP9 DR2 Annex 2
DRAFT: Estimated costs of the STRP's proposed programme of priority tasks 2006-2008
The following 25 tasks and their estimated costs have been recommended by the STRP as priority activities for their work plan for the 2006-2008 triennium.
Abbreviated titles of some tasks are given here. Reference should be made to the relevant numbered action in Annex 1 for the full description of each action.
I. Issues arising from Resolution VIII.45 and the "on-going" functions of the STRP
| Task and product | Provisional estimated cost (Swiss francs) |
| 2. Perform a true “review” function of addressing issues of strategic scientific and technical direction for the Convention, acting as a response mechanism to give scientific and technical advice to the Convention on emerging issues, with an overall aim of achieving a balance between these proactive guidance and reactive advice functions. | None (anticipated to be covered within the modus operandi for STRP meetings and processes) |
| 3. Overview of progress with scientific and technical aspects of the implementation of COP Resolutions | 20,000 (if, once scoped, task requires consulation with sites managers, CPs and others) |
| Subtotal: | 20,000 |
II. Issues relating to the Conceptual Framework for the wise use of wetlands and the maintenance of their ecological character [DR1 Annex A]
| Task and product | Provisional estimated cost (Swiss francs) |
| 12. Review the range of existing Ramsar guidance, with a view inter alia to: - identifying gaps, - repackaging older guidance into updated documents, and - proposing retiring or withdrawing outdated documents | 5,000 |
| 14. Review the case studies in The Wise Use of Wetlands (Ramsar Convention Bureau, 1993) and other relevant case studies, review subsequent implementation progress with these cases, and provide updated studies | 30,000 |
| Subtotal: | 35,000 |
III. Issues relating to the Ramsar Integrated Framework for wetland inventory, assessment and monitoring [DR1 Annex B] and indicators of Convention effectiveness [DR1 Annex E]
| Task and product | Provisional estimated cost (Swiss francs) |
| 39. Develop a scheme of data needs for wetlands generally, - addressing separately both the global level and the site level, and - including guidance for describing the ecological character of wetlands (to be undertaken in conjunction with the review of information needs relating to Ramsar sites - see section V below). | 15,000 |
| 40. Prepare advice on delineating and mapping wetlands, in conjunction with the description of their ecological character, and addressing the issues concerning digital mapping | 15,000 |
| 41. Prepare further consolidated guidance on the overall process of detecting, reporting and responding to change in ecological character | 20,000 |
| 46. Develop, test and put forward for use by Parties further indicators of effectiveness of the implementation of the Convention | 15,000 |
| Subtotal: | 65,000 |
IV. Issues relating to the Integrated Framework for Ramsar's water-related guidance[DR1 Annex C]
| Task and product | Provisional estimated cost (Swiss francs) |
| 65. Develop an adaptation of the “Critical Path” approach for river basin management to the Ramsar context, including case study analysis, and prepare operational guidance, including for the application of CEPA tools | 30,000 |
| 70. Develop guidance on good practice in the integration of wetlands into Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM), based on case studies to be sought from Parties | 15,000 |
| 73. Prepare guidelines for Parties on the implementation of environmental water requirements for wetlands | 15,000 |
| 74. Prepare technical review reports on (i) groundwater-wetland interactions, and (ii) the use and management of groundwater to maintain ecosystem functions. | 20,000 |
| 75. Review the present Integrated Framework for Ramsar’s water-related guidance and prepare updating amendments as necessary | 5,000 |
| 76. Prepare further guidance for Parties on developing groundwater management strategies which aim at maintenance of wetland ecosystems and at minimising or mitigating the impacts of groundwater abstraction. | 10,000 |
| 77. Undertake strategic review of water quality and wetland issues, and prepare guidance for Parties on including water quality in environmental water requirement determination and implementation | 25,000 |
| Subtotal: | 120,000 |
V. Issues relating to the revised Strategic Framework and guidelines for the future development of the List of Wetlands of International Importance [DR1 Annex D]
| Task and product | Provisional estimated cost (Swiss francs) |
| 87. Develop an interpretation of the term ‘under-represented’ wetland type and investigate methods for defining targets for representation of wetland types in the Ramsar List | 15,000 |
| 89. Conduct a review of data and information needs for Ramsar sites and of the implications for official reporting, the further development of the Ramsar Sites Information Service and the scope for harmonization of reporting with the needs of other multilateral environmental agreements | 30,000 |
| 90. Conduct a fundamental review of the structure of the Ramsar Information Sheet | 15,000 |
| 92. Review existing guidance, assess of the need for additional guidance, and as necessary develop such guidance, on specific wetland types | 25,000 |
| 93. Elaborate and update the list of appropriate population estimates and 1% thresholds for the application of Criterion 9 | 10,000 |
| 95. Keep the Ramsar criteria as a whole under review to ensure that they reflect global wetland conservation and wise use priorities | 5,000 |
| Subtotal: | 100,000 |
VI. Issues relating to wetland management (Ramsar Wise Use Handbook 8)
No priority tasks proposed for 2006-2008.
VII. Issues relating to wetlands and agriculture
| Task and product | Provisional estimated cost (Swiss francs) |
| 114. Prepare guidelines on good agricultural practices and policies for different wetland types, drawing on information provided by the Comprehensive Assessment on water management in agriculture (CA) and other initiatives. | 20,000 (Note. This task would not be initiated until later in the triennium, as it is dependent on outcomes of the CA and other related initiatives) |
| Subtotal: | 20,000 |
VIII. Technical aspects of communication, education and public awareness (CEPA)
| Task and product | Provisional estimated cost (Swiss francs) |
| 116. Ensure that CEPA issues are fully covered in each of the substantive guidance documents prepared by the STRP through input to the Panel’s work from CEPA experts | 15,000 |
| 117. Seek opportunities to prepare materials for outreach purposes, particularly for decision-makers and those in other sectors, on topics which are the subject of substantive guidance prepared by the STRP; including on: - mainstreaming Ramsar sites within the water sector | 15,000 (other costings will depend on identification of specific opportunities) |
| Subtotal: | 30,000 |
IX. Development of further sectoral guidance by STRP
| Task and product | Provisional estimated cost (Swiss francs) |
| 122. Review the relationships and issues concerning the wise use of wetland ecosystems and human health | 25,000 |
| Subtotal: | 25,000 |
TOTAL PROVISIONAL ESTIMATED COSTS for 2006-2008: CHF 415,000
