The Ramsar Bulletin Board, 3 September 2002

News from WSSD. Summit events of 1 September and Ramsar MOU with UNCTAD. Secretary General Delmar Blasco reports from Johannesburg on a busy Sunday, 1 September, from the Ramsar perspective, in which Ramsar chaired a session on "Water - Responsibility for security" at the IUCN Centre and participated in the kick-off meeting of the Ministerial Conference on Water to be held in conjunction with the Third World Water Forum in Japan in March 2003. In still another significant event, Mr Blasco and Dr Rubens Ricupero, Secretary General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), signed a Memorandum of Understanding outlining future cooperation between the secretariats on the BIOTRADE Initiative. See his brief report here and the text of the new MOU here. [03/09/02]

Announcement.Society of Wetland Scientists' Ramsar Support Grant Program -- Request for Proposals. The Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS) is soliciting proposals for their Ramsar Support Grant Program. The grant program was established to advance Ramsar Convention objectives, including the selection, designation, management, and networking of Ramsar sites; and the promotion of Ramsar's Wise Use guidelines. Two to four projects are funded each year at a level of US $5,000 on a competitive basis as reviewed by an evaluation committee. Only applicants working on Ramsar-related activities in less-developed countries are eligible to receive grants under this program, and priority is given to applicants from countries that are on the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) List of Aid Recipients (www.oecd.org).Grant guidelines, an application form, and a description of previous grant awards can be found on the SWS Web site or you can request these materials from: Eric Gilman, Society of Wetland Scientists International Chapter, 2718 Napuaa Place, Honolulu, HI 96822 USA E-mail: egilman@lava.net. Applications must be received by 1 November 2002. [03/09/02]

Announcement. Side event on wetlands training set for Ramsar COP8. Every year since 1994, the Institute for Inland Water Management and Waste Water Treatment (RIZA), part of the Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management in The Netherlands, has hosted the International Course on Wetland Management at the Wetlands Advisory and Training Centre (WATC) in Lelystad. Over the past few years, RIZA has also hosted a separate International Course on Wetland Restoration. Frank Alberts writes that RIZA and Wetlands International will be hosting a side event (a "diploma granting" side event!) at Ramsar's 8th Conference of the Parties on wetland training opportunities and the Wetlands International "Ramsar Training Service", and his brief announcement, with a few poignant photos of past training courses, are available here. [03/09/02]

News from the SGF.Armenia completes SGF project on wetland valuation. Armenia successfully completed its SGF 1999 project "Ecological and economic valuation of Armenian wetlands: a step towards elaboration of the National Wetland Policy". The project was carried out by the NGO Professional and Entrepreneurial Orientation Union (NGO Orientation) and it was financed solely by a grant provided from the Ramsar Convention Bureau. As a result the project delivered the most comprehensive list of Armenian wetlands worked out so far, a wetland database, the first nationwide economic valuation of wetlands, outputs of seasonal ecological and economic surveys at 6 typical wetland areas in different regions of the country and at different altitude, impact assessment analysis of infliction of harms on wetlands by various human activities, promotion of public awareness of sustainable (wise) use of wetland products, values and functions, and last but not least during the project implementation have been identified 4 more wetlands of international importance to be inscribed on the Ramsar List. A brief report by Ramsar's Sergey Dereliev is available here. [03/09/02]

News from WSSD. The Secretary General's update on events of 30-31 August. Secretary General Delmar Blasco reports that Ramsar has been active in a number of events at the Summit in Johannesburg, namely in a dialogue on the EU Water Initiative, a launch event by UNEP's Collaboration Centre of Water and Environment, and a panel discussion sponsored by IUCN on water management and nature. He also describes the side event on Saturday evening, organized by the Swiss Agency for the Environment, WWF International, and the Ramsar Convention during which a policy paper was launched on "Sustainable management of water resources: the need for a holistic ecosystem approach". See his brief report here. [02/09/02]

News from WSSD. Ramsar/WWF side event, partnerships, plenary session on water (28 August), Ramsar exhibition. Ramsar's man at the Summit, Secretary General Delmar Blasco, supplies this progress report on events at the World Summit on Sustainable Development that are of most interest to the Ramsar community. In anticipation of a more ample report to follow, he indicates that the WWF/Ramsar side event (27 August) honoring nine nations for their recent extraordinary commitments to wetland conservation and the Ramsar List was very well attended and drew encouraging media attention. He reports on two partnership initiatives with which Ramsar will be involved, and offers a somewhat less heartening summary of the plenary session on water issues, 28 August. Finally, Mr Blasco fills us in on how the famous Ramsar Exhibit is doing so far. See his brief report here. [30/08/02]

Who's where? 

Delmar Blasco, Secretary General, is in Johannesburg, South Africa, for the World Summit on Sustainable Development. [26/08/02]

Alain Lambert, Senior Advisor for Environment and Development, is on the "island of Vilm" for training sessions on conservation finance mechanisms for protected area managers of EU accession

New on the Site: MOU between Ramsar and UNCTAD; Policy paper on "Sustainable management of water resources". [03/09/02]

News from WSSD.WWF and Ramsar applaud nine nations at WSSD. So far in 2002, nine nations -- Algeria, Argentina, Bolivia, Chad, China, Guinea, Peru, Tanzania andZambia -- have each designated more than a half million hectares of freshwater areas as Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. The commitments of these nine countries add up to 22 million hectares, over 1/4 of the total area of wetlands recognized by Ramsar in the previous 30 years, and they have put the total area of wetlands now under the Ramsar umbrella at over 100 million hectares. At a "press conference and ministerial announcement" in Johannesburg, 27 August, WWF International and the Ramsar Bureau, with the assistance of a number of high-level speakers, are presenting these nine countries with certificates recognizing their foresight and commitment. According to the programme, "the Ramsar Bureau and WWF plan to use this announcement to inspire other countries to follow the example to also protect their freshwater ecosystems, and will take this opportunity to emphasize to the international donor community the importance of these commitments and the related need to contribute greatly increased financial resources for sustainable management of freshwater". A report of the event will follow, but here in the meantime is the programme, as well as WWF's press release for the event, with background papers on the issues involves, and a press release from WWF Bolivia into the bargain. [28/08/02]

News from WSSD. Secretary General participates in panel on WEHAB in the first day plenary of WSSD.Delmar Blasco, Ramsar's Secretary General, reports from Johannesburg: "The first day's afternoon plenary of the world summit in Johannesburg was dedicated to another one of the WEHAB issues: biodiversity. (WEHAB stands for water, energy, health, agriculture and biodiversity, the five issues identified by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan as the mega issues that the Summit should address as a priority - thus two of the WEHAB issues are Ramsar issues: water and biodiversity. A UNDP-based group led by Peter Schei (Norway) has produced a WEHAB-biodiversity report distributed at yesterday's plenary, to which the Ramsar Bureau has contributed substantively.) Yesterday's plenary was introduced by Peter Schei and CBD's Executive Secretary Hamdallah Zedan. A 15-member panel representing the UN system, major groups, and other institutions (including Ramsar) was questioned during 70 minutes by Minister Jan Pronk of the Netherlands, in order to try to understand what are the real issues about biodiversity and ecosystem management. Governments then had another 90 minutes to express their views. Overall it was a interesting debate, with governments (many represented by Ministers) accepting the rules of not reading pre-prepared statements but really engaging in discussion. It is hoped that some of the substance of this plenary will be injected in the Plan of Implementation that continued to be discussed in a separate room at the Sandton Conference Centre in Johannesburg." [27/08/02]

Side event at WSSD on water resources.Switzerland's Agency for Environment, Forests and Landscape, WWF-the World Wide Fund for Nature, and the Ramsar Bureau are sponsoring at side event at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, 31 August, on "Sustainable Management of Water Resources: The Need for a Holistic Ecosystem Approach -- Running out of Freshwater or Maintaining Freshwater Through an Ecosystem Based Approach - An Easy Choice". The announcement, with the place and time of the event, and the background policy paper for discussion are both available here. [26/08/02]

Announcement. Deadline for applications for the post of Regional Coordinator for Asia extended. The Ramsar Bureau wishes to inform Contracting Parties in Asia that, upon demand, the deadline for applications for the post of Regional Coordinator for Asia is being extended until 11 October 2002. The interviews of short-listed candidates will be carried out, in principle, on 25 October 2002. [23/08/02]

WWF briefing paper on WSSD and Ramsar.Jamie Pittock of the Living Waters Programme of the World Wide Fund for Nature has released a WWF briefing paper calling upon the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development to enhance support for the Ramsar Convention's work with wetland and water resources. In his message to the Ramsar Forum, Jamie says: "WWF asks national government officers who receive this e-mail to pass it on to your government's World Summit delegation (usually led by your first minister or foreign affairs department) with your agency's endorsement. In WWF's view, the Convention has been undervalued in the Summit's draft Plan of Implementation text and deserves equal recognition to such treaties as the Convention to Combat Desertification. WWF is particularly concerned that the historical position of this particularly effective Convention outside the UN environment treaty system means that an effective tool for sustainable wetland management has not been fully included in multilateral coordination and funding mechanisms." Here is his message and a reprint of the position paper. [23/08/02]

Partners for Wise Use of Wetlands -- Focal Area B: Wise Use and Poverty Alleviation -- CALL FOR PROPOSALS, 2002-2003. The Partners for Wise Use of Wetlands programme was started in 2001 with a first phase that led to 38 projects receiving funding (including Global Peatlands Initiative), from a programme fund provided to Wetlands International by the Directorate General of International Cooperation (DGIS), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands. Wetlands International now announces a new phase running until December 31, 2003. Partner organisations, which include IUCN, WWF International, BirdLife International, Ramsar Convention Bureau and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, and other eligible organizations, are now invited to discuss project proposals that meet the criteria described below. The full announcement is available here, and more information about the programme can be found on the Wetlands International Web site. [16/08/02]

Announcement. Ramsar Convention seeks Regional Coordinator for Asia. The secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands (the Ramsar Bureau) invites applications for the position of Regional Coordinator for Asia, seeking a replacement for our colleague Mr Najam Khurshid, who is completing his three-year tenure in the Bureau at the end of this year. The responsibilities of the position are not few -- they include promoting the conservation and wise use of wetlands in the region by cultivating contacts with the Administrative Authorities, other government agencies, and non-governmental organizations of the Contracting Parties, encouraging the accession of still more Parties, assisting in the preparation of global and regional meetings, evaluating project proposals, advising the Secretary General on regional issues, and much much more. Nationals of Asian countries who have a track record in the field and meet the requirements listed in the announcement are encouraged to apply and soon, in fact, by 11 October 2002, for a position which will begin in January 2003 -- it's hoped, however, that the successful candidate will be able to participate in Ramsar COP8 in Valencia in November 2002, as a kind of baptism by fire. Here is the detailed announcement.[link later removed] [15 August 2002]

CD-ROM for trainers of trainers in wetland management planning. The Tour du Valat and ATEN in France, with GEF support and within the framework of the MedWetCoast project of Ramsar's regional initiative MedWet, have produced a CD-ROM, in both French and English, which includes a wealth of materials for training trainers as well as the materials needed to prepare training programmes on wetland management planning. Learn more here in a brief review by Ramsar's Tobias Salathé. [14/08/02]

"Synergies that work!" The latest issue of CBDNews is available from the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, viewable in PDF format at the rather unwieldy and uncertainly spelt address of http://www.biodiv.org /doc/newsletters /news-sd-suplement-en.pdf. Articles by Jan Pronk, Peter Schei, Claude Martin of WWF, and many others cover current issues such as the ecosystem approach, invasive alien species, sustainable development, and many others. Following an editorial by Hamdallah Zedan, CBD's Executive Secretary, the lead article, by Delmar Blasco, describes the successes of the Joint Work Plans between the CBD and the Ramsar Convention and shows how the JWP presents a useful model for the upcoming World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg. The text of the Ramsar Secretary General's brief article can be seen here. [13/08/02]

More news from Tasek Bera. Wetlands International - Malaysia Programme announces the production of a new reference source, "A CD-Rom Guide to the Endemic and Globally Threatened Flora and Fauna of Tasek Bera", and has also sent a description of recent research on the Purple Water Trumpet or Cryptocorynepurpurea found in the site. Here are two brief articles sent from Wetlands International staff. [12/08/02]

From the Ramsar Forum.Welcome inquiry on mosquitos. Greetings everyone. I am interested in any examples of recent policies or strategies to guide wetland managers in controlling mosquitos in wetlands. I'm looking for something in the way of a risk assessment framework or decision support system that balances risk to human health and comfort posed by mosquitos with need to protect wetland values. Does the Ramsar Convention have any guidance on this issue? If anyone can help, I'd be very grateful. Please email me direct. Thanks, Janet. (Janet Holmes Senior Policy Officer, Freshwater Biodiversity Parks, Flora and Fauna Division Department of Natural Resources and Environment Level 4, 250 Victoria Parade EAST MELBOURNE VIC 3002, Ph: (03) 9412 4264 Fax: (03) 9412 4586). [11/08/02]

Meetings make progress for the Nestos Delta. The Prefect of Kavala Province in northern Greece, Theodoros Kalliontzis, invited the Ramsar Bureau to visit the ecosystem in the delta of the river Nestos of unique ecological and environmental importance and beauty, and to participate in meetings about its conservation and sustainable management. The Ramsar Site "Nestos Delta and Adjoining Lagoons" was designated on 21 August 1975 when Greece joined the Convention, comprising an extensive delta complex, including saltmarshes, freshwater lakes, coastal lagoons, dune systems and the largest remaining area of riparian forest in Greece. Decreasing groundwater levels resulting from growing irrigation demands and dam construction upstream led to the inclusion of the site on the Montreux Record on 4 July 1990. The focal point for the Ramsar Convention in the Greek Ministry of Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works, Ms Dimitra Spala, Ramsar's Mediterranean Coordinator, Spyros Kouvelis, and its European Coordinator, Tobias Salathé, participated in two meetings on 1 July 2002 in Kavala, and a brief report, with some photographs is available here, now. [08/08/02]

Wetlands International seeks North America Programme Manager. Wetlands International has announced a vacancy for a North America Programme Manager, who will report to the WI Chief Executive Officer and be based in the premises of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in Arlington, Virginia (near Washington, D.C.). A description of the duties foreseen, qualifications required, and procedure for applying can be viewed here. [link later removed] [09/07/02]

Another new Ramsarian.Mr Tomas Villalba entered the Vale of Tears on 3 August 2002, logging in at 3.68kg and 50.5cm, making Carlos and Esther extremely happy and doubtful about the amount of sleep in prospect for the next year. A few shaky analyses of National Reports from the Contracting Parties for COP8 may be entered into Carlos Villalba's National Reports Database over the next week or two, but doubtless it will all get straightened out in time for COP8. Carlos' colleagues in the Bureau wish the family all the best and will present them with a merry card and a Gift Bin of aspirin. [08/08/02]

Publication available."Wetlands and Environmental Assessment". The World Bank's Environment Department has published a new Environmental Assessment Sourcebook Update (number 28 in the series, 10 pages, June 2002), this one intended to provide guidance on the use of environmental assessments in World Bank-funded projects and programmes likely to affect wetlands. Beginning with the Ramsar Convention definition of wetlands, it succinctly highlights the importance of wetlands to humanity and the environment, describes potential impacts likely to be generated by development activities, and provides guidance on the appropriate type and scope of assessment and environmental planning and management. Brief case studies from Colombia, Pakistan, and Argentina are included, as well as a description of the activities of the Ramsar Convention and the Convention on Migratory Species. Written by Colin Rees, with input by Isabel Braga and other Bank staff, and funded by Norway and The Netherlands, the new pamphlet can be sought from EA Sourcebook Updates, Environment Department, The World Bank, 1818 H. St. NW, Washington DC 20433, USA. [07/08/02]

From the Ramsar Forum.Supported field studies at Doñana.Andy Green (andy@ebd.csic.es) made this announcement on behalf of the Threatened Waterfowl Specialist Group: "Doñana Biological Station provides an opportunity to carry out field studies at any level of biodiversity (animal and plant populations, communities and ecosystems) in two areas of southern Spain: Cazorla and Doñana (see details in http://www.ebd.csic.es/iindex.html). ECODOCA welcomes applications from European Members and Associate States for visits ranging up to 90 days depending on the needs of the project. Researcher's travel costs will be met and a per diem provided to meet living costs during the stay. The written proposals will be considered by a peer review panel on the basis of scientific merit. The first call for applications is open. Application forms and information about ECODOCA can be obtained from http://www.ebd.csic.es/ecodoca First DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS: 1st OCTOBER 2002 (LATER DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED VIA INTERNET)." [07/08/02]

Further workshop proceedings from the Dakar International Conference on Wetlands and Development. Two new books have newly been released as long-awaited products of the 2nd International Conference on Wetlands and Development, Dakar, Senegal, November 1998. These A4-format 116-page volumes contain the proceedings of two of the most substantial workshops of the conference and present the full texts of the presentations. Integrated Wetlands and Water Resources Management, edited by Ger Bergkamp, Jean-Yves Pirot, and Silvia Hostettler, contains 14 articles and the conclusions and recommendations of the workshop -- Strategies for Wise Use of Wetlands: Best Practices in Participatory Management, edited by Meg Gawler, includes 16 articles and an overview article by the editor. Further information can be sought from Wetlands International in Wageningen, The Netherlands, tel. +31 317 478854, e-mail post@wetlands.agro.nl, and in the meantime more information, including the tables of contents, can be seen here. [05/08/02]

Announcement.ECRR study tour on river restoration set for 9-13 September. Ute Menke writes: "The main goal of the study tour is to contribute to the further development of a Pan European network on river restoration, which is to carry out its activities under the umbrella of the European Centre for River Restoration (ECRR). Next to the ECRR international conferences, organised once per four years and bringing together representatives from all European regions, ECRR starts to organise yearly study tours. These are regarded as relatively low key activity with interactive exchange of experiences within a smaller group. The study tour is open for all those involved in the fields of management, research and communication of river restoration in Europe. We will start this year with the organisation of the first ECRR study tour in the Netherlands, but in the next years other countries in Europe should take their chance of organising a ECRR study tour and of course the ECRR secretariat will support the activity as much as possible." The full announcement and sign-up details are available here. [05/08/02]

Reminder. Call for applications for Ramsar Intern for Africa. The Ramsar Bureau is seeking applications for the position of Intern/Assistant to the Regional Coordinator for Africa, to replace Simon Rafanomezantsoa of Madagascar at the end of his successful tenure in the secretariat. For this internship the applicants must be nationals of countries on the African continent and have lived most of their lives in that region. The position requires a very high level of English or French and an ability to work in the other language. The age limit for applicants is 30 years old. Qualified candidates from that region are encouraged to read the general terms of reference for Ramsar Internships and apply by 31 August 2002, to begin on 16 December 2002. [05/08/02]

Field Guide to the Fish of Tasek Bera Ramsar Site, Pahang, Malaysia. Tasek Bera, a freshwater swamp system situated in Central Peninsular Malaysia, was declared a Ramsar Site in November 1994 when Malaysia became a Contracting Party to the Ramsar Convention. The lake has a range of conservation values, of which, it is important for its fish biodiversity. At least 94 species have been recorded so far including the endangered Asian Arowana Scleropages formosus and Silver Shark Balantocheilos melanopterus. The majority of fish species found at the site are indigenous to Peninsular Malaysia and the site meets Ramsar criteria 7 and 8 relating to fish conservation, amongst others. Recognising the importance of conserving this unique fish biodiversity in Tasek Bera, Wetlands International-Malaysia Programme has published A Field Guide to the Fish of Tasek Bera Ramsar Site, Pahang, Malaysia with funding from DGIS in July 2002. More detail is available here. [01/08/02]

The Cultural Heritage of Wetlands available in Macedonian.Metodija Velevski, secretary of the Macedonian National Ramsar Committee, writes that a new 25-page full-color illustrated translation of Ramsar's "Cultural Heritage of Wetlands" info pack has been published by the NRC and the Bird Study and Protection Society of Macedonia, including an additional two-page case study with text and photos detailing the ancient fishing techniques on Dojran Lake, a transboundary lake shared by the FYR of Macedonia and Greece. This attractive publication was funded by the IUCN Netherlands Committee under their Small Grants for Wetlands Programme and provides an excellent model for countries wishing to adapt Ramsar public-awareness materials into local languages with Bureau staff assistance and financial support from sympathetic sources. More information here. [31/07/02]

Bolivia names high-Andean Ramsar site. The Ramsar Bureau is delighted to announce that, effective 11 July 2002, Bolivia has designated its 8th Wetland of International Importance. "Lagos Poopó y Uru Uru" (Oruro department, 967,607 ha, 18°46'S 63°13'W), a National Ecological Reserve, are two associated brackish lakes at over 3,600m altitude which fulfil all eight of the Ramsar Criteria and are excellent representatives of the high-altitude Andean wetlands of the Puna ecoregion. Some 76 species of birds have been reported for the site, including about 120,000 individuals of flamingos Phoenicopterus chilensis, Phoenicoparrus andinus, and Phoenicoparrus jamesi. Endemic and endangered fauna and flora, such as vicuña and pumas, are supported, as well as the cactus Opuntia and Trichocereus. Two pre-Hispanic cultures, the Aymaras and Urus, the latter believed to be one of the oldest ethnic groups on the continent, dating from 2000-1500 before the common era, are present in the area and practice subsistence agriculture and fishing, with some mining and limited grazing and illegal bird hunting also in evidence.

Ramsar Joint Work Plan with SPREP. At the Ramsar Oceania Regional meeting hosted by the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) in Samoa in May 2002, the participants reviewed a draft Joint Work Plan between the Ramsar Convention and SPREP, which will implement the Memorandum of Cooperation between the two organisations signed at the Samoa meeting. Here is the final JWP prepared by SPREP and the Ramsar Bureau with the assistance of former Bureau Deputy Secretary General Bill Phillips. The Plan is designed to help support strengthening capacity in Pacific Island States for wetland conservation and wise use throughout the Pacific Region. Click here please. [26/07/02]

II Pan-American Regional Meeting - Guayaquil, Ecuador, July 2002

Asia-Pacific Migratory Waterbird Strategy meeting. The Asia-Pacific Migratory Waterbird Conservation Committee (MWCC), which is responsible for coordinating the development, monitoring and implementation of the Asia-Pacific Migratory Waterbird Conservation Strategy: 2001-2005, held its 7th Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, between 19-20 June 2002. The MWCC comprises representation from seven governments (Australia, People's Republic of China, Japan, India, Russia, Indonesia and USA), the Ramsar and Bonn (CMS) Conventions, BirdLife International, the World Wide Fund for Nature, Chairs of Species Working Groups (Anatidae, cranes and shorebirds), UNDP/GEF and Wetlands International Specialist Groups. Here is a brief report of the meeting, with a few subtle photos. [24/07/02]

MedWet Unit staff up to full complement. Spyros Kouvelis, head of Ramsar's MedWet Coordination Unit, based in Athens, Greece, writes: "I am pleased to announce that at last the MedWet Coordination Unit team is complete. Last week, Angela Kyriazis took up her responsibilities as Programme Development Officer, seconded to the MW/CU by EKBY. Angela has a biology background and a good experience on EU-Funded projects as she had been responsible for managing all the LIFE-Nature projects in Greece from 1991-1997, being responsible of the external unit of the Commission's DG XI.D.2 in Athens. Her addition to the team is very good news for us, as we expect her to give a valuable hand with developing a good set of projects for MedWet. She has already started working on developing a concept for the upcoming LIFE-Nature call, for which she will soon get in touch with the MedWet centres. Angela's direct email is kyriazis@medwet.org." [18/07/02]

Restoration of Mediterranean Wetlands (2002). The Greek Biotope/Wetland Centre (EKBY) in Thessaloniki and the Hellenic Ministry of the Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works have published, in conjunction with the MedWet Initiative, a new book on wetland restoration in the Mediterranean region. Edited by Ramsar STRP member George Zalidis of Aristotle University, T. L. Crisman of the University of Florida (USA), and P. A. Gerakis of EKBY, the 237-page softcover volume contains (in addition to a preface by the Ramsar Secretary General, Delmar Blasco) 15 essays on 1) physical, chemical, and biological aspects of restoration, 2) site selection, design, and monitoring of restoration, and 3) case studies of regional restoration experience, authored by a wide range of distinguished scholars, a number of whom are familiar to the Ramsar community, such as Mike Smart, Christian Perennou, Jan Pokorny, and Maria José Vinals. Further information can be sought directly from EKBY, ekby@ekby.gr. [18/07/02]

Photo opportunity. Football at Ramsar. Ramsar staff do not only save wetlands -- some of them, in fact, run after footballs as well. Here's a collectors'-item group photo of the football team of the Three Mighty Environmental Institutions of Gland, Switzerland (IUCN, WWF International, and Ramsar), which regularly trots out onto the field of play against all comers and hopes for the best. [18/07/02]

Reminder.Applications still welcome for Ramsar Secretary General. The Bureau is still welcoming applications for this most senior post in the 20-member Ramsar secretariat based in Gland, Switzerland, near Geneva. The deadline for applications is 30 September 2002, and interviews with shortlisted candidates will take place just prior to the 29th meeting of the Standing Committee, 5-7 February 2003 -- the starting date is foreseen as 21 July 2003. The vacancy announcement, including qualifications sought and terms of reference, is available here in English, Français, and Español. [link later removed] [09/07/02]

More to follow. Watch this space. Feedback and suggestions are welcome to: the Ramsar Convention Bureau, Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland (tel +41 22 999 0170, fax +41 22 999 0169, e-mail ). Updated regularly by Dwight Peck, Ramsar Bureau.