The Ramsar Bulletin Board, 7 May 2010

Mediterranean remote sensing project moves forward. Mapping, monitoring and assessment of wetlands by airborne or satellite "earth observation" techniques is an increasingly important component of Ramsar Convention implementation in many parts of the world. 

In collaboration with the Convention and a network of partners and Contracting Party governments in the south and east Mediterranean basin, the European Space Agency has embarked upon its second "Globwetland" project to help in applying these techniques for Ramsar-related purposes. More [06/05/10] 

Wetlands and biodiversity in serious continuing decline. World leaders are failing to deliver commitments made in 2002 to reduce the rate of biodiversity loss, and have instead overseen alarming biodiversity declines.

These findings are the result of a new 2010 Biodiversity Indicators Partnership (2010 BIP) paper published in leading journal Science and represent the first assessment of how targets made through the 2002 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) have not been met. More [05/05/10]

IUCN Water Programme announces "NEGOTIATE – Reaching Agreements Over Water", a new toolkit in the Water and Nature Series. NEGOTIATE is a vital new resource for those interested in designing, leading, or participating in negotiation and consensus building on sustainable water resources management. More [03/05/10]

Training on ecosystem and community-based climate change adaptation approaches, Kenya, Nairobi, 3 - 8 May 2010. Wetlands International, WWFUS, Conservation International, CPWC, Wageningen University, the African Institute of Capacity Development and a host of other contributing organizations are pleased to announce the first in a series of Training of Trainers on Ecosystem Based Climate Change Adaptation at AICAD, Jomo Kenyatta University, Juja, Nairobi, from the 3rd – 8th May, 2010. Consult the full programme here. [30/04/10]

26 April - 1 May: Special Ramsar Bulletin Board during the Standing Committee Meeting, Kobuleti, Georgia.  

At the invitation of the Georgian Government, the 41st meeting of the Standing Committee of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands takes place in the town of Kobuleti, near Batumi, the capital city of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, in the western part of Georgia, 26 April to 1 May 2010. 

We invite you to visit the SC41 News section regularly as the Secretariat will be updating this page daily with news flashes, reports and photos from Georgia during the Standing Committee meeting.

1st meeting of the Regional Initiative for the Conservation and Wise Use of Mangroves and Corals for the Americas Region organized by the Mexican Government in coordination with the Ramsar Secretariat took place in México D.F. from 24 to 26 March 2010. More > Español [23/04/10]

 Who's Where?




Tobias Salathé, Senior Advisor for Europe, will attend a meeting in Sasbach, Germany, 5 - 6 May. The meeting will take place in the transboundary Ramsar site Upper Rhine-Oberrhein and participants will debate on "how French and German municipalities may use the designation of Ramsar lead to concrete action". 
 

Yesterday's News

Vacancy for Partnership Coordinator at the Ramsar Secretariat. The deadline for applications has been extended to 30 May 2010. Requirements for the post and online application are to be found on the IUCN website at:

http://hrms.iucn.org/iresy/index.cfm?event=vac.show&vacId=171

Researchers visited Ramsar’s first sub-Antarctic Wetland of International Importance, 14-19 April 2010. The Prince Edward Islands in the southern Indian Ocean form the first sub-Antarctic Ramsar Site in the sub-Antarctic, designated by South Africa on 22 May 2007 as No. 1688. The larger of the two islands, Marion, supports a weather station with a team that is relieved annually. The smaller island, also named Prince Edward, is uninhabited and rarely visited, and then only under strict environmental conditions to avoid introducing new alien species. More [22/04/10]

Thai local groups urge Ramsar designation for Spoon-billed Sandpiper site in Thailand. Simba Chan, Senior Conservation Officer at BirdLife's Asia Division, reports that local communities and national NGO (Bird Conservation Society of Thailand) are working together to support designation of Ramsar Sites at the Inner Gulf of Thailand. Local people have said they see Ramsar designation as a defence against unsustainable development. Apart from Darwin Initiative of the UK, they have also received supporting funds from the Ministry of the Environment of Japan and the Keidanren Nature Conservation Fund of Japan. More [14/04/10]

The AEWA Secretariat is calling for applications from African countries for the Small Grants Fund cycle 2010. The deadline for submission of project proposals is 30 April 2010. For more information on the Small Grants Fund and to download the Operational Guidelines and necessary application forms, please click here. [14/04/10]

Vacancy for Senior Advisor for Africa Region position at Ramsar Convention Secretariat. This position vacancy was advertised earlier this year, but the Ramsar Secretariat decided to re-open the online application in the hope of casting the net wider. If you previously applied for the post, it is not necessary to apply again as all applications have been saved. More [13/04/10] En français 

The 'Ramsar movie' was shown at the 4th wildlife photography exhibition in Val de Saône, France, on 13 March. Read more [09/04/10] 

New impetus for the protection of the Wadden Sea. On 17-18 March 2010, the 11th Trilateral Governmental Conference was hosted by Germany at Westerland on the Wadden Sea island of Sylt, next to the Danish border, attended by over 130 participants, including the national Ramsar authorities and the Secretariat of the Convention.

The partners adopted a management plan for the entire Wadden Sea region to support decisive action against a number of invasive alien species and in response to major challenges resulting from the effects of climate change in the coastal area (sea level rise, shore line protection, etc.). Read more [07/04/10]

Vacancy for Partnership Coordinator at the Ramsar Secretariat. The Ramsar Secretariat welcomes applications for the position of Partnership Coordinator. Requirements for the post and online application are to be found on the IUCN website at:

http://hrms.iucn.org/iresy/index.cfm?event=vac.show&vacId=171

Please take note that a candidate must submit his/her application online using the link above. No other method of application will be considered. [06/04/10]

On 16-17 February 2010, a first meeting of the “BlackSeaWet Initiative” management body was convened in Tulcea, at the edge of the Danube Delta Ramsar site. About twenty participants from the Black Sea countries successfully finalized and adopted terms of reference for their Initiative, clarifying its mission, vision, strategic targets and operational objectives. Read more [06/04/10]

The Scientific Task Force on Avian Influenza and Wild Birds urges for systematic H5N1 monitoring. The task force, a collaborative partnership involving 15 international organizations including the Scientific and Technical Review Panel of the Ramsar Convention (STRP), held a review meeting in Rome, 23 March 2010. The team of experts stressed the role played by birds in the spread of H5N1 avian influenza virus. Read more. [06/04/10]

Feedback and suggestions are welcome to the Ramsar Convention Secretariat, Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland (tel +41 22 999 0170, fax +41 22 999 0169, e-mail ).