16 - 20 May: Standing Committee meeting in Gland, Switzerland

The 42nd meeting of the Standing Committee of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is taking place this week in Gland, Switzerland. Around 85 delegates from 49 countries gathered this afternoon to listen to the opening statements made during the Plenary Session.

Secretary General Anada Tiéga opened the floor by informing the audience that the former Chair of Standing Committee, Mr Kim Chan-Woo has been appointed Ambassador of the Republic of Korea in Kenya. He renewed the Secretariat’s warm thanks to H.E. Mr Kim for his invaluable contribution to the advancement of the Ramsar Convention and closed his intervention by welcoming Mr Yeon-chul Yoo as the new Chair of Standing Committee.

Mr Yeon-Chul Yoo officially opened the Plenary Session of the 42nd SC meeting	Ms Julia Marton-Lefèvre, IUCN Director General, welcomed all participants in IUCN premises

Jane Madgwick, CEO of Wetlands International, delivered a statement on behalf of Ramsar’s five International Organisation Partners

SG Anada Tiéga concluded the first part of the afternoon session