News from the CEPA e-mail list

A new project implementing Australia's National
CEPA Action Plan (19/10/04)

Good morning CEPA people:

Before I get to the main point of this message, let me first mention that some members of the list had a problem with the message on the decade of ESD that I sent out on the 8th October. For some reason the content of this message produced a warning message for some people, identifying the message as having "corrupt content" and blocking it. For those of you receiving this message, you can view the e-mail on-line here www.ramsar.org/outreach_news.htm.

Now for the main message:

A project is underway in the state of New South Wales (NSW) in Australia providing an innovative approach to identify people's understanding and awareness for the importance of wetlands and the Ramsar Convention. This project will contribute to the implementation of the country's CEPA Action Plan.

The NSW Ramsar Wetlands Communication Program (RWCP) aims to increase awareness, appreciation and value for the Ramsar Convention as a key tool for the conservation and wise use of wetlands across a range of tenures in a targeted communications program to government stakeholders and the broader community throughout NSW. Funded by the Australian Government through the Natural Heritage Trust, this project is being coordinated by The Wetland Centre (TWC). It follows on from the success of the Hunter Ramsar Communications Strategy (also coordinated by TWC) and represents further implementation of Australia's National CEPA Action Plan 2001-2005 whose principal aim is to coordinate a collaborative approach to wetland education across Australia (there are links to both of these documents here www.ramsar.org/outreach_nationalactionplans.htm).

The RWCP is focused on raising awareness for wetlands and the Ramsar Convention in NSW, a state with 11 Ramsar Sites representing a range of land tenures, from private landholders, to nature reserves and forests. Through the NSW Ramsar Managers Network it was identified that a communications program could increase the appreciation and level of value given to these sites and thereby achieve greater recognition within government stakeholders and the broader community for these Ramsar Wetlands, ultimately halting the continuing loss of wetlands from the Australian landscape.

Project Phases

The project is currently funded for 1 year and is split into four
phases:
1. Research Phase - concluded by October 2004
2. Design of Communications Program - concluded by December 2004
3. Implementation of the Communications Program - concluded by May 2005
4. Review and Evaluation - concluded by June 2005

More about the RWCP is available here www.wetlands.org.au/WhoCaresAboutOurWetlands .

TWC is keen to learn more about how other countries have communicated the value and appreciation for their Ramsar Listed Wetlands to the general community and government stakeholders. If you or your organisation has a story to tell, please send information to Leanne Cherry at project@wetlands.org.au.

Best wishes, Sandra Hails, Ramsar Secretariat

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Sandra Hails, CEPA Programme Officer
Ramsar Convention Secretariat
Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 999 0176; Fax: +41 22 999 0169
E-mail: hails@ramsar.org
Web Site: http://ramsar.org
CEPA mini-Web site: http://ramsar.org/outreach_index.htm

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