Ramsar reception to celebrate international and national partnerships on the occasion of the Convention’s 40th Anniversary

The Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations Office in Geneva and the Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention hosted an official reception last night. On the occasion of the Convention’s 40th Anniversary, guests including Federal, Canton and local authorities, the Geneva international community, regional representatives on Ramsar’s Standing Committee, Ramsar’s international organisation partners, and friends of the Convention gathered at the Natural History Museum of the City of Geneva.

Welcoming addresses were made by Anada Tiéga, Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention (read statement here); Ambassador Martinelli, Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office, Switzerland (read statement here); and Ambassador Sajjadi, Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office, Islamic Republic of Iran (read statement here).

Welcoming remarks were followed by two current examples of partnerships: a local partnership with a design school, IPAC-Design in Geneva in the form of a video clip contest. The winners of the competition received their prizes and the clip of the winner was projected during the ceremony.

A 3D TV project with Upside Television, “Ondia and the Seven Wonder Wetlands” was featured as one element of an ongoing project with Upside via Ramsar’s partnership with the Evian/Danone group. Aimed at spreading the wetland message more widely to the home and to school, with modern 3D technology, the Ramsar Secretariat is interested in receiving expanded institutional and financial support to take this further.

The evening ended with an enjoyable reception featuring Swiss and Iranian flavours.

Pictures of the evening are available here. For more background information, a press release is available in English and French.