Standing Committee Subgroups on COP8 and Finance

Photos of the meetings of the Subgroups on COP8 and Finance

(for both their historical and their aesthetic values, if any)

{This page is all about eating. If you missed the page about the conservation of wetlands, go back here.}

No mistaking this scene for a London rave, but the gates have only just opened and who knows what will happen next.

As the laughter becomes shrill and the reception swings into high gear, Nick Davidson and Doug Taylor contribute to the party madness (left). Ramsar's Ibrahim Shaame and Adriána Klindová, Slovak Republic.

The Subgroups reception, with an hilarious festive devil-may-care party atmosphere seen everywhere.

European strategy: Gordana Beltram (Slovenia) and Tobias Salathé, the Bureau's Coordinator for Europe.

Hispanophones gather. José Ramón Picatoste (Spain), Carlos Villalba (Ramsar), Jesus Serrada (Spain), and Delmar Blasco (Ramsar).

The Grim Ramsar Interns, May 2002. Sergey Dereliev (Bulgaria), Jia Ma (China), Julio Montes de Oca (Costa Rica & Mexico), Simon Rafanomezantsoa (Madagascar)

Doug Taylor (Wetlands International), Nick Davidson (Ramsar), and Clay Rubec (Canada)

Annette Keller, Karen Jenderedjian (Armenia), Sergei Dereliev, Carlos Villalba; Simon Nash of Wetlands International in the background.

Herb Raffaele (USA), center, and Jamie Pittock (right), director of WWF's Living Waters Programme.

A study in exuberance: Chris Tydeman, Spyros Kouvelis

A study in effective smiling. (Admire both, don't try to choose.) Adriána Klindová, Slovak Republic, and Ibrahim Shaame, Ramsar Bureau.

Annette Keller and John O'Sullivan say "See you next time!"

The May 2002 Subgroup meetings end with consensus on quite a few issues, lots of compromises, some noncompromises, lots of work for the run-up to COP8 in November, and a lively shared interest in viewing the sights of Valencia in November 2002. Hope to see you there.

--Photos by Carlos Villalba and Jia Ma.