The Ramsar Bulletin Board, 10 November 2010

Translation of key Ramsar documents into Russian

The Secretariat is pleased to announce the completion of translation of a set of key Ramsar documents into Russian, in response to requests by, and in consultation with our focal points in the Russian Federation and other Contracting Parties that were members of the Former Soviet Union, and where Russian is still a widely used language. More [10/11/10]

BlackSeaWet: Ramsar’s Regional Initiative for Black and Azov Seas coastal wetlands

After a first meeting of the newly established management body of this Ramsar Regional Initiative held in February this year, the governing group of this cooperation programme met again on 5-7 October 2010 in Tulcea, Romania, hosted by the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Authority. The representatives of the countries bordering the Black and Azov Seas provided a short update on the activities by their national working groups and urged the absent countries to catch up and to establish rapidly national work programmes. More [04/11/10]

2010 SGF portfolio of project funding opportunities now available

The Ramsar Small Grants Fund (SGF) was established in 1990 as a mechanism to assist developing countries and those with economies in transition in implementing the Convention and to support the conservation and wise use of wetland resources, with a strong human and social dimension. From 1991 to 2009 the Fund has provided a total of 7.7 million Swiss Francs to 234 projects from 108 countries, providing up to 40,000 Swiss Francs (about US$38,000) per project. More [04/11/10]

 Who's Where?

Tobias Salathé, Senior Advisor for Europe is in Mikulov, Czech Republic for a planning meeting with the European members of the Standing Committee from 10-12 November. On 23 November, he will be in Strasbourg, France, for a meeting with the Biodiversity Committee of the Members of the European Parliament. [10/11/10]

Vainuupo Jungblut, Ramsar Officer Oceania will be travelling to Nadi, Fiji tomorrow to facilitate and deliver a training on mangrove monitoring in the Pacific Islands from 9-11 November. This training is organized through a partnership between SPREP, The University of Tasmania and WWF South Pacific. [05/11/10]

Sandra Hails, CEPA Programme Officer will be attending a CEPA workshop for CEPA Focal Points in southern African countries from 8-11 November in Windhoek, Namibia. She will then be attending a Wetland Link International (WLI) – Asia Conference at the Paya Indah Wetlands, near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 22 – 25 November. [05/11/10]

The Senior Regional Advisor for Asia-Oceania, Lew Young, will be in China from 4 – 16 November where he will attend the celebrations for the 15th anniversary of the designation of the Mai Po Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site in Hong Kong (on 6th November), before travelling to Yunnan province to attend the World Conference on Terraced Landscapes. The Ramsar Convention is one of the collaborating institutions for the conference which will last from 11 – 15 November. [03/11/10]

 For more old Ramsar Secretariat travel news, see also 'Who Was Where', 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

New Assistant Advisor for Europe
The Ramsar Secretariat is delighted to welcome Kati Wenzel who begins work today as Assistant Advisor for the European Region.

Nueva Consejera Asistente para Europa en la Secretaría
La Secretaría de Ramsar está encantada de desear la bienvenida a Kati Wenzel, que hoy empieza su trabajo de Consejera Asistente para la región europea.

Nouvelle Conseillère assistante pour l’Europe au Secrétariat
Le Secrétariat Ramsar a le plaisir de souhaiter la bienvenue à Kati Wenzel qui prend aujourd’hui ses fonctions de Conseillère assistante pour la Région Europe.  

More [02/11/10]

“State of the World’s Waterbirds 2010” launched at CBD COP10

At the Convention on Biological Diversity’s COP10 in Nagoya, Japan, Wetlands International launched its new publication State of the World’s Waterbirds 2010. More [29/10/10]

Ramsar news from CBD's COP10 in Nagoya, Japan

Anada Tiéga, Ramsar's Secretary General, reports from Nagoya that today the Executive Heads of the Secretariats of the Convention on Wetlands, the World Heritage Convention, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); and the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS),  issued a Joint Statement to the High-Level Segment of the CBD's COP 10. Noting that while they may be more targeted in scope than the CBD, they contribute towards achieving the same objectives of supporting the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, each providing complementary and effective tools designed to be highly operational and to make a difference on-the-ground. The statement notes that the four Conventions agreed that the adoption of an inclusive strategic plan at COP10 with robust and relevant targets that enables the reality of each country to be reflected through their National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans, will contribute towards more coherent and effective on-the-ground action. Read the full statement here. [28/10/10]

40th anniversary celebrations in the Americas

As part of the Convention's 40th anniversary celebrations, the Americas Team at the Ramsar Secretariat is seeking experiences that illustrate the activities related to the management of Ramsar Sites as well as experiences of schools aimed at the conservation and wise use of wetlands in the Americas.  More here on management  experiences and school experiences.

En el marco de las celebraciones del aniversario de la Convención sobre los Humedales, la Secretaría de Ramsar à travès del equipo de las Américas, está buscando indentificar y difundir experiencias que ilustren actividades de manejo en los Sitios Ramsar así como por colégios en las Américas que hayan contribuido a su conservación y uso racional.  Más información aquí para experiencias de manejo y para experiencias en colégios aquí.  18/10/10]

Costa Rica’s Humedal Maquenque Ramsar Site

Costa Rica has designated its 12th Site of International Importance, Humedal Maquenque. The Ramsar Humedal Maquenque (59,692 ha; 10°40’N 084°08’W) is located in the northern part of Costa Rica and includes the total area of the National Wildlife Refuge Maquenque and the intermediate zone of the National Wildlife Refuge Biological Border Corridor Nicaragua-Costa Rica. More | Español [12/10/10]

SER2011: Call for Proposals for Special Sessions, Symposia, Workshops & Training Courses

The Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) is now accepting proposals for special sessions, symposia, workshops and training courses at its 4th World Conference on Ecological Restoration, 21-25 August 2011 in Merida, Mexico. If you are interested in organizing a session or training opportunity to complement the scientific programme, please submit your proposal no later than 1 December 2010.

Visit the SER2011 conference website for more information and guidelines: www.ser2011.org/en/registration/call-for-proposals/ 

First World Conference on Terraced Landscapes - Mengzi, China

From 11-15 November 2010 the government of Honghe Prefecture will be hosting the First World Conference on Terraced Landscapes in Mengzi, Yunnan Province, P.R. China. The Ramsar Convention Secretariat will be one of the collaborating institutions. More [05/10/10]

Second ‘Information Sharing Workshop and Training on Wetland Management’, Ramsar Regional Centre-East Asia Changwon, South Korea

The Second ‘Information Sharing Workshop and Training on Wetland Management’ organized by the Ramsar Regional Centre – East Asia (RRC-EA) took place from 13 – 17 September in Changwon City, South Korea. More [01/10/10]

New Project Management Officer for the Ramsar Secretariat

The Secretariat extends a warm welcome to Ms Virginie PIRENS as Project Management Officer. She will coordinate and administer the many activities undertaken and planned in partnership with, and with support from, the Danone-Evian Group. More | Français |Español [01/10/10]

International Training of Trainers Wetland Management Planning course, Netherlands, 22-23 September

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 ).