Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and the Ramsar synthesis report (10/05/06)

Good afternoon everyone:

Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Wetlands and Water: Synthesis is the key product for the Ramsar Convention of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA). In 68 pages it synthesizes the findings of the MA on inland, coastal, and near-shore marine wetlands, stressing the link between wetlands and water, and helping to set the future agenda for Ramsar. It’s available in PDF format from the MA Web site here http://www.millenniumassessment.org//en/Products.Synthesis.aspx. Presently in English and Arabic, it will eventually be available in Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish as well.

You can read the background material on the MA programme of work on the Ramsar Web site here http://www.ramsar.org/wn/w.n.ma_synthesis_available.htm. In parallel to the Key Messages prefaced to the Wetlands Synthesis report, the Ramsar Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP), at its February 2005 meeting, endorsed its own set of 14 key messages for decision-makers. These too can be viewed on the this web page.

The full report of the MA, in five volumes, can be downloaded (by chapter) or purchased here http://www.millenniumassessment.org/en/Products.Global.Overview.aspx.

Best wishes, Sandra Hails, Ramsar Secretariat

****************************************************************************************************

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

**********************************************************