Key Documents of the Ramsar Convention

Diplomatic notification 1999/9: Wetlands and climate change, Ramsar and the UNFCCC

Notification 1999/9

Cooperation between the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

The Bureau of the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971) presents its compliments and has the honour to refer to the following:

The 6^th and 7^th Meetings of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention indicated through several Resolutions and Recommendations a desire to see the development of a closer working partnership with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Especially notable is the Convention Work Plan 2000-2002 (COP7 Resolution VII.27), which through Action 7.2.7 seeks the development of a Memorandum of Cooperation with UNFCCC, leading to a Joint Work Plan aimed at cooperative implementation of both conventions at the international, national and local levels. COP7 Resolution VII.4 on partnerships and cooperation makes a similar recommendation. Other COP7 decisions which make references to the desirability of collaboration between Ramsar and UNFCCC are Resolution VII.10: Wetland Risk Assessment Framework, Resolution VII.18: Guidelines for integrating wetland conservation and wise use into river basin management, Recommendation 7.1: Draft Global Action Plan for the Wise Use and Management of Peatlands, and Recommendation 7.2: Small Island Developing States, island wetland ecosystems, and the Ramsar Convention.

In accordance with these mandates, the Ramsar Bureau engaged IUCN–The World Conservation Union to prepare a Discussion Paper on the areas of common interest and potential joint actions by the Ramsar Convention and UNFCCC, as attached. This Paper includes in Section 4 several suggestions for future collaboration between the Convention, as prepared by the Bureau.

The Administrative Authorities of the Convention on Wetlands are urged to consult with their counterparts responsible for the implementation of the UNFCCC to encourage support for enhanced cooperation between the Conventions, as proposed and outlined in the attached Paper. In accordance with the relevant COP7 decisions referred to above, the Bureau will table the Discussion Paper at the forthcoming Fifth UNFCCC COP to be held in Bonn, Germany, from 25 October to 5 November 1999. It is hoped that the delegations of Ramsar Contracting Parties attending this COP will be able to speak in support of the proposed cooperation between the Conventions and seek to adopt appropriate text that will give impetus for the future elaboration of a Memorandum of Cooperation and a Joint Work Programme between Ramsar and UNFCCC.

The Bureau of the Convention on Wetlands respectfully requests that the content of the present Note be communicated to the competent national authorities and avails itself of this opportunity to renew the assurance of its highest consideration.

Gland, 20 October 1999

Encl: Wetlands and climate change

For further information about the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, please contact the Ramsar Convention Bureau, Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland (tel +41 22 999 0170, fax +41 22 999 0169, e-mail ramsar@ramsar.org).  Posted 17 November 1999, Dwight Peck, Ramsar.