The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

Small Grants for Wetlands Programme, IUCN Netherlands Committee

Subject: The Small Grants for Wetlands Programme (SWP) of the Netherlands Committee for IUCN (NC-IUCN)

Dear Madam / Sir,

The Netherlands Committee for IUCN (The World Conservation Union) administers a small grants programme for projects aimed at the conservation and sustainable management of wetlands. Funds managed by this Small grants for Wetlands Programme (SWP) are provided by the Government of the Netherlands.

The Netherlands is a contracting party to both the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as waterfowl habitat (Ramsar Convention). Therefore projects that are funded by NC-IUCN/SWP should be in line with these conventions. In particular, the central objective of the Netherlands policy on wetlands is wise use. Wise use is defined within the framework of the Ramsar Convention as "the sustainable utilisation of wetland resources for the benefit of mankind in a way that is compatible with the maintenance of the natural properties of the wetland system".

SWP funds are especially meant to support projects in the field of conservation and sustainable management of wetlands, set up and implemented by non-governmental, local organisations (NGOs). The ecosystem approach defined by the Convention on Biological Diversity should be the strategic framework for project implementation –see www.biodiv.org/EcosysApproach/Index.html.

SWP has drafted criteria for the selection of projects to be funded, and a format for project proposals (enclosed). Project proposals must be prepared according to this format and projects must comply with these criteria. Furthermore, the programme will strive for a balanced allocation of funds between regions and priority themes. Countries in which NGO projects may be funded by SWP are those included in the list of bilateral development co-operation countries set by the Netherlands (see Criteria for funding under "Strict criteria").

Deadlines for submission of project proposals to SWP are 1^st of March, 1^st of July and 1^st of November.

Yours sincerely,

Henri Roggeri (Mr.)
Programme Co-ordinator

Contact for further information:
Mr. Henri Roggeri / Ms. Esther Blom
Netherlands Committee for IUCN
Small grants for Wetlands Programme
Plantage Middenlaan 2B
1018 DD Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Tel:+31 - 20 - 626 1732
Fax:+31 - 20 - 627 9349
E-mail: esther.blom@nciucn.nl
henri.roggeri@nciucn.nl
Website: www.wetlands.nl

Encl. Criteria and terms of reference

The Ramsar Bureau applauds this initiative but points out that it is not a programme of the Convention on Wetlands; all inquiries should be directed to the programme sponsors at IUCN Netherlands Committee. 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 18 January 2001, Dwight Peck, Ramsar.