About the Ramsar Convention

Ramsar cooperation with the Convention on Biological Diversity

Cooperation between the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and the Convention on Biological Diversity

Resolution VI.9 (Brisbane, 1996), noting the importance of wetlands for the conservation of global biodiversity and the need to make the best use of scarce resources by promoting synergy between the work of environment-related conventions, called for a range of actions to promote cooperation with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which were reinforced through Action 7.2.3 of the Strategic Plan as adopted by Resolution VI.14. At its 3rd Conference of Contracting Parties (COP3) the CBD adopted Decision III/21 which called on Ramsar to act as a "lead partner" of CBD on wetland biodiversity issues. In accordance with these mandates, and the Memorandum of Cooperation between the two Convention secretariats, the Ramsar Bureau has been actively involved in an ongoing process to identify areas of common interest and potential cooperation.

The Joint Work Plan between the two Conventions

Based on its review of the areas of common interest and possible cooperation between the Conventions, the Ramsar Bureau prepared a Proposed Joint Work Plan, including a introductory essay on cooperation and common objectives between the two conventions, as an Information Document for CBD’s COP4.  The Proposed Joint Work Plan was endorsed by the 4th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, Bratislava, Slovak Republic, May 1998 in Decision IV/15 of COP4, which also recommended it as a model for future cooperative arrangements.  The full text of the Proposed Plan as approved has been reprinted in the Proceedings of CBD's COP4, A programme for change: decisions from the Fourth Meeting . . . , United Nations, 1998, pages 116-37.  At the expiration of the Joint Work Plan 1998-1999, a second Joint Work Plan 2000-2001 has recently been endorsed by the 5th COP of the CBD in Nairobi, Kenya, May 2000. The third Joint Work Plan, for 2002-2006, was endorsed by the 6th COP of the CBD in the Hague, April 2002, and by Ramsar COP8 (Resolution VIII.5) in November 2002. The draft of the fourth JWP, 2007-2010, was endorsed by the Ramsar Standing Committee in February 2007 and awaits final endorsement by the CBD SBSTTA.

CBD press release on future cooperation, January 2007

Third Joint Work Plan 2002-2006	Troisième Plan de travail conjoint (2002-2006)	Tercer Plan de Trabajo Conjunto (2002-2006)
Second Joint Work Plan 2000-2001	Plan de Travail Conjoint 2000-2001	Plan de Trabajo Conjunto 2000-2001
First Joint Work Plan 1998-1999	Plan de Travail Conjoint 1998-1999	Plan de Trabajo Conjunto 1998-1999
Progress Report on Implementation of the Joint Work Plan	Rapport sur les Progrès de l'application du Plan de Travail Conjoint	Informe sobre los Progresos en la Implementación del Plan de Trabajo Conjunto

The Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention and the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, signing the Memorandum of Cooperation between the secretariats, Switzerland, January 1996

Memorandum of Cooperation with the secretariat of the CBD (January 1996)

Protocole de Coopération avec le Secrétariat de la CDB (janvier 1996)

Decision III/21 of the 3rd COP of the CBD, Buenos Aires (Nov. 1996)

"Wetlands and Biodiversity"  Paper prepared by the Ramsar  Bureau, with input from Dr David Stone with financial assistance from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), distributed to the delegates to the 3rd Conference of the Parties to the CBD, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 4-15 November 1996, by the CBD Secretariat, as document UNEP/CBD/COP/3/Inf.21.

Memorandum of Understanding between the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diverstiy and Wetlands International relating to Cooperation for the Conservation and Wise Use of Wetlands and their Associated Biodiversity (September 2000)

Ramsar at the 4th CBD Conference of the Parties

The 4th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity met in Bratislava, Slovak Republic from 4 to 15 May 1998.  Ramsar Bureau staff were present to ensure that the Ramsar message was heard and reflected in the decisions of the Conference.  Many of the COP's decisions embody Ramsar themes, such as the ecosystem approach and the wise use principles, but here are the texts of the four decisions that most directly involve the Ramsar Convention itself.

Here are some of the other documents concerning the Ramsar Convention that emanated from the 4th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

A Special Edition of the Ramsar Bulletin Board followed the news of COP4 almost daily.

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 ). First posted 8 April 1999, updated 1 March 2007, Dwight Peck, Ramsar.