The
Ramsar LibraryThe Ramsar Convention Manual, 2nd ed. (1997)
file 3: chapters 4-5
The
1997 edition has been superseded by the Ramsar Manual, third edition, 2004.
4.
Assisting the Contracting Parties
This section describes the assistance available to Contracting Parties to help them meet their obligations under the Convention. The first four subjects (4.1 - 4.4) represent the main obligations.
Upon joining the Convention, each Contracting Party is obliged to designate at least one site for inclusion in the List of Wetlands of International Importance (Article 2.4). The List, which is based on information stored in the Ramsar Database (4.1.3), is maintained and updated by the Ramsar Bureau. It is made available to the public on the Ramsar Web site and as a printed document which is also circulated by diplomatic notification to the Contracting Parties at regular intervals. Arranged alphabetically by member State, the List shows the site name, date of designation, location, total area, and geographical coordinates of each wetland.
At any time, Contracting Parties may add wetlands to the List or extend the boundaries of those already included. Many have done so; for example, Australia, Canada, Chile and Norway each listed a single wetland at the time they deposited their instruments of accession or ratification, and have since designated a further 158 sites among them (as of July 1997).
A Contracting Party may also, because of its urgent national interest, delete or restrict the boundaries of wetlands already included in the List (Article 2.5). The Convention provides, however, that such deletions or restrictions should be compensated for by the creation of additional nature reserves, either in the same area or elsewhere, of an adequate portion of the original habitat (Article 4.2). This provision has rarely been applied and no site has ever been deleted from the List because of an adverse change in its ecological character
To assist Parties in designating wetlands for inclusion in the List, the Conference of the Contracting Parties has adopted "Criteria for Identifying Wetlands of International Importance" (4.1.1) and approved an "Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands" (4.1.2) to facilitate the accurate and consistent recording of data for each wetland site to be included in the List. An approved "Classification System for Wetland Type" (4.1.4) has also been formulated, by which means the different wetland types within a wetland site can be allocated to general categories and added to the Ramsar Database.
The establishment of wetland inventories (4.2.3), based on the best scientific information available at both national and international level, constitutes an effective basis to achieve the designation for the Ramsar List of the largest possible number of wetland sites. Some Contracting Parties, such as the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, have applied the Ramsar Criteria (4.1.1) to a national inventory of wetlands, have drawn up a detailed list of sites which meet these Criteria, and designate the sites progressively, as formalities are completed at national level.
Recommendation 4.6 of the Conference of the Parties urges Contracting Parties to establish such inventories showing in particular those sites which are of international importance. When requested, the Bureau and its technical partners may assist Contracting Parties and States preparing to join the Convention with inventory preparation, particularly in States where no national scientific inventory is already available. Those Contracting Parties with established national scientific inventories are encouraged to provide technical and/or financial support to member States without such inventories.
Sites on the List of Wetlands of International Importance which are considered to be at risk through change in ecological character brought about by human action can be placed by the Contracting Party concerned on the "Montreux Record" (4.1.5) and, funds permitting, may benefit from the "Management Guidance Procedure" (4.1.6).
Designating a wetland site for the Ramsar List does not in itself require the site previously to have been declared a protected area. In fact, listing under the Ramsar Convention, especially in the case of sites subject to intensive use by human communities – either to extract resources or to benefit from the natural functions of the wetland – should provide the necessary protection to ensure its long-term sustainability. This could be achieved by preparing and implementing an appropriate management plan, as requested by the Ramsar Strategic Plan, with the active participation of all stakeholders.
At its October 1996 meeting, the Standing Committee invited Parties to adopt a standard text (translated into the local language) for signs at all Ramsar sites, identifying the site as a Wetland of International Importance (4.5.5).
4.1.1 Criteria for identifying Wetlands of International Importance (See Appendix 5)
The text of the Convention (Article 2.2) states that:
"Wetlands should be selected for the List on account of their international significance in terms of ecology, botany, zoology, limnology or hydrology" and indicates that "in the first instance, wetlands of international importance to waterfowl at any season should be included".
The process of adopting specific criteria for the identification of wetlands of international importance began in 1974, but the first criteria were not adopted until 1980. In 1987 and 1990, the Conference of the Parties revised the criteria, and the 1996 Conference added a new cluster. The Scientific and Technical Review Panel has been instructed to review the criteria once again and to report to the next Conference of the Parties in 1999.
At present the Ramsar Criteria include four clusters:
Despite the successful application of the first three clusters, the participation in the Convention of an increasing number of developing countries (especially in the tropics) made it necessary to develop further criteria in order to facilitate the identification of wetlands of international importance. In 1990 the Conference of the Parties requested the Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP) to prepare criteria based on fish and fisheries. The criteria based on fish were adopted at the 1996 Conference, but fisheries were left for consideration on a future occasion. The Conference also requested the STRP to review the criteria again in advance of the 1999 Conference of the Parties and to consider the incorporation of criteria based on the hydrological functions of wetlands and on the cultural values and/or benefits derived from wetlands.
In order to facilitate a consistent use of the Ramsar Criteria, guidelines have been adopted for interpretation of each cluster. The guidelines for the criteria based on fish are very detailed, and it has been suggested that the guidelines for the other clusters should be further elaborated.
Recommendation 5.3 of the Conference of the Contracting Parties instructs the Bureau, in conjunction with the Scientific and Technical Review Panel, to review those sites that were included in the Ramsar List before the Criteria were formally adopted, since they may not in fact meet the present Criteria. Where a listed site fails to qualify under any of the criteria, the Bureau, in consultation with the Contracting Party concerned, will evaluate what measures might be necessary to extend, enhance or restore the wetland’s functions and values to the degree that it would qualify for inclusion in the List.
Where a listed site fails to meet the Criteria and there is no possibility of extension or enhancement/restoration of its functions or values, the Contracting Party concerned shall instruct the Bureau to remove the site from the List. The Contracting Party shall then apply the provisions for compensation, as provided in Article 4.2 of the Convention.
4.1.2 The Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (see Appendix 7)
The Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS) is the means by which Contracting Parties present information on wetlands designated for the List of Wetlands of International Importance, and by which the List is kept up to date. The items to be reported on by means of the Information Sheet were approved by the 1990 Conference of the Contracting Parties (Recommendation 4.7). The information presented in the Information Sheets is entered into the Ramsar Database (4.1.3) and forms a basis for monitoring and analysis.
The Information Sheet provides an internationally standardized format for describing wetlands and should be accompanied by the most detailed and up-to-date map available, preferably at least 1:25,000 or 1:50,000 scale. Completed Information Sheets on Ramsar Wetlands and maps should be sent directly to the Ramsar Bureau.
To assist compilers in filling in the form, the following additional items are provided and should be read first:
Resolution 5.3 recognizes that some Contracting Parties might have insufficient data and/or resources to complete the Information Sheet adequately. The Resolution urges such Parties to consult existing regional wetland inventories and relevant expert bodies, including NGOs, where appropriate, and to seek assistance from the Ramsar Bureau.
The List of Wetlands of International Importance and the Montreux Record (4.1.5) are based upon information stored in the Ramsar Database, which is maintained under contract with the Ramsar Bureau by Wetlands International at its headquarters in Wageningen, the Netherlands. The Database, managed by the Ramsar/Wetland Sites Officer in Wageningen, enables the Bureau to:
In addition, the Ramsar Database facilitates periodic publication of the Directory of Wetlands of International Importance, which provides a comprehensive overview of the latest information about every wetland site on the List. The Directory was published in four volumes, covering (I) Africa, (II) Asia and Oceania, (III) Europe, and (IV) the Neotropics and North America, for the 1993 Conference of the Parties and is now out of print. An update of new sites added to the List since the publication of the 1993 Directory was published for the 1996 Conference of the Parties. Work is under way to produce a new comprehensive Directory in time for the 7th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties in 1999, probably in diskette and/or CD-ROM format.
4.1.4 Classification System for Wetland Type (See Appendix 8)
The Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands asks for details of all wetland types present within the designated Ramsar site boundaries. A prescribed "Classification System for Wetland Type" was approved by the 1990 Conference of the Contracting Parties (Recommendation 4.7).
The categories listed in the classification were not intended to be scientifically exhaustive, but only to provide a broad framework for the rapid identification of the main wetland habitats represented at each site, with the "dominant wetland type" clearly indicated.
However, the Scientific and Technical Review Panel has indicated that the present Classification may not allow for a correct treatment of certain types, such as peatlands and coral reefs. A future meeting of the Conference of the Parties may be asked to reconsider this issue.
4.1.5 The Montreux Record (See Appendix 9)
The Montreux Record is a register of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of International Importance where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur as a result of technological developments, pollution or other human interference. It is maintained as part of the Ramsar Database (4.1.3).
The Record was established by Recommendation 4.8 of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (Montreux, Switzerland, 1990). Resolution 5.4 of the Conference (Kushiro, Japan, 1993) stated that this record should be referred to as the "Montreux Record", determined that the purpose of the Montreux Record should be to identify priority sites for positive national and international conservation attention, and instructed the Bureau to maintain the Montreux Record as part of the Database.
Guidelines for the Montreux Record (adopted as an Annex to Resolution 5.4) indicate the procedures for including Ramsar sites on the Montreux Record and removing sites from it. Resolution VI.1 of the Conference (Brisbane, Australia, 1996) established more precise procedures for the utilization of the Montreux Record mechanism.
Sites are included in the Montreux Record by the Contracting Parties concerned through a formal notification to the Bureau, often in response to:
On the List of Wetlands of International Importance, the Bureau indicates sites on the Montreux Record with the letters MR next to their names, and a separate list of sites on the Montreux Record is also provided (Appendix 9).
At the request of the Contracting Party concerned, the Bureau may send a technical mission, known as the "Management Guidance Procedure", to analyze the situation at one or more particular Montreux Record sites, provide advice on the measures to be taken, and assess the desirability of removing a site from the Montreux Record when measures have been implemented successfully.
4.1.6 The Management Guidance Procedure (See Appendix 11)
Special attention is given to assisting member States in the management and conservation of listed sites whose ecological character is threatened. This is carried out through the Management Guidance Procedure, a technical assistance mechanism established by the Standing Committee in 1988 and formally adopted by Recommendation 4.7 of the 1990 Conference of the Parties. The main objective of this mechanism is to provide assistance to developed and developing countries alike in solving the problems or threats that make inclusion in the Montreux Record necessary.
In most cases, the application of the Procedure consists of a visit by a team of two or more experts who will produce a report on their findings and recommendations. Upon receiving a request from a Contracting Party, the Bureau agrees upon the terms of reference for the mission with the concerned authorities and determines the type of expertise that will be required for the visiting team. The team’s draft report is submitted for review to the competent authorities who have requested the mission, and its revised final report then becomes a public document (Recommendation 4.7) which can become the basis for conservation action at the site. In some cases, reports have provided the framework for financial assistance from the Small Grants Fund and external support agencies.
Between 1988 and 1996 the Management Guidance Procedure has been applied at nearly 40 Ramsar sites. Originally, the missions often consisted of a visit by one member of the Bureau’s technical staff. Over the years, the missions have tended to become more elaborate, involving multi-disciplinary teams, and have endeavored to make more detailed analyses of each situation.
The Bureau maintains a separate project account to receive voluntary contributions from Contracting Parties and NGOs to defray the expenses of missions sent under the Management Guidance Procedure to developing countries and countries with economies in transition.
Applications of the Management Guidance Procedure
A complete list of MGP missions is available on the Ramsar Web site and from the Bureau. Copies of individual MGP reports can also be obtained from the Bureau.
Article 3.1 of the Convention states that "The Contracting Parties shall formulate and implement their planning so as to promote the conservation of wetlands included in the List, and as far as possible the wise use of wetlands in their territory".
A definition of wise use and guidelines for its implementation were first adopted by Recommendation 3.3 of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (Regina, Canada, 1987). To provide further assistance to Contracting Parties, the guidelines were expanded by a Wise Use Working Group established at Regina in 1987 and adopted by Recommendation 4.10 of the 1990 Conference (see Appendix 12).
Subsequently, additional guidance, amplifying the original guidelines and providing further assistance for officials responsible for the application of the Ramsar Convention in member States, was adopted by Recommendation 5.6 of the Conference (Kushiro, Japan, 1993). (See Appendix 13).
In addition, a Wise Use Project was carried out between 1990 and 1993 with funding from the Government of the Netherlands. This culminated in a 180-page book, Towards the Wise Use of Wetlands, compiled by T.J. Davis (Ramsar, 1993), detailing 17 case studies from different regions around the world. A summary of the project’s findings is given under 4.2.5.
The Wise Use Guidelines call upon the Contracting Parties to:
The guidelines emphasize the benefits and values of wetlands for sediment and erosion control; flood control; maintenance of water quality and abatement of pollution; maintenance of surface and underground water supply; support for fisheries, grazing and agriculture; outdoor recreation and education for human society; and climatic stability.
The Bureau assists Contracting Parties to implement the guidelines and additional guidance on the wise use of wetlands by:
The following sections define wise use and give a brief overview of the key elements of the wise use guidelines.
The following definition of wise use was established and adopted by the 1987 Conference of the Parties (Recommendation 3.3):
"The wise use of wetlands is their sustainable utilization for the benefit of mankind in a way compatible with the maintenance of the natural properties of the ecosystem."
"Sustainable utilization" of a wetland is defined as:
"Human use of a wetland so that it may yield the greatest continuous benefit to present generations while maintaining its potential to meet the needs and aspirations of future generations."
"Natural properties of the ecosystem" are defined as:
"Those physical, chemical and biological components, such as soil, water, plants, animals and nutrients, and the interactions between them."
4.2.2 Establishment of national wetland policies
(a) Institutional and organizational arrangements
The essential basis of wise use implementation is the development of wetland policies, at the national, regional and local level.
The main message conveyed by the Wise Use Guidelines is that the wise use of wetlands requires a coordinated approach on a national scale. This necessitates the planning of wetland policies, conservation policies, or policies with a broader scope (environment, application of water laws, or resource planning), and calls for the establishment of institutional and administrative arrangements.
Of considerable importance in policy development is the involvement of local people in the decision-making process related to wetland use, including the provision of information on planned wise use activities.
(b) Legislation
Legislative tools can be used to promote policy, including different mechanisms to aid the implementation of wise use practices:
1) Periodic review of existing legislation;
2) General wise use legislation for wetlands, including:
- protection of wetlands in land-use plans;
- a permit system for activities affecting wetlands;
- environmental impact assessments for proposed projects affecting wetlands;
- monitoring the effects of authorized actions, and environmental audits of these actions when completed;
- a system of management agreements between relevant government agencies, landowners and landusers;
- financial incentives, including taxes and subsidies;
- prevention of the introduction of invasive alien species;
- eradication of introduced and translocated species harmful to wetland systems; and
- rights of appeal against governmental decisions which might violate legal obligations concerning wetlands.
3) Legislation for the conservation and wise use of specific wetland sites, for example:
- Ramsar sites
- ecologically sensitive areas
- areas with a high degree of biodiversity
- sites containing endemic species
- wetland nature reserves.
4) Review of divisions of jurisdiction among government agencies, with particular regard to the integrated management of catchment-wide wetlands;
5) Development of cooperative arrangements for water systems shared between two or more countries, pursuing their coordination through other existing treaties.
4.2.3 Knowledge of wetlands and their values
To manage wetlands effectively it is necessary to have adequate knowledge of their functioning. Inventory, monitoring, research, and training activities help in this respect. Important sources of information are the wise use case studies published by the Bureau (Towards the Wise Use of Wetlands, 1993).
(a) Inventory
Inventories need not be elaborate to be helpful, and can produce information in the form of:
Defining the goals of an inventory will help to determine the methods and extent of each inventory. A wetland inventory should not be seen as a final document, but rather as an ongoing, long-term process for collecting and updating information.
(b) Monitoring
Monitoring is the process of measuring change in ecological character in any wetland over a period of time. It can be carried out at different levels of intensity, depending on available funding and/or technology.
Monitoring methods include simple field observations, remote sensing, quantitative sampling techniques such as the gathering of wetland plant material, and, where changes in social values and uses are concerned, participatory observation.
Resolution VI.1 of the Conference of the Parties (Brisbane, Australia, 1996) adopted a working definition of "ecological character" and guidelines for describing and maintaining the ecological character of Ramsar sites. The text appears in Appendix 10.
(c) Research
Contracting Parties are encouraged to acquire and share knowledge developed on wetland values, functions and uses. Research can be anything that expands upon basic knowledge. Areas that may require particular attention are:
The number of specific research questions will increase as progress is made in developing wise use activities. Research priorities should be based on management needs.
(d) Training
In establishing training programmes, attention should be given to:
The types of training of particular relevance for professionals involved in wise use practices are:
Training activities should be catalytic, involving governmental and non-governmental organizations, transferring knowledge gained, for example, from the regional level to potential trainers at the local level.
Training manuals and other resource materials should be developed and updated as an ongoing process.
(e) Education and public awareness
Education and public awareness (EPA) differs from the training required by professional staff to manage wetlands wisely. Education is the deeper and longer-term process of change in individuals; awareness is an individual’s state of knowledge, which often precedes and stimulates more interest and leads to further learning and action.
Communication of the values of wetlands to the public at large is still at an early stage. Improving EPA for wetlands is fundamental to achieving wise use. The actions required are:
4.2.4 Action at particular wetland sites
(a) Ecological aspects
Retention of the ecological functioning of a wetland requires an integrated, catchment approach to management, incorporating the different uses and activities that are compatible with sustainability.
Such management must take an interdisciplinary approach drawing upon the principles of:
Global concerns must also be considered, namely:
(b) Human activities
To achieve wise use of a wetland, a balance must be attained that ensures maintenance of the wetland type. Activities may vary between:
Management can be adapted to suit local conditions, sensitive to local cultures and respectful of traditional uses.
(c) Integrated management planning
Wetland management may be implemented by the development of management plans or strategies for a specific area or region. It is a process requiring constant review and revision.
Such plans should:
The 1993 Conference of Contracting Parties adopted "Guidelines on Management Planning for Ramsar sites and Other Wetlands" (Recommendation 5.7; see Appendix 14). Contracting Parties are urged to apply them when formulating new plans and to consider using them to review and, where necessary, update existing management plans.
In general, a management plan is organized as a four-part process:
1) Description (the factual basis on which management decisions can be taken; it may be revised in the light of new knowledge);
2) Recognition of past modifications of the site and of possible threats;
3) Evaluation and objectives (defining the goals of management in both long-term and short-term objectives);
4) Action plan (definition of the work to be done: includes habitat management; species management; usage; access; education, interpretation and communication; and research).
Annual and longer-term reviews of the plan need to be undertaken and may lead to amendment of the description, objectives and action plan.
Other considerations:
Wetland management needs to be incorporated into overall national policies reflecting the best technical information available. Specific technical information can often be obtained through the Ramsar Bureau and its partner organizations.
Resolution 5.7 calls on Contracting Parties to develop management plans for each wetland designated for the Ramsar List and contains guidelines on management planning for Ramsar sites and other wetlands. In turn, the Ramsar Strategic Plan 1997-2002, in its Operational Objective 5.2, aims at developing and implementing "management plans for all Ramsar sites, consistent with the Convention’s Guidelines on Management Planning and emphasizing involvement of local communities and other stakeholders".
Following the adoption of expanded guidelines for the implementation of the wise use of wetlands (Appendix 12) by the 1990 Conference of the Contracting Parties, the Government of the Netherlands provided funding to the Ramsar Bureau to carry out a three-year project designed to draw lessons from a number of experiments in the wise use of wetlands. The project aimed to provide examples of site-specific wise use from regions throughout the world, provide practical examples of the interrelation between human activities and wetlands, and provide information about the process of developing national wetland inventories and policies.
The Wise Use Project was coordinated by the Bureau, with technical support from the Wise Use Working Group (established by the Conference of Contracting Parties in 1987), the IUCN Wetlands Programme, and the University of Leiden, the Netherlands. Seventeen case studies were selected, in developed and developing countries, providing the widest possible geographical representation in different socio-economic contexts. There were two international studies (coastal wetlands in the Mediterranean and the Wadden Sea); three national studies (Canada, Guinea-Bissau, and Uganda); and twelve local studies (in Australia, Chad, Costa Rica, El Salvador, France, Hungary, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, the United States of America, Viet Nam, and Zambia).
In each case, the studies examined (a) the problems encountered, (b) the methods employed to counteract the problems, (c) the results and achievements obtained, and (d) the lessons learned.
Ultimately, more than forty countries, some developed, others developing, were associated with the project and took part in the evaluation of the case studies which were reviewed, analyzed and discussed by the Bureau and its advisors at two meetings hosted by the Netherlands and another hosted by the United States of America. Finally, a report on the project, entitled Towards the Wise Use of Wetlands, was published by Ramsar in 1993.
(a) Summary of problems encountered in the wise use case studies
Drainage of wetlands for:
Infilling for land reclamation
Infrastructure development:
Dam construction for:
Hydrological management:
Upstream/upland development:
Aquaculture development
Pollution and nutrient inputs:
Damage to fisheries:
Damage to forest resources:
Damage to biodiversity:
Social factors:
Institutional and legal factors:
(b) Summary of lessons learned from the wise use case studies
Nature of wise use:
Principles of wise use:
Objectives, policies and plans:
Local people and communities:
Population pressures:
Role of government agencies:
Survey and research:
Awareness, communication and demonstration:
4.2.6 General Objective 2 of the Ramsar Strategic Plan
General Objective 2 of the Ramsar Strategic Plan 1997-2002 is devoted to the wise use of wetlands: "To achieve the wise use of wetlands by implementing and further developing the Ramsar Wise Use Guidelines."
The General Objective comprises eight Operational Objectives and 26 specific Actions dealing with legislation; national wetland policies; economic valuation of wetlands; environmental impact assessment; wetland restoration and rehabilitation; and active and informed participation of local communities, including indigenous people and, in particular, women.
4.3 Reserves and training
Article 4.1 of the Convention provides that "each Contracting Party shall promote the conservation of wetlands and waterfowl by establishing nature reserves on wetlands, whether they are included in the List or not, and provide adequately for their wardening".
Recommendation 4.4, recognizing the value of establishing nature reserves at wetlands of diverse types and sizes, and the value of reserves in promoting conservation education and public awareness of the importance of wetland conservation and the goals of the Convention, urges Contracting Parties to:
Article 4.5 of the Convention states that "Contracting Parties shall promote the training of personnel competent in the fields of wetland research, management and wardening".
Trained personnel, particularly in the fields of management, education and administration, are essential for the effective conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. Training courses are crucial in this respect. Recognizing this, the Bureau forges and maintains links with organizations and institutions involved in conservation training and education throughout the world. By bringing together relevant bodies and Contracting Parties, the Bureau hopes to ensure that existing training facilities are used as efficiently as possible.
Recommendations 4.5 and 6.5 urge Contracting Parties to:
The Bureau recognizes the need for adequate financial resources for training programmes, particularly in developing countries, and endeavors to provide help in this respect, either through the Ramsar Small Grants Fund (4.4.6) or through contacts with external support agencies (4.4.8).
General Objective 4 of the Ramsar Strategic Plan 1997-2002 is devoted to the reinforcement of the capacity of national institutions in each Contracting Party, mainly through training activities.
4.3.3 Management, zonation and restoration of wetlands
(a) Management
Resolution 5.7 calls on Contracting Parties to:
To assist with the preparation of wetland management plans and their application in developing countries and countries in transition, the Bureau can assist Contracting Parties with their submissions to bilateral or multilateral external support agencies, including non-governmental organizations (4.4.8), and welcomes proposals for assistance from the Convention’s Small Grants Fund (4.4.6).
(b) Zonation
Wetlands are highly susceptible to negative impacts from actions occurring outside their designated borders, whether from activities occurring upstream, downstream or other sources. While strict protection may be the most appropriate form of wise use for smaller or highly sensitive Ramsar sites or wetland reserves, this is not always possible, especially at larger sites.
Several resolutions and recommendations of the Conference of the Parties, and in particular the Strategic Plan 1997-2002, require that countries take the appropriate measures to maintain the ecological character of wetlands. Such measures might include:
Emphasis is also given to the need to develop zoning measures related to larger Ramsar sites and wetland reserves, involving:
(c) Restoration
Recommendations 4.1 and 6.15 call for:
Many Contracting Parties provide information to the Bureau concerning their restoration and rehabilitation projects, in particular through the National Reports prepared for each meeting of the Conference of the Parties (3.1).
In the context of international cooperation, the Ramsar Convention has a central role to play, providing the single most important framework for intergovernmental cooperation on wetland issues.
Examples of cooperation between States using this framework and emphasizing the obligations for cooperation between Contracting Parties are:
The Convention also works to facilitate North-South and South-South dialogue on wetlands, so that developed countries and external support agencies (4.4.8) may assist developing countries with the conservation and wise use of their wetlands.
4.4.1 Cooperation with and between Contracting Parties
By setting international standards for wetland conservation and providing an international forum for discussion of global wetland issues, the Ramsar Convention facilitates a continuous flow of information on wetland matters between Contracting Parties.
The Bureau functions as the focal point for contacts between and among Contracting Parties by:
4.4.2 Transboundary wetland conservation
Article 5 of the Convention calls upon Contracting Parties to consult with one another in the case of shared wetlands or water systems.
Individual action by States may be insufficient for the conservation and management of wetlands because:
To assist Contracting Parties to fulfill their obligations in this area, the Bureau:
gathers information on wetlands and water systems that are shared between two or more Contracting Parties where such wetlands or water systems contain at least one wetland included in the List of Wetlands of International Importance;
Example: The Wadden Sea - a shared wetland of international importance
Shared wetland systems can suffer from different measures being undertaken by the countries sharing the wetland, with the result that conservation and wise use are not achieved for the wetland system as a whole. Application of the wise use principle has proved to be an outstanding tool for transboundary cooperation, as in the case of the Wadden Sea in northwest Europe.
The Wadden Sea is an extensive area of shallow waters, sandbanks, mudflats, and coastal marshes extending over a distance of some 500 kilometres along the coast of the North Sea, shared by Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands. It has enormous biological productivity and is of major international importance for:
For more than a decade, the three countries have cooperated to protect and conserve the Wadden Sea as an ecological entity. At the heart of the framework of the trilateral Danish-German-Dutch agreement on the protection of the region is the Ramsar concept of wise use. This principle is the common denominator linking the three countries, each of which has different legal and administrative structures.
The Common Wadden Sea Secretariat, located in Wilhemshaven, Germany, supervises monitoring of and research into the application of wise use practices which help to maintain and improve the activities which help to ensure the continued integrity of the wetland ecosystem.
A full account of the wise use of the Wadden Sea can be found in Towards the Wise Use of Wetlands (Ramsar, 1993).
4.4.3 Transboundary species conservation
Article 5 of the Convention states that "Contracting Parties shall endeavour to coordinate present and future policies and regulations concerning the conservation of wetlands and their flora and fauna".
Many species of migratory birds follow flyways (migratory routes) along which are situated wetlands which they use as resting and feeding areas. To achieve the effective conservation of such species requires cooperation between States sharing wetland systems or situated along a flyway. The Bureau works to facilitate such cooperation.
Recommendation 4.12 of the Conference of the Contracting Parties recognizes the flyway concept for the conservation of wetland bird species, and encourages Contracting Parties to:
Several cooperative flyway programmes have been developed for the management of shared wetland species or the conservation of individual species. Leading examples are:
The Ramsar Bureau and the Secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (Bonn Convention) have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with a view to enhancing synergy between the two treaties.
4.4.4 The twinning of Ramsar sites
Resolution 4.4 of the Conference of the Contracting Parties calls upon the Bureau to encourage bilateral and multilateral agreements for the twinning of wetland sites, within the framework of the Ramsar Convention.
The agreement signed in 1992 between the Governments of France and Romania, concerning the twinning of the Camargue and the Danube Delta, was one of the first of its kind involving sites on the Ramsar List.
The text of such an agreement leading to improved conservation of twinned wetland ecosystems and wise use of their resources might include the following:
The Ramsar Strategic Plan 1997-2002 includes Action 7.1.2 which reads: "Encourage twinning of transfrontier wetlands, and of other wetlands of similar characteristics, and use successful cases for illustrating the benefits of international cooperation."
The dramatic loss of Mediterranean wetlands during the 20th century, and the increasing stress on remaining sites, was the focus of an international symposium at Grado, Italy, in 1991. Participants from 28 countries and numerous organizations recognized that only concerted action on a regional scale, focusing on the Ramsar concept of wise use, could stop and reverse the negative trends and lead to effective wetland conservation. During the meeting, the idea for a pan-Mediterranean Wetlands (or ‘MedWet’) initiative, which would bring Governments and NGOs together in an action-oriented partnership, was conceived.
The first major action under the MedWet banner was launched in 1993, with a three-year project involving the Governments of France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain, the European Commission, the Station Biologique de la Tour du Valat (based in the Camargue, France), Wetlands International (then IWRB), the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), and the Ramsar Bureau. The project’s 6 million ECU budget was mainly funded from the European Commission’s ACNAT instrument, with the remainder covered jointly by the other partners.
Within each of the 5 Mediterranean EU Member States, this first MedWet project:
During this first phase of MedWet, the Ramsar Bureau and a specially established MedWet Secretariat (provided jointly by WWF-Italy and the Government of Italy) played a coordinating and catalyzing role, with the Bureau being primarily responsible for contacts with the five Governments, the European Commission, and international organizations. Many technical and more general publications were produced during the project; information on these is available from the Ramsar Bureau.
The culmination of the project was a major international conference held in Venice, Italy, in June 1996, where participants approved the Mediterranean Wetland Strategy (MWS) – a regional application of the Ramsar Strategic Plan. Copies of the MWS are available in English on the Ramsar Web site and in English or French from the Ramsar Bureau.
A second MedWet project, funded under the LIFE regulation of the European Union, will be completed towards the end of 1997, and focuses on extending phase one methodologies to five non-EU countries in the Mediterranean Basin: Albania, Algeria, Croatia, Morocco and Tunisia. At the heart of the project, once again, is close cooperation between Governments and non-governmental technical partners. The project has been managed by the Ramsar Bureau, through appointment of a Project Coordinator.
In 1997, MedWet received further financial and strategic support when the Global Environment Facility approved funding of a multimillion-dollar project: Conservation of Wetland and Coastal Ecosystems in the Mediterranean Region, focusing on Albania, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia and the Palestinian Authority. The project is co-financed by the French Global Environment Facility.
In 1996 the Ramsar Standing Committee endorsed the establishment of a Mediterranean Wetland Committee, involving governments, technical institutions and NGOs, to secure and guide the long-term future of MedWet as a force for implementation of the Mediterranean Wetland Strategy. With financial support from the Governments of Greece and France, the Mediterranean Programme of WWF International, and the Station Biologique de la Tour du Valat, the Ramsar Bureau has been able to appoint a MedWet Coordinator (based in Athens), supported by two secretariat units (based at the Greek Biotope/Wetland Centre and the Tour du Valat).
The regionally-based partnership approach, successfully pioneered by MedWet, could serve as a model for international cooperation on wetland conservation and wise use in other Ramsar regions.
4.4.6 The Ramsar Small Grants Fund (see Appendix 15)
The Ramsar Small Grants Fund for Wetland Conservation and Wise Use (SGF) was established by Resolution 4.3 of the 1990 Conference of the Contracting Parties (under the name "Wetland Conservation Fund"). Its aim is to provide financial assistance in the form of modest grants (maximum Swiss francs 40,000 per project) for projects in developing countries and countries with economies in transition. At present, funding is provided primarily for implementation of the Ramsar Strategic Plan 1997-2002, but requests for emergency assistance are also considered.
The Fund is financed partly by the Convention’s core budget but relies to a large extent upon voluntary contributions. The target established by the Conference of the Parties for the Ramsar SGF is one million US dollars per year.
Completed applications in English, French, or Spanish must normally be received by the Bureau by 31 March each year, though emergency assistance may be requested at any time. After an evaluation carried out by the technical staff at the Ramsar Bureau and, if necessary, by members of the Scientific and Technical Review Panel and/or partner organizations, recommendations are submitted to the Standing Committee for consideration at its annual meeting, normally held in September/October of each year.
The SGF Guidelines and application forms in English, French, or Spanish can be obtained from the Ramsar Bureau or downloaded from the Ramsar Web site (http://iucn.org/themes/ramsar/).
Examples of Ramsar SGF projects funded in 1996
| Algeria: study recent deterioriation of Macta Marshes | Mali: involving communities in management in Inner Niger Delta |
| Argentina: management planning for several high altitude wetlands | Pakistan: training of wetland managers |
| Bangladesh: institutional capacity building and training manual | Philippines: mapping of Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary |
| Ecuador: inventory of wetlands in interior provinces | Suriname: management system for North Coronie wetlands |
| Guatemala: implementing management plan at Bocas del Polchic | Togo: studies for management plan for Kéran and Togodo sites |
| Honduras: implementing management plan at Jeannette Kawas National Park | Trinidad and Tobago: Environmental Impact Assessment for Nariva Swamp |
| Islamic Republic of Iran: ecological studies of Gomishan Marsh | Uzbekistan: protection measures for sites and waterfowl |
| Kenya: monitoring of waterbirds at important wetland sites |
The Bureau has a mandate to initiate and maintain contacts with external support agencies, both in order to sensitize them to the need for wetland conservation and wise use as an integral part of their projects, and to solicit from them greater support for projects aimed at the environmentally sound management of wetlands.
For example, implementing recommendations of a Ramsar Management Guidance Procedure report may call for considerable investment, requiring external support in the case of developing countries or countries with economies in transition. It is desirable, therefore, that donor governments and organizations pay particular attention to these needs if the benefits gained by application of the Procedure are to be secured.
The following examples demonstrate the value of the framework of the Ramsar Convention for the conservation and wise use of wetlands through international cooperation.
The first two examples illustrate the bilateral assistance given by two Contracting Parties and the catalytic role of the Ramsar Bureau; the third provides instances of financial support provided by various governments to projects coordinated by the Bureau.
(a) Wetlands for the Future
Since 1995 the Ramsar Bureau has been coordinating the Wetlands for the Future initiative funded by the Government of the United States (US dollars 750,000). The aim of the initiative is to promote training activities in the Neotropical region within the framework of Ramsar’s wise use concept. The grants vary between US$ 3,000 and 20,000. Funding is open to governments, NGOs, training institutions, and individual researchers. The guidelines and application forms are available from the Ramsar Bureau or can be downloaded from the Ramsar Web site.
(b) Bulgaria’s wetland conservation action plan
Bulgaria has lost almost 90% of its wetlands since the 1940s, due to the effects of pollution, drainage, and development. Aware of the danger of losing what remains of their wetland resources, the Bulgarian authorities requested the Ramsar Bureau’s assistance in the preparation of a national action plan for the conservation of the country’s wetlands.
The process began with a Management Guidance Procedure mission by the Ramsar Bureau to Lake Srebarna (a Ramsar and World Heritage site) and other important wetlands along the Danube and Black Sea coast. Eighteen months later the action plan was published, with financial assistance provided by the Government of France. The plan comprised:
The Bulgarian National Ramsar Committee, consisting of Government officials, researchers, and representatives of non-government conservation organizations, monitors the progress made under the action plan, evaluates the results, and makes adjustments where necessary.
(c) Other project support by various governments catalyzed by the Ramsar Bureau
4.4.8 External support agencies
The term "external support agencies" is used here to refer to banks, government institutions, and international governmental agencies that play a significant role in providing funds to countries for their development.
Recommendation 3.4 of the Conference of the Contracting Parties urges development agencies to:
Recommendation 3.4 further urges development agencies to use their influence with borrowing or recipient governments to:
Recommendation 3.5 stipulates the tasks of the Bureau in respect to development agencies. In assisting developing countries with the identification and design of projects for the conservation and wise use of wetlands, the Bureau:
In addition, Resolution VI.10 on Cooperation with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and its implementing agencies: the World Bank, UNDP and UNEP, "instructs the Ramsar Bureau to extend and deepen its ongoing cooperation with the GEF Secretariat and the GEF implementing agencies". The Resolution also "calls upon the GEF to provide direct support to eligible Ramsar Contracting Parties, in order to assist them in the implementation, in their own territories, of the Ramsar Strategic Plan 1997-2002."
General Objective 7 of the Strategic Plan includes 21 actions intended "to promote international cooperation and mobilize financial assistance for wetland conservation and wise use in collaboration with other conventions and agencies, both governmental and non-governmental."
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has produced, in cooperation with IUCN–The World Conservation Union, a set of "Guidelines for Aid Agencies for Improved Conservation and Sustainable Use of Tropical and Sub-Tropical Wetlands". The Guidelines were introduced at the 1996 Ramsar Conference of the Parties, and recipient countries were invited to send comments to the Ramsar Bureau.
A Memorandum of Understanding between the Ramsar Bureau and the Environment Department of the World Bank is in the planning stages.
4.5 Communicating the Ramsar message
Communicating the Ramsar message about the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their natural resources is achieved at an international level by the activities of the Bureau and the partner organizations and at national and local level by the activities of the Contracting Parties and local NGOs.
(a) Communication activities in Contracting Parties
Article 6.3 of the Convention stipulates that "Contracting Parties shall ensure that those responsible at all levels for wetlands management shall be informed of, and take into consideration, recommendations of [the Conferences of the Contracting Parties] concerning the conservation, management and wise use of wetlands".
The Bureau encourages and, where necessary, assists national authorities of Contracting Parties, National Ramsar Committees, and national NGOs to:
The Ramsar Small Grants Fund (4.4.6) may serve as a source of funding for public awareness and wetland education activities.
General Objective 3 of the Ramsar Strategic Plan 1997-2002 is devoted to actions intended "to raise awareness of wetland values and functions throughout the world and at all levels", and one of the Operational Objectives is "to develop and encourage national programmes of [education and public awareness] on wetlands, targeted at a wide range of people, including key decision-makers, people living in and around wetlands, other wetland users and the public at large".
(b) The Bureau’s communication activities
An essential function of the Bureau is to foster communication about wetland conservation in general and the promotion of the Convention in particular, through:
The Ramsar Web site, first established in February 1996, included over 500 files by July 1997 and was receiving about 1800 visits to its home page per month. The site is maintained entirely by Bureau personnel on server space provided by IUCN, and is intended to fulfill three purposes:
Electronic mailing lists. The Bureau maintains a public e-mail mailing list, called the Ramsar Forum, in order to provide an e-mail mechanism for the exchange of news, announcements, and requests for information and advice on Ramsar-related issues. E-mail mailing lists target an audience mid-way between those who are privileged to have Web access and those who have no electronic access at all, and the Forum thus plays an important role in getting the Ramsar message out across a broad spectrum. To join the Ramsar Forum, interested persons may send an e-mail message to the following address: ramsar-mgr@indaba.iucn.org and the message should say: join ramsar-forum. A welcoming message and set of instructions will be automatically sent by return mail.
The Ramsar Exchange, a non-public companion to the Forum, is a suite of five administrative lists that was created in early June 1997 to facilitate official communications among those who are formally involved in the Convention. The Exchange proper exists in three separate language divisions for English, Spanish, and French and includes all Administrative Authorities, permanent diplomatic missions of Contracting Parties, and National Ramsar Committees for which e-mail addresses are known, as well as permanent observers and partner NGOs. The Standing Committee and STRP lists are intended for the use of those two groups exclusively.
Most of the Bureau’s publications are produced in the three working languages of the Convention: English, French, and Spanish. When funds are available, or through sponsorship, publications may be produced in other languages.
Some of the Bureau’s informational publications:
Some of the Bureau’s technical publications:
A current price list of Ramsar publications can be obtained from the Ramsar Web site and from the Bureau. Ramsar publications can be ordered from: IUCN Publication Services Unit, 219c Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0DL, U.K. (fax: +44 1223 277 175, iucn-psu@ wcmc.org.uk).
The Convention’s range of promotional material is funded either from the Bureau’s core budget or through external sponsorships.
A current price list and order form is available from the Ramsar Bureau.
The Ramsar logo, a soaring bird over blue and green stripes recalling sky, water and plants, helps to give the Convention an identity with which people from various cultures can associate.
The logo is registered with the World Intellectual Property Organization. Its use by national authorities responsible for the implementation of the Convention in member States is encouraged, especially on research, educational and awareness publications and informational material relating to the conservation and wise use of wetlands. Use of the logo for commercial purposes should be discussed with the Ramsar Bureau. Guidelines for the use of the Ramsar logo have been prepared by the Bureau and approved by the Standing Committee (Appendix 17).
The Standing Committee, by Decision 19.18, has invited Contracting Parties to identify Ramsar sites with signs bearing the following standard text, translated into the local language(s):
THIS SITE, COVERING XXX HECTARES, HAS BEEN DESIGNATED BY THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT FOR INCLUSION IN THE LIST OF WETLANDS OF INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE ESTABLISHED UNDER THE CONVENTION ON WETLANDS, THE INTER-NATIONAL TREATY SIGNED IN RAMSAR (IRAN) IN 1971 TO PROMOTE THE CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF WETLAND AREAS WORLDWIDE.
The protection and management of this site is under the responsibility of: (name and address, including telephone and fax numbers, of the appropriate agency)
Variation for states with a federal structure: ON THE PROPOSAL OF (NAME OF THE STATE/PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT), THIS SITE, COVERING XXX HECTARES, HAS BEEN DESIGNATED BY THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT . . . . . . .
In November 1996, the Standing Committee designated 2 February (the anniversary of the signing of the Convention in 1971) as an annual World Wetlands Day, to be celebrated around the world with educational and public awareness activities in support of wetland values in general and the Ramsar Convention in particular. On 2 February 1997, even at short notice, government agencies and non-governmental organizations in over thirty countries sponsored commemorative activities ranging from art contests, guided site visits, and exhibitions of wetland products to radio interviews and press releases, television broadcasts, designation of new Ramsar sites, and the launching of national wetland policies.
Reports of past WWD activities and suggestions for future ones may be obtained from the Ramsar Bureau.
5. How States may join the Ramsar Convention
Countries may become a Party to the Convention either by:
(a) signature without reservation as to ratification;
(b) signature subject to ratification followed by ratification; or
(c) accession
In order to accede to the Convention, signatures and the deposit of instruments of ratification or accession (along with details of the first wetland(s) to be designated for the Ramsar List) are to be communicated to the Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), 7 place de Fontenoy, 75352 Paris, France. UNESCO is the Depositary of the treaty.
5.1 Wording the instrument of accession
In order to ensure compliance with established international practice, the instrument of ratification or accession must be signed by the Head of State or Government or by the Minister of Foreign Affairs. It should indicate clearly:
(a) the full title of the Convention, as concluded at Ramsar, Iran, on 2 February 1971 (i.e., "The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat"), as amended by the Protocol of 3 December 1992 and by the Conference of the Parties on 28 May 1987; and
(b) the expression of the State’s willingness to be bound by the Convention, to comply with its provisions, and to implement them.
A sample instrument of accession is reproduced on the following page.
Example:
I, [name], [title]
in the Government of [name of the country]
do hereby certify that the State of
[name of the country]
accedes to the
Convention on Wetlands of International Importance
especially as Waterfowl Habitat
of 2 February 1971
as amended by the Protocol of 3.12.82
and by the Conference of the Parties on 28.5.87.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have signed and sealed
this Instrument of Accession
DONE at [name of capital city], [date].
[title and signature]
5.2 Designating the first wetland for the Ramsar List
The application to join the Convention must be accompanied by the designation of at least one site for the List of Wetlands of International Importance. The designation of the first and subsequent Ramsar sites does not require ratification by parliaments, but are administrative decisions taken by the appropriate government agency according to the existing procedures in each country. Such designation(s) should include:
a) a completed Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands for each site (Appendix 7); and
b) a map showing the boundaries of each designated site.
In designating the first wetland to be included in the List when joining the Convention, the boundaries of the wetland must be precisely described and also delimited on a map. In some cases it may be difficult to define precise boundaries for wetlands, for example, for those whose limits vary from year to year due to seasonal or irregular rainfall. One solution to this problem, adopted by some Contracting Parties, is to designate all wetlands within a wider ecosystem or a given national park or protected area.
It is important to note that sites designated for the Ramsar List do not have to be already established as protected areas before designation. In fact, many of the sites in the Ramsar List are not protected areas. Listing under the Ramsar Convention elevates the sites to a higher status (recognized as places of "international importance"), focuses more attention upon them, and should contribute to their long-term conservation and wise use. Human uses of wetlands are compatible with listing under Ramsar, provided that they are in line with the Ramsar concept of "wise use" and do not lead to a change in ecological character (4.2). Member States do not surrender sovereignty over their Ramsar sites in any way.
5.3 Designating additional sites for the List
The Convention provides for Contracting Parties to add further wetlands to the List at any time. The documentation required for additional sites (Information Sheet and map) is exactly the same as that required for wetlands designated when a country first joins the Convention.
In many cases, Contracting Parties have applied the Ramsar Criteria to a national inventory of wetlands, drawn up a detailed national list of sites which meet these criteria, and publicized this list. They may then designate these sites progressively, as formalities are completed at national level.
Designation of a site or sites at the time a country initially joins the Convention is effected through the Depositary, UNESCO. Designation of additional sites should be communicated directly to the Ramsar Bureau. The submissions must be presented by the Administrative Authority responsible for Ramsar matters or via the Contracting Party’s embassy or mission in Switzerland.
Individuals and groups seeking Ramsar designation for a particular wetland should make early contact with the Administrative Authority of the Contracting Party within whose territory the wetland lies. A list of the Administrative Authorities is available on the Ramsar Web site and in hard copy from the Ramsar Bureau.
5.4 The cost of joining the Convention (see Appendix 16)
At each ordinary meeting, the Conference of the Parties adopts a budget (in Swiss francs) for the next triennium. Contracting Parties contribute to this budget the same percentage that they contribute to the UN budget, on the basis of the scale adopted for each year by the UN General Assembly (see Appendix 16). The minimum applicable to a country is a 0.01% of the Convention’s annual budget (Swiss francs 284 in 1997).
Invoices for the following year are prepared by the Bureau annually, in November, and sent to Contracting Parties through diplomatic channels.
Payments are made to the Ramsar Bureau in annual installments, either by bank transfer or cheque, preferably in Swiss francs, and should reach the Bureau’s account on or as near as possible to the first of January of each year.
Parties joining the Convention part way through a given year are asked to pay a pro rata amount, notified to the State concerned by means of an invoice prepared and sent by the Bureau.
The
Ramsar Convention Manual, 2nd edition, is being published
to the Ramsar Web site in three individual parts, organized by a hyperlinked
table of contents. The 170-page printed book can be purchased for 17.50 pounds
sterling, US$ 26.25, from The IUCN Publications Unit,
219c Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0DL, United Kingdom (tel +44 1223 277894,
fax +44 1223 277175, info@books.iucn.org).
A certain number of hard copies are available free of charge from
the Bureau for readers from developing countries and countries with economies
in transition. For further information, 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 16 April 1998, Dwight Peck, Ramsar.
