The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

4th meeting of the Mediterrean Wetlands Committee, Sesimbra, Portugal, 21-23 May 2001

Fourth Meeting of the Mediterranean Wetlands Committee (MedWet/Com4)
Sesimbra, Portugal, 21-23 May 2001

DOC. MC4/07

Fourth Meeting of the Mediterranean Wetlands Committee
Sesimbra, Portugal, 21-23 May 2001

Ensuring the long-term future of the MedWet Initiative:

Proposal from MedWet/Com to Ramsar COP8

01 From 1992 to 1996, the coordination of the MedWet Initiative was carried out by an informal Coordination Group and its chair, whose expenses were funded under the MedWet1 project. From 1997-2000, a MedWet Coordinator was appointed by the Secretary General of the Convention on Wetlands, as outposted member of the Ramsar Bureau, and was funded by contributions to the Convention by WWF MedPO and the MAVA Foundation. For 2001-2002, the Standing Committee of the Convention accepted Greece’s proposal to host in Athens and to cover the expenses of a MedWet Coordination Unit – consisting mainly of three staff members - as an interim measure.

02 To ensure the longer-term future of the MedWet Initiative, it becomes necessary to agree on an institutionalised way to cover its core costs. These annual costs can be summarised as follows (in euros per year):

03 In addition, many other costs related to MedWet are already covered by the members of MedWet/Com in a voluntary way, and it is expected that they will continue to do so. These include (among others):

• Manpower used for the development and management of MedWet projects.[Mainly by NGO members and wetland centres, but not exclusively, as demonstrated by the work of ICN in relation to the MedWet Inventory System.]
• Technical support of the MedWet Coordination.
• Hosting MedWet/Com meetings [As done already by Greece, Spain, Tunisia, and Portugal.].
• Expenses for attending MedWet/Com and other MedWet meetings.

04 It is suggested to MedWet/Com to propose to Ramsar COP8 a resolution for sharing of these core costs, in the way described in the paragraphs below.

05 The MedWet/Com member hosting the MedWet Coordination Unit will cover the full costs of the two technical staff members and one administrative support staff member (including salaries and social charges). In addition the host country should cover the cost of the operation of office facilities, including rent and overheads, use of furniture and equipment, postage and telecommunication costs, copying and small scale printing.

06 The members of the MedWet Technical Network will cover the needs of the Coordination Unit in technical support by providing appropriate experts as required, after mutual consultation, and on a voluntary basis. These requirements must be planned well in advance and included in the Work Plans of the Unit.

07 The MedWet/Com member hosting each of its meetings is expected to cover all the expenses required within the country, including the venue, simultaneous translations and the expenses of sponsored delegates (approximately 20-25 persons), but not their travel costs.

08 The costs detailed below should be covered by an increase of the current contribution of Mediterranean states to the Convention on Wetlands, as per attached table.

TABLE OF ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CORE BUDGET OF THE RAMSAR CONVENTION (using the UN scale of assessments)

09 The meeting may wish to discuss other approaches to distribute more evenly the contribution of MedWet/Com countries.

10 Of course, MedWet/Com may propose a different system of allocating the above remaining costs among its members.

11 It is also proposed that an overhead of 10% be charged to all projects administered by the MedWet Co-ordination Unit. In addition, the Unit should negotiate a fee for its contribution to the development of projects that will be executed / administered by other agencies.

For further information about MedWet or 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 22 April 2001, Dwight Peck, Ramsar.