Resolutions of the Kushiro Conference

Resolution 5.4 on the Montreux Record

5th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties
Kushiro, Japan
9-16 June 1993

Resolution 5.4: The Record of Ramsar sites where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur ("Montreux Record")

RECALLING that Contracting Parties "designate suitable wetlands within [their] territory for inclusion in a List of Wetlands of International Importance" (Article 2.1), "formulate and implement their planning so as to promote the conservation of wetlands included in the List" (Article 3.1), and inform the Convention Bureau "if the ecological character of any wetland in [their] territory and included in the List has changed, is changing, or is likely to change as the result of technological development, pollution, or other human interference" (Article 3.2);

FURTHER RECALLING that Recommendation 4.8 adopted by the Fourth Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties instructed the Convention Bureau, in consultation with each Contracting Party concerned, "to maintain a record of Ramsar sites where such changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur";

RECOGNIZING the value of such a record in identifying priorities for the Monitoring Procedure, the Wetland Conservation Fund, and other financial mechanisms;

DRAWING ATTENTION to Resolution RES. C.5.5 ("Establishment of a Scientific and Technical Review Panel");

THE CONFERENCE OF THE CONTRACTING PARTIES

DECIDES that the record established by Recommendation 4.8. should generally be referred to as the "Montreux Record", although its full title ("Record of Ramsar sites where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur") should be retained as a subheading for use in formal documents;

DETERMINES that the purpose of the Montreux Record is to identify priority sites for positive national and international conservation attention, to guide implementation of the Monitoring Procedure, and to guide allocation of resources available under financial mechanisms;

INSTRUCTS the Convention Bureau to maintain the Montreux Record as part of the Ramsar database and in accordance with the guidelines appended in the annex to the present Resolution; and

CHARGES the Convention's Scientific and Technical Review Panel, established by Resolution RES. C.5.5, with providing advice on the maintenance of the Montreux Record, and other matters relating to the conservation of Ramsar sites included in the Montreux Record.

Annex: Montreux Record

For more information about the Resolutions and Recommendations of the Montreux COP or the Ramsar Convention itself, 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 ). Posted 18 January 1997, updated 6 March 2000, Dwight Peck, Ramsar.