Resolutions of the Brisbane Conference

Resolution VI.11 on Consolidation of Recommendations and Resolutions

6th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties
Brisbane, Australia
19-27 March 1996

Resolution VI.11: Consolidation of Recommendations and Resolutions of the Conference of the Contracting Parties

1. NOTING that no less than 72 recommendations and 18 resolutions have been adopted by the Conference of the Contracting Parties prior to its 6th Meeting in Brisbane and that more have been adopted by this meeting;

2. AWARE of the significant effort that has been contributed to the periodic compilation of such recommendations and resolutions as reference material for use by the Contracting Parties;

3. RECOGNIZING the need for a consolidated version of recommendations and resolutions dealing with the same matter, which were adopted at successive meetings of the Conference of the Contracting Parties;

4. FURTHER RECOGNIZING that such a thematic consolidation could significantly enhance awareness and understanding of the contents, commitments, historical context and potential gaps or overlaps in these documents, and, therefore, could significantly contribute to implementation of the Ramsar Convention’s Strategic Plan 1997-2002; and

5. NOTING that The Ramsar Convention Manual and the publication entitled The Legal Development of the Ramsar Convention, released in 1994 and 1995 respectively by the Ramsar Bureau, serve as valuable references for such consolidation;

THE CONFERENCE OF THE CONTRACTING PARTIES

6. DECIDES that a thematic consolidation of Ramsar recommendations and resolutions, dealing with the subjects listed in the Annex to the present resolution and other themes as may be appropriate, up to and including those adopted by the present meeting of the Conference, should be prepared;

7. INSTRUCTS the Bureau to produce, in consultation with the STRP and other legal experts as appropriate, a consolidated version of Ramsar recommendations and resolutions for consideration by the next meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties for adoption as official documentation of the Convention; and

8. DIRECTS the Standing Committee to follow up and review the consolidation process.

Annex to Resolution VI.11

SUBJECTS FOR CONSOLIDATION OF RAMSAR RECOMMENDATIONS AND RESOLUTIONS

The following subjects are to be considered when preparing thematic consolidation of the recommendations and resolutions of the six Meetings of the Conference of the Contracting Parties held between 1980 (Cagliari, Italy) and 1996 (Brisbane, Australia):

(a) Criteria and Guidelines for identifying Wetlands of International Importance;

(b) Definitions, Guidelines and Additional Guidance for the Wise Use concept;

(c) Definitions and Guidelines for identifying, reporting and monitoring change in ecological character at listed Ramsar sites and other wetlands;

(d) Guidelines for Management Planning (including wetland zonation) at listed Ramsar sites and other wetlands;

(e) Relationship between the Convention and the Development Assistance community, including multi-lateral development banks, the Global Environment Facility and bilateral development aid programmes;

(f) Operational instructions and mandates for bodies of the Convention such as the Standing Committee, the Scientific and Technical Review Panel, and the Ramsar Bureau; and

(g) Operating procedures and guidance for the implementing mechanisms of the Convention such as the Ramsar Small Grants Fund for Wetland Conservation and Wise Use and the Montreux Record.

For further information about the Ramsar Convention, 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 11 December 1996, updated 13 March 2000, Dwight Peck, Ramsar.