The Ramsar Photo Gallery

World Wetlands Day 2001: Uganda

Launching of the Uganda Wetlands Sector Strategic Plan 2001-2010 and Commemoration of the 30^th Anniversary of the Ramsar Convention

The Secretary General, Mr Delmar Blasco, spent 1 February 2001 in Kampala for the launching of Uganda's innovative new Strategic Plan -- see the agenda, read his speech, view the photos.

Following which, he traveled with Mr Paul Mafabi, Vice-Chair of the Ramsar Standing Committee, and other Ugandan officials to Lutembe Bay to celebrate Ramsar's 30th anniversary and Uganda's part in it. Here's another speech for the occasion.

And here are the photos. First, the world's first double World Wetlands Day cake.

Mr  Blasco and the Minister, already thoroughly soaked by a badly-popped champagne bottle, cut the awesome cake and prepare to get fat.

Welcome!

The festive scene, and the kids

Reciting Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's "The Wreck of the Hesperus". Not.

The canoe regatta on Lake Victoria

The winning canoe team, in their Ramsar team shirts

The winning team captain accepts congratulations from the Secretary General

The local crafts exhibit

The Secretary General picks out a funky hat . . . .

And plants something in a ceremonial fashion.

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 ramsar@ramsar.org). Posted 1 March 2001, Dwight Peck, Ramsar.