Homepage hero river

The importance of wetlands

Wetlands are vital for human survival. They are among the world’s most productive environments; cradles of biological diversity that provide the water and productivity upon which countless species of plants and animals depend for survival.

Bul Syayeef - Flamingos against the backdrop of Abu Dhabi city

The Convention

The Convention on Wetlands is the intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. Almost 90% of UN member states, from all the world’s geographic regions, have acceded to become “Contracting Parties”.

Highlights

About the Convention Background

The Convention on Wetlands is the intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.

The Convention was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971 and came into force in 1975. Since then, almost 90% of UN member states, from all the world’s geographic regions, have acceded to become “Contracting Parties”.

Number of contracting parties:

172

Number of wetlands:

2.546

Total surface of designated sites:

257.994.728
ha

In your country

Since

1976

Ramsar sites

11

Surface area of

14.690
ha
The Convention in your country

Get e-mail updates

Subscribe to e-mail lists of the Convention

Subscribe