Home page | The Convention on Wetlands, The Convention on Wetlands

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

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:

2.538

Total surface of designated sites:

257.978.970

In your country

Since

1976

Ramsar sites

Surface area of

14.690

The Convention in your country

The importance of wetlands

The Convention

Highlights

Convention on Wetlands and ESA partner to advance Earth observation for wetland conservation

The Nagao Wetland Fund: Supporting local action for wetland conservation in Asia and Oceania

15th meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties

India names two Wetlands of International Importance for World Environment Day

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia accedes to global wetlands treaty as 173rd Contracting Party

Poland’s commitment to wetland conservation: a holistic approach for a sustainable future