West and Central Asia subregion agrees "Tehran Communiqué" for World Wetlands Day

West and Central Asia subregion agrees "Tehran Communiqué" for World Wetlands Day. During the West and Central Asian Subregional Meeting, 3-5 February, the Department of the Environment of the Islamic Republic of Iran hosted, on 3 February, a celebration of the 31st anniversary of the signing of the Convention in its city of Ramsar, which included a reading of the "Tehran Communiqué" which had been agreed by the meeting's participants. The communiqué outlines key issues for West and Central Asia about the delivery of wetland conservation and wise use in the region. Nick Davidson reports that the meeting was most successful, with lively discussions and strong consensus on matters of common concern throughout the region, notably the severe impact on many wetlands of the persistent drought in the region, and the priority for international cooperation throughout the region, in relation to action on transboundary wetlands and river basins, capacity-building and assistance from Parties to their neighbouring countries who are working towards accession to the Convention. The meeting, attended by some 60 participants from Parties, non-Parties, International Organization Partners and other regional and national NGOs, international organizations and staff of the Department of the Environment and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was a success in no small part because of the excellent local organizing of venue and arrangements, and received considerable media attention including featuring on national television news. A full report will follow, and the Tehran Communiqué can be found here.