Welcome!

Welcome to a short update on some recent activities and news concerning the Ramsar Culture Network. As culture is increasingly central to the Convention’s work, the culture webpages are currently being brought into the main Ramsar website and will soon be available. We will in any event also keep in touch through updates like this one from time to time.  So keep sending us your interesting stories and comments!

Work undertaken by the coordination team in recent months includes:

• Following up the many positive new conversations developed at COP12, including welcoming several new members to the Network.
• Developing project proposals for external funding - there are some demanding targets to meet in this respect, as part of our agreement with the MAVA Foundation.  Suggestions about useful opportunities would be very welcome.
• Preparing ideas on an approach for compiling national inventories of cultural practices relating to wetlands.
• Defining the scope and terms of reference of RCN “focus groups” to take forward activities in five thematic areas (bio-cultural diversity; agriculture & food; tourism; art & architecture; youth engagement).  Please indicate if you are interested in participating in any of these groups by contacting us at culture@ramsar.org
• Reviving collaborative dialogue with the World Heritage Centre and other bodies in UNESCO.
• Establishing links with the Water-Culture Institute, including opportunities to cooperate on a proposed global water ethics initiative.
• Compiling a draft action plan and modus operandi for the RCN, for consultation in the near future.

More information on these items will be provided in the coming months, but in the meantime we remain open to all your ideas and feedback.