Biodiversity-2 Ramsar Convention on Wetlands Sharowat Shamin Lecturer, SoL

The Ramsar Convention The Convention on Wetlands, called the Ramsar Convention, is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation 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: 169 Number of Ramsar Sites: 2,225 Total surface of designated sites: 214,569,564 ha Two Ramsar sites in Bangladesh: Sundarban and Tanguar Haor

History Ramsar is the oldest of the modern global intergovernmental environmental agreements. The treaty was negotiated through the 1960s by countries and non - governmental organizations concerned about the increasing loss and degradation of wetland habitat for migratory waterbirds. It was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971 and came into force in 1975. 

History (Contd.) November 12-16, 1962: MAR Conference calls for a treaty on wetlands The MAR Conference (from MARshes, MARécages, MARismas) organized by Dr Luc Hoffmann takes place in Les Saintes Maries-de-la-Mer in the French Camargue. For the first time governments, NGOs and wetland experts call for an international treaty on wetlands and for a list of internationally important wetlands 1963-1970: Text for a convention is negotiated Text for a convention on wetlands is negotiated at a series of international meetings supported by the International Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Bureau February 2-3, 1971: Ramsar Conference Iran's Game and Fish Department organizes and holds a conference at the Caspian seaside resort of Ramsar, Iran where the “Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat” is agreed by representatives of 18 nations. The Treaty is signed on 3 February 1971.

Misson The Convention’s mission is “the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world”. Wetlands are among the most diverse and productive ecosystems. They provide essential services and supply all our fresh water. However they continue to be degraded and converted to other uses.  The Convention uses a broad definition of wetlands. It includes all lakes and rivers, underground aquifers, swamps and marshes, wet grasslands, peatlands, oases, estuaries, deltas and tidal flats, mangroves and other coastal areas, coral reefs, and all human-made sites such as fish ponds, rice paddies, reservoirs and salt pans.

Mission (Contd.) Under the “three pillars” of the Convention, the Contracting Parties commit to: work towards the wise use of all their wetlands; designate suitable wetlands for the list of Wetlands of International Importance (the “Ramsar List”) and ensure their effective management; cooperate internationally on transboundary wetlands, shared wetland systems and shared species.

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. The Wise Use of wetlands At the center of the Ramsar philosophy is the “wise use” of wetlands. When they accede to the Convention, Contracting Parties commit to work towards the wise use of all the wetlands and water resources in their territory, through national plans, policies and legislation, management actions and public education.

Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites) At the time of joining the Convention, each Contracting Party undertakes to designate at least one wetland site for inclusion in the List of Wetlands of International Importance. The inclusion of a site in the List embodies the government’s commitment to take the steps necessary to ensure that its ecological character is maintained. Wetlands included in the List acquire a new national and international status: they are recognized as being of significant value not only for the country or the countries in which they are located, but for humanity as a whole. 

International Cooperation The Ramsar Convention provides the single most global framework for intergovernmental cooperation on wetland issues. Article 5 of the Convention establishes that “the Contracting Parties shall consult with each other about implementing obligations arising from the Convention especially in the case of a wetland extending over the territories of more than one Contracting Party or where a water system is shared by Contracting Parties. They shall at the same time endeavor to coordinate and support present and future policies and regulations concerning the conservation of wetlands and their flora and fauna.”