Articles from General Knowledge Today
Ramsar Convention
2011-05-24 03:05:02 GKToday
Formal title of the Ramsar Convention is "The Convention on Wetlands of
International Importance, especially as Waterfowl Habitat".
Ramsar is a town in Iran and this international treaty aims the conservation and
sustainable utilization of wetlands, to stem the progressive encroachment on and
loss of wetlands now and in the future.
It was signed in Ramsar on February 2, 1971, and came into force on
December 21, 1975. To commemorate its signing date, February 2 is
observed as World Wetland Day every year.
The meeting was invited by Mr Eskander Firouz, Director of Iran's Game and Fish
Department, and held in the Caspian seaside resort of Ramsar in Iran, the text of
the Convention was agreed on 2 February 1971 and signed by the delegates of 18
nations the next day.
Currently there are 1916 wetlands of international importance under sites under
the Ramsar Convention known as Ramsar Sites covering around 1,86,993, 435
hectares km.
The maximum Ramsar sites are located in UK i.e. 168.
The largest area covered by the Ramsar sites is in Canada.
The number of parties to the Ramsar Convention is 160.
They meet every three years.
Why Ramsar Convention?
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands was developed as a means to call
international attention to the rate at which wetland habitats were disappearing, in part
due to a lack of understanding of their important functions, values, goods and
services. Governments that join the Convention are expressing their willingness to
make a commitment to helping to reverse that history of wetland loss and
degradation.
Many wetlands are international systems lying across the boundaries of two or more
countries, or are part of river basins that include more than one State. The health of
these and other wetlands is dependent upon the quality and quantity of the
transboundary water supply from rivers, streams, lakes, or underground aquifers.
The best intentions of countries on either side of those frontiers can be frustrated
without a framework for international discussion and cooperation toward mutual
benefits.
Is Ramsar Part of UN Environment Conventions?
Please note that United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) serves as Depositary for the Convention, but the Ramsar Convention
is not part of the United Nations and UNESCO system of environment
conventions and agreements.
The Ramsar Secretariat is hosted by IUCNThe World Conservation Union in
Gland, Switzerland
Commitments under Convention
When the countries join the Ramsar Convention, they get enlisted in an international
effort to ensure the conservation and wise use of wetlands. The treaty includes
following commitments that the contracting parties agree before joining:
Designation:
The first obligation under the Convention is for a Party to designate at least one
wetland at the time of accession for inclusion in the List of Wetlands of International
Importance. This list is called Ramsar List. After that the country may continue to
designate the suitable wetland subject to selection.
Selection:
Selection for the Ramsar List should be based on the wetland's significance in
terms of ecology, botany, zoology, limnology, or hydrology. The Contracting Parties
have developed specific criteria and guidelines for identifying sites that qualify for
inclusion in the Ramsar List.
Information:
The Party has to commit itself "to arrange to be informed at the earliest possible
time if the ecological character of any wetland in its territory and included in the List
has changed, is changing or is likely to change as the result of technological
developments, pollution or other human interference. Information on such changes
shall be passed without delay" to the Ramsar Secretariat.
Wise Use:
There is a general obligation for the Contracting Parties to include wetland
conservation considerations in their national land-use planning. They have
committed themselves to formulate and implement this planning so as to promote,
as far as possible, "the wise use of wetlands in their territory".
Reserves:
The contracting Parties undertake to establish nature reserves in wetlands, whether
or not they are included in the Ramsar List, and they are expected to promote
training in the fields of wetland research, management and wardening.
International cooperation:
The parties agree to consult with other Contracting Parties about implementation of
the Convention, especially in regard to Transboundary wetlands, shared water
systems, and shared species.
3 pillars of Ramsar Convention:
The 8th meeting of the parties to Ramsar Convention (COP8) was held in Valencia,
Spain, 2002. It came out with a Strategic Plan, for 2003-2008, whereby the
Contracting Parties seek to deliver their commitments to wetland conservation and
wise use through "three pillars" of action. These are:
1. Working towards the wise use of their wetlands through a wide range of
actions and processes contributing to human well-being.
2. Devoting particular attention to the further identification, designation and
management of a coherent and comprehensive suite of sites for the List of
Wetlands of International Importance (the Ramsar List) as a contribution to
the establishment of a global ecological network.
3. Cooperating internationally in their delivery of wetland conservation.
Montreux Record under Ramsar List
Montreux Record is a register of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of
International Importance where changes in ecological character have
occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur as a result of technological
developments, pollution or other human interference. So, it is maintained as
part of the Ramsar List.
For these sites, the Secretariat may send a technical mission, known as the
"Ramsar Advisory Mission", to analyze the situation at one or more particular
Montreux Record sites, provide advice on the measures to be taken, and assess the
desirability of removing a site from the Montreux Record when measures have been
implemented successfully.
Ramsar's International Organization Partners (IOPs)
The Ramsar Convention works especially closely with some global nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) which have been associated with the treaty
since its beginnings. They have been given the formal status of International
Organization Partners (IOPs) of the Convention. The five IOPs are:
BirdLife International (formerly ICBP)
IUCN The International Union for the Conservation of Nature
IWMI The International Water Management Institute
Wetlands International (formerly IWRB, the Asian Wetlands Bureau, and
Wetlands for the Americas)
WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) International
