Ramsar, Wetlands and Wildlife
Convention on Wetlands of International Importance After 30 Years
In 1971 a treaty was signed in Ramsar, Iran resulting in a framework for conservation of wetlands throughout the world. Since 2002 its focus has become implementation of wetland management programs that help eradicate poverty and provide food and water security while conserving critical habitat. To date 154 countries have designated over 146 million hectares as Wetlands of International Importance.
These Wetlands of International Importance can be any of the following:
Swamps and marshes
Lakes and rivers
Wet grasslands and peatlands
Oases
Saltpans
Estuaries, deltas, tidal flats and marine nearshore areas
Mangroves and coral reefs
Human-created sites such as fish ponds, rice paddies and reservoirs
Criteria for Inclusion as a Wetland of International Importance:
Critera A
Represents a rare or unique example of natural or near natural wetland of a type found within the appropriate biogeographical region thus deserving conservation
Criteria B
Supports vulnerable, endangered, critically endangered or threatened ecological communities
Supports plants and animals important to the biodiversity of a bioregion
Supports plants or animals at a critical stage in their life cycle or provides refuge in adverse conditions
Specific waterbird criteria
Supports 20,000 or more waterbirds
Supports 1% of individuals in a population of a species or subspecies
Specific fish criteria
Supports a significant proportion of indigenous fish species, subspecies, life stages, species interactions or populations that contribute to global biodiversity
Serves as an important source of food for fishes, spawning ground, nursery, and/or migration path on which fish stocks depend.
Specific criteria for other taxa
Supports 1% of the individuals of one species or subspecies of wetland dependent non-avian animal species.
The Ramsar Convention provides technical support for implementing wetland conservation and management programs with its handbooks, manuals and guidelines. An internship program recruits recent graduates to work in wetland conservation in their region, thereby increasing local expertise.
Financial support comes through the voluntary contributions of member states and the Ramsar Small Grants Fund, which has supported 166 projects in 80 countries, with over $4.9 million USD awarded to date. Recently the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the State Department entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Ramsar creating Wetlands For The Future specifically to enhance conservation work in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Because treaties are only of value when there is international cooperation and monetary support (see Treaties without Teeth), the Ramsar Convention’s emphasis on guiding international cooperative wetland conservation efforts and encouraging outside funders, along with providing basic grants would appear to be a step in the right direction.
