RAMSAR CONVENTION ON WETLANDS

History of Ramsar Convention

it
is
the
oldest
of
the
modern
global
intergovernmental environmental agreements
it was negotiated through the 1960s by countries and
non governmental organizations concerned about
the increasing loss and degradation of wetland
habitat for migratory water birds.
it
was
finally
adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar on February 2,
1971 and came into force in 1975.
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
The Convention on Wetlands of International
Importance
It is the intergovernmental treaty that provides the
framework for the conservation and wise use of
wetlands and their resources
Mission
> 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.

3 Pillars of the Convention

1. work towards the wise use of all their wetlands
2. designate suitable wetlands for the list of Wetlands of
International Importance (the Ramsar List) and
ensure their effective management;
3. cooperate internationally on transboundary wetlands,
shared wetland systems and shared species.
2 issues in the Convention
defining wetlands of global importance
promoting wise-use of wetlands

Definition of Terms
Wetlands
-these are: 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 includes human-made sites such as fish
ponds, rice paddies, reservoirs and salt pans.

Swamp- area of low-lying land that is frequently flooded,

especially one dominated by woody plants

Marsh- kind of wetlands frequently or continually inundated

with water, characterized by emergent soft-stemmed
vegetation adapted to saturated soil conditions

Oases- is an isolated area of vegetation in a desert, typically

surrounding a spring or similar water source, such as a pond
or small lake

Delta- when a river reaches a lake or the sea the water slows
down and loses the power to carry sediment . The sediment
is dropped at the mouth of the river and forms a delta

Importance of Wetlands
> Wetlands are vital for human survival
> Wetlands are indispensable for the countless benefits or
ecosystem services that they provide humanity like:
- freshwater supply
- food and building materials

- biodiversity
- flood control
- groundwater recharge
- climate change mitigation

Wise Use of Wetlands

The Convention defines wise use of wetlands as the
maintenance of their ecological character, achieved through
the implementation of ecosystem approaches, within the
context of sustainable development.
Wise use can thus be seen as the conservation and
sustainable use of wetlands and all the services they
provide, for the benefit of people and nature.

Ramsar Sites or Wetlands of International Importance

at the time of joining the Convention, each Contracting Party
must designate at least one wetland site within their
territory for inclusion in the Ramsar List

These Ramsar Sites 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.

There are currently over 2,200 Ramsar Sites around the

world. They cover over 2.1 million square kilometres, an
area larger than Mexico.

The Ramsar Bodies

The Standing Committee
Purpose: oversees Convention affairs and the activities of
the Secretariat.

It represents the Conference of the Contracting Parties (the

COP) between its three-yearly meetings, within the
framework of the decisions made by the COP.

The Scientific and Technical Review Panel

Purpose: to provide scientific and technical guidance to the
Conference of the Parties, the Standing Committee, and the
Ramsar Secretariat.

The Secretariat
Purpose: carries out the day-to-day coordination of the
Conventions activities.

Based at the headquarters of the International Union for the

Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Gland, Switzerland.
Functions:
1. Maintain the List of
Wetlands of International
Importance and note any additions and changes to
the List and the Ramsar Sites Database;
2. Assist in recruiting new Contracting Parties;
3.
Help convene and organize the Conferences of
Contracting Parties (COP) and regional pre-COP

4.

5.
6.
7.
8.

9.

meetings, the meetings of the Standing Committee

and of the STRP;
Publish
the
Decisions,
Resolutions,
and
Recommendations of the COP and the Standing
Committee;
Provide administrative and communications support
to the STRP;
Organize Ramsar Advisory Missions at the request of
Contracting Parties and contribute to follow-up of
RAM reports
Develop cooperation with other conventions,
intergovernmental institutions, and national and
international NGOs;
Administer funding programmes set up to support the
implementation of the Convention, seeking financial
contributions, inviting and evaluating project
proposals, and overseeing expenditure;
Inform the Contracting Parties and the public of
developments related to the Convention.

The Ramsar Conevention in the Philippines

The convention entered into force in the Philippines
on 8 November 1994.

The Philippines currently has 6 sites designated as

Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites),
with a surface area of 154,409 hectares.
6 Ramsar Sites in the Philippines

1. The Olango Island in Lapu-lapu, Cebu

2.
Naujan Lake National Park in Oriental Mindoro
3.
Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary
4.
Tubbataha Reefs National Marine Park
5.
Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park in
Palawan
6.
Las Pias-Paraaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism
Area (LPPCHEA)