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Name: Ashar Azhar

Submitted to: Dr. Ibrar Shinwari

National Wetland Policy &

Ramsar Convention
What is wetland??
• A wetland is a distinct ecosystem that is flooded by
water, either permanently or seasonally, including
areas of marine water the depth of which at low
tide does not exceed six meters”

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 RAMSER CONCERVATION: INTRODUCTION
The Ramsar conservation an international for the
conservation and sustainable use of wetlands.

It is also known as the Convention on Wetlands. It is

named after the city of Ramsar in Iran, where the
Convention was signed in 1971.

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Ramsar Convention on Wetlands:

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Objective interpretation
Ramsar Convention has two fold objectives

 Conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands;

Stop the loss of wetlands.
Ramser Convension 5
 International organization partners:
The Ramsar Convention works closely with six
organizations. These are:
• Birdlife International
• International Union for Conservation of
Nature (IUCN)
• International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
• Wetlands International
• WWF International
• Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT)
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 Key features of the Ramsar
Convention
• recognises wetlands (goods and services) as vital for human
wellbeing (food and water security) and poverty alleviation
• supports practical wetland sustainable utilization by countries
• open, collaborative and flexible mechanisms
 both ecosystems and species
both sites and broad-based sustainable use

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 Ramsar covers
 Natural and human-made wetlands
 inland/freshwater:
marshes, rivers, lakes, reservoirs etc.
 coastal/marine
lagoons, estuaries, mangroves, coral reefs, seagrass beds
etc.
 above ground and underground
karst and caves
 but not deep oceans
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 Five major wetland types are
generally recognized:
• Marine (coastal wetlands including coastal lagoons,
rocky shores, and coral reefs);
• Estuarine (including deltas, tidal marshes, and
mangrove swamps);
• Lacustrine (wetlands associated with lakes);
• Riverine (wetlands along rivers and streams); and
• Palustrine (meaning “marshy” – marshes, swamps and
bogs).
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What is the Ramsar Convention
on Wetlands?
• Oldest of the global environmental conventions
• the only global convention focussing attention on an
ecosystem (wetlands)
• covers very wide range of wetlands - from ocean to
mountains
• Celebrated annually on World Wetlands Day - 2 February
– 30th anniversary 2001

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The main causes of the degradation
and loss of wetlands are:
––Major changes in land use, especially
• increased agriculture and grazing

––Water diversion through dams,

• canalization

––Infrastructure development,
• particularly in urban areas, river valleys and coastal
areas.
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 Why do nations join the Ramsar
Convention?
• presents an opportunity for a country to make its
voice heard in the principal intergovernmental forum .
• brings increased publicity and prestige for the
wetlands.
• brings access to the latest information and advice on
adoption of the convention’s internationally-accepted
standards.
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Thanks
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