Ramsar Convention

Overview

The Ramsar Convention, officially known as the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, is an international treaty that promotes the conservation and wise use of wetlands. It was signed in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971 and came into force in 1975. The convention is the only global environmental treaty that deals with a particular ecosystem, and the member countries are committed to maintaining the ecological character of their Wetlands of International Importance.

Background

The Ramsar Convention was developed as a means to call international attention to the rate at which wetland habitats were disappearing, due to mismanagement and the perception of wetlands as wasteland. The convention was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar on 2 February 1971, and it came into force on 21 December 1975.

Objectives

The main objective of the Ramsar Convention is the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local, regional and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world. The convention uses a broad definition of wetlands which includes lakes and rivers, swamps and marshes, wet grasslands and peatlands, oases, estuaries, deltas and tidal flats, near-shore marine areas, mangroves and coral reefs, and human-made sites such as fish ponds, rice paddies, reservoirs and salt pans.

Structure and Functioning

The Ramsar Convention works by endorsing national action and international cooperation on the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. It provides a framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources by national action and international cooperation as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development.

Contracting Parties

As of 2020, there were 171 contracting parties to the Ramsar Convention, covering over 2,400 wetland sites of international importance with a surface area of over 2.5 million square kilometres. Contracting parties include countries from all geographic regions and development stages.

Wetlands of International Importance

The cornerstone of the Ramsar Convention is the designation of wetlands as 'Wetlands of International Importance'. Once a wetland is designated as such, the contracting party is obliged to ensure that the ecological character of the wetland is maintained.

Challenges and Criticisms

Despite the success of the Ramsar Convention in promoting the conservation and wise use of wetlands, it has faced several challenges and criticisms. These include the lack of enforcement mechanisms, the lack of funding and resources, and the lack of integration with other environmental treaties and policies.