Ramsar Convention

Background and evolution

By the 1960s scientists and bird conservationists were alarmed by the loss of wetlands, especially those used by migratory waterbirds that cross national borders. A meeting at the Iranian town of Ramsar on the Caspian Sea in 1971 produced the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially as Waterfowl Habitat. It entered into force in 1975 and is one of the oldest global environmental treaties, older than the Rio conventions.

The treaty's scope has broadened from bird habitat to wetlands as ecosystems that store water, recharge groundwater, buffer floods, store carbon and support fisheries and livelihoods. It works outside the UN system, with a secretariat in Gland, Switzerland, hosted alongside IUCN, and its Conference of the Parties meets about every three years.

Key features and provisions

• Three pillars: wise use of all wetlands; designation and management of Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar sites); and international cooperation on shared wetlands and species.
• Broad definition: wetlands include marshes, lakes, rivers, floodplains, mangroves, coral reefs, peatlands and human-made sites such as reservoirs and rice paddies.
• Criteria for listing: nine criteria based on representative or rare wetland types, threatened species, and waterbird or fish populations; one well-known criterion is regularly supporting 20,000 or more waterbirds.
• Montreux Record: a register of sites where ecological changes have occurred or are likely, which need priority attention.
• Wetland City Accreditation: a voluntary scheme that recognises cities that protect their wetlands.