Ramsar Sites Overview A Synopsis of the World’s Wetlands of International Importance

Scott Frazier Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management

Institute for Inland Water Management and Waste Water Treatment RIZA

As the world’s leading wetland conservation organisation, Wetlands RIZA (Netherlands Institute for Inland Water Management and Waste Water Treatment) is International is unique in its focus on wetlands and the plant and animal part of the Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management. RIZA prepares species dependent upon them. and evaluates the Netherlands national policy concerning water management. It’s main tasks concern the flood control, and the management and restoration of freshwater The global network of Wetlands International provides rapid access to specialists on systems. wetland conservation throughout the world. These are supported by 13 regional and project offices on five continents, providing a unique force for supporting wetland The Netherlands, situated in the complex delta formed by the Rivers Rhine, Meuse and conservation activities. Partnership is at the heart of Wetlands International, and strong Scheldt, is rich in wetlands, and is situated on the vital African/Eurasian migratory links exist with other international conservation agencies such as IUCN, WWF and waterbird flyway. RIZA recognizes the great importance of wetlands. In addition to BirdLife International, and the secretariats of the Ramsar and Bonn Conventions. Global national wetlands policy work, RIZA specifically conducts wetland ecological research and regional programmes are supported by over 120 government agencies, NGOs, and monitoring, and the planning and design for ecological restoration of wetlands. foundations, development agencies and private sector groups. These include freshwater lagoons, lakes and marshes, and the Rhine and Meuse Rivers (including their floodplains). Sound technical information is the basis for Wetlands International’s work, which includes: coordinating conservation, management and assessment projects at international level; Being a knowledge centre, RIZA considers training and the exchange of knowledge, providing technical and fundraising support to national and local projects, and helping to both nationally and internationally, to be an important aspect of its mission. Close links build the capacity of relevant agencies. Wetlands International produces a wide range of exist with institutes in countries that share rivers with the Netherlands. Other international publications and awareness materials, and organises numerous workshops, training contacts include a programme for bilateral scientific exchange concerning wetlands with courses and conferences each year. counterparts in Central and Eastern Europe. There is regular co-operation with the Ramsar Convention Bureau, and with non-governmental organisations like Wetlands For further information please contact the appropriate regional office. International and the World Wide Fund for Nature.

Wetlands International A special unit has been established within the Institute to co-ordinate requests from Asia Pacific Tel: +603 704 6770 abroad for technical advice from RIZA. This unit is the Wetland Advisory and Training 3A37, Kelana Centre Point Fax: +603 704 6772 Centre, or WATC. The WATC has an Advisory Board in which Wetlands International, the Kelana Jaya, No. 3 Jalan SS7/19 E-mail: [email protected] Ramsar Bureau and various government Ministries of the Netherlands are represented. 47300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Web site: http://ngo.asiapac.net/wetlands WATC ensures that RIZA’s knowledge is made available abroad, by organising study tours Malaysia and training courses in the fields of wetland management, wetland development and wetland restoration. WATC also assists in keeping RIZA’s expertise up-to-date by Wetlands International supporting its networks for international scientific exchange. Africa, Europe, Middle East Tel: +31 317 478884 P.O. Box 7002 Fax: +31 317 478885 For further information about RIZA’s activities in wetlands please contact: 6700 CA Wageningen E-mail: [email protected] RIZA-Wetland Advisory and Training Centre The Netherlands Web site: http://www.wetlands.agro.nl P.O. Box 17 Wetlands International 8200 AA Lelystad The Americas Tel: +1 613 722 2090 The Netherlands 7 Hinton Avenue North, Suite 200 Fax: +1 613 722 3318 Tel: +31 320 298346 Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 4P1 E-mail: [email protected] Fax: +31 320 298339 Canada E-mail: [email protected] Ramsar Sites Overview

A Synopsis of the World’s Wetlands of International Importance

by Scott Frazier ii Ramsar Sites Overview or of its authorities, or concerning thedelimitationof anyfrontiers orboundaries. or ofitsauthorities, orconcerning Wateror Wetlandsand ortheRamsar ConventionBur Management, Works International Public opinion whatsoeveronthepartof The presentation ofmaterialinthispublication,including the geographicaldesignationsandrepresentations employed,do not Printed byTheWorks, Newbury, Berkshire, UK. Newbury, Berkshire, RG145SJ,UK. Designed andproduced bytheNature ConservationBureau Limited,36KingfisherCourt,HambridgeRoad, Swamp andmarsh:WWF/J Photos inFigure5: Aerial viewofthePantanal,Brazil.WWW/F Front coverphoto: vi +42pp. This publicationshouldbecitedasfollows:Frazier, S.1999.RamsarSitesOverview. Wetlands International. ISBN 190044219 copyright holder. chemical, mechanical,optical,photocopying,recording orotherwise,withoutpriorpermissionofthe part ofthispublicationmaybereproduced ortransmittedinanyformbymeans,electronic, electrical, All rightsreserved. Apartfrom anyfairdealingforthepurposeofprivatestudy, research, criticismorreview no © Wetlands 1999. International, Netherlands InstituteforInlandWater ManagementandWaste Water Treatment ortheDutch MinistryofTransport, IM T HORSELL /IUCN; Lake,river, artificial,marine,estuary:G RITZ P ÖLKING eau, concerning the legalstatusofanycountry,eau, concerning territory orarea ERNANT imply theexpression ofany M AGNIN Ramsar Sites Overview iii .. 31 ..... iv ...... 17 ...... 1 ...... 37 ...... 27 ...... 42 ...... v ...... 3 ...... 23 ...... vi ...... 35 ...... About the List of Wetlands of International Importance of of Wetlands About the List types Wetland Land uses The data on Ramsar sites The international importance of Ramsar sites Factors of change Introduction Conclusion Table of Contents of Table Acknowledgements Foreword Convention About the Ramsar 1. 4. 2. 3. 5. 6. 8. 7. References iv Ramsar Sites Overview Public Works andWater Management. Institute forInlandWater Management andWaste Water Treatment RIZA,of theDutchMinistryofTransport, This publicationwasmadepossiblebyagenerous from granttoWetlands theNetherlands International more (scarce) timetodevotethe MagninandSimonNashliaisedonmybehalf withcolleaguesandcontacts,allowingme Dwight Peck,Gernant and Nancy VallejoTiéga provided manyuseful commentsandadvice. Jones,GernantMagnin,MikeMoser,Rebecca D’Cruz,Tim Davidson, Delmar Blasco,Nick Anada BillPhillips, graphics andmaps. Peter Creed, JoeLittleandTony Vetta ofthedesignteam,workedverycloselywithmeonpresentation ofthe images from whichtoselect. Sandra Hails and Michèle Déprazsearchedforphotographsonveryshortnotice,andprovided someveryfine produced without thesubstantialdatamanagementefforts ofEdithHubert. informationprovidedtotheRamsarDatabase,andcouldnothavebeen This Overviewpresentsananalysisof Acknowledgements Overview itself. sf Ramsar Sites Overview v Phillip Edwards, Executive Director Executive Phillip Edwards, Foreword of 18 nations representatives of Ramsar in Iran, in the town intergovernmental 1971, at an On 2 February conference their governments committing habitats and wise use of these to the conservation on Wetlands, signed the Convention and to 114, Convention had grown Parties to the Ramsar 1999, the number of Contracting By March in their territory. they had covered of International Importance which in the Ramsar List of Wetlands included almost 1,000 wetlands hectares. more than 70 million years – a centuries-long in changing – in less than 30 Convention has been instrumental the Ramsar importantly, More useful”. into something “more to be drained and converted useless places that had as filthy, of wetlands perception scholars, governments, most that wetlands and the general public accept funding institutions, business people Today located, functions that in in which they are beneficial to the ecosystems extremely of functions that are perform a series turn and to the national society as a whole. bring considerable benefits to local communities as with all other habitats, on many Yet, of wetlands values has changed, and continues to change. the perception Yes, and even to continue converting them, in order wetland resources, to over-use occasions the temptation is still strong governments, But the Convention is equipping and substantial economic returns. rapid to obtain more wetland to assist them in technical and policy tools and more communities with more managers, decision-makers and local become important assets of that wetlands to ensure best management approach taking the right decisions and the of the planet, and the well-being of people all the ecological processes of biodiversity, the national capital, for the benefit over the world. of the Parties to of this publication, initiated at the time of the last Conference This is the second and updated edition Ramsar Database of the information submitted by the member countries to the an analysis Ramsar in 1996. It provides is managed on wetlands for inclusion in the Ramsar List. The Ramsar Database when designating their most significant International. behalf of the Convention by Wetlands and of the Convention, the awareness of this Overview will help to increase the production more, hope that, once We for these wetlands, further conservation measures effective of its internationally sites, leading to more important wiser use of wetlands in general. designations to the Ramsar List, and GeneralDelmar Blasco, Secretary Ramsar Convention Bureau Dr International, East Middle Wetlands Africa Europe vi Ramsar Sites Overview More detailsabouttheConvention canbefoundonitsWeb site:http://ramsar.org/ Meeting oftheConference, tobeheldinSanJosé,CostaRica,on10–18May1999. members countriestoimplementthetreaty. Thispublicationisbeingproduced onthe occasion ofthe7th status ofsitesontheList,promote cooperativeactivities,andadopttechnicalpolicyinstruments toassist The Conference ofContractingPartiesmeetseverythree yearstodiscussnationalexperiences,review the equivalent to“sustainableuse”. A keyconceptembodiedintheConventionisthat of“wiseuse”wetlands,whichhas sites andtocooperateforthemanagementofshared wetlandsand shared wetland species. identification ofthesesites.ContractingPartiesare furtherobligedtomaintaintheecologicalcharacteroflisted zoology, limnologyorhydrology”. SpecificcriteriahavebeendevelopedbytheConventiontoaidin significance intermsofecology,The selectionofRamsarsitesshouldbebasedon“international botany, Importance(the“RamsarList”). Wetlands ofInternational their territory, andspecialobligationspertainingtothosewetlandswhichhavebeendesignatedfortheListof Convention placesgeneralobligationsonmembercountriesrelating totheconservationofwetlandsthroughout objectives oftheConventionare toensure theirconservationandwiseuse.To meettheseobjectives,the Because wetlandsare veryimportantforecologicalprocesses aswellfortheirrichfloraandfauna,thebroad The World ConservationUnion. The secretariat, orRamsarBureau, islocatedatGland,Switzerland,sharingtheheadquartersbuildingofIUCN– 114membercountries. entered intoforcein1975andatMarch1999had cooperationfortheconservationandwise useofwetlands.TheConvention for nationalactionandinternational The ConventiononWetlands (Ramsar, treaty Iran,1971)isanintergovernmental whichprovides theframework About theRamsarConvention been definedas Ramsar Sites Overview 1 is an updated analysis of An Overview of the World’s (Frazier, 1996a) and it covered the first the it covered 1996a) and (Frazier, Ramsar Sites Overview Introduction analysis of and thematic major geographic The first wetlands of internationalpublished in importance was 1996. This was called Ramsar Sites on Wetlands (1971–1996). 25 years of the Convention based upon information routinely The analysis was Contracting Parties and Convention’s supplied by the International within the Ramsar managed by Wetlands Database. This differences. are 1996. However there in that presented on the information Much of the background as again here, Convention has not been reproduced still stands. In addition, many presentation the previous less are analyses have been simplified. There larger graphics are photographs, but maps and many essential The intention is to present to enhance clarity. information in a Contracting Party and Ramsar site concise volume. more

1

Reed harvesting, Karamik, Turkey. Karamik, harvesting, Reed

M G : . PHOTO AGNIN ERNANT 2 Ramsar Sites Overview Introduction Contracting Partiesandthesitestheyhavedesignatedto As withitspredecessor, this Convention, andthisisthesubjectofnextchapter. Ramsar List.Thisgrowth hasobviouslyinfluenced boththeglobalandregional coverageandcompositionofthe United Kingdom). presentation onlycountries withoverseas/dependentterritories(i.e.France,theNetherlands,and concern challenges facingthem,are discussedwithinthechaptersbygeographicregion. Thesedifferences in involved. Inherent attributes suchasthetypesandimportanceofthesewetlands,welltheiruses Party Ramsarregion”, asdecisionsrelating todesignationsare atthediscretion oftheContractingParties each chapter. Informationonthenumber, location,andsizeofRamsarsites havebeentreated by“Contracting In thethreeyearsseparatingthesetwo Overview isorganizedthematically, withregional analysespresented ordiscussed in Overviews , therehasbeensignificantgrowthinnumbersofboth List ofWetlands ofInternationalImportance , the Ramsar Sites Overview 3 ), there were 91 were ), there Overview Contracting Parties to the Convention on Wetlands. These states had designated These to the Convention on Wetlands. Contracting Parties of Internationalof Wetlands 771 sites to List (the Ramsar List), covering Importance by grown years membership has In the subsequent three over 52 million hectares. to join, El Salvador in January, states (including the latest country one-quarter to 114 to 957. This sites had grown of 1998 the total number of Ramsar 1999). At the end of The cumulative area in designated sites of over 24%. constitutes an increase a representing at over 70.5 million hectares designated wetlands now stands years. The total designated of nearly 35%, during these last three in area growth of Belgium, Ramsar sites is now slightly larger than the territories of the world’s area Luxembourg and Poland combined. Germany, to enhance implementation of the Ramsar For administrative purposes, and divided into 7 administrative the world has been regionalization, Convention through the Western Africa, Asia, EasternRamsar Regions. These are Europe, Europe, distribution of Ramsar North America and Oceania. The current Neotropics, gaps in Map 1. In general, the regional Contracting Parties is depicted on some notable exceptions. are the same as in 1995, but there membership remain one of the south American mainland countries All of central America and all but accession to the Convention is rapidly closing in have now joined, and the gap in of Africa (although in parts gaps in membership do remain Large Western Europe. southeast with the most Parties), the Middle East, central and this is also the region Asia, the Caribbean and in Oceania. Parties and the number and distribution of Contracting 1 depicts the regional Figure of their Ramsar sites. Maps 2–8 display this distribution spatially, cumulative area including the general location of Ramsar sites. At the end of 1995 (the date covered by the previous by the previous (the date covered At the end of 1995 About the List of Wetlands of Wetlands of List the About Importance International

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Biebrza Marshes, Poland. Poland. Marshes, Biebrza : WWF-C : H /F . PHOTO AZELHOFF RED ANON 4 Ramsar Sites Overview About the List of Wetlands of International Importance ey 51/0248,800 7,372 960 83,530 2 5,700 366 56,950 1 Declaration of21 December1991toguarantee 10 “ 2 Parties totheConvention, theRamsarBureau pointsoutthat theseStates, togetherwiththeRussian Federation, Tajikistan, Uk 1 46 While awaiting by confirmation (Azerbaijan, certain membersoftheCommonwealth ofIndependentStates Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrg 05/10/90 66,994 2 USSRarein theformer of thesitesdesignated by Tajikistan orUzbekistan. 10/05/77 1,Kyrgyzstan Turkmenistan 1). Tajikistan ofSuccessiontotheformer depositedwithUNESCOaDeclaration andUzbekistan have U 17/10/80 in 1976bytheformerUSSR,3 arenowintheRussianFederation,4Ukraineand1is inEstonia–theremaining5sitesa 192,973 45 28/07/97 242,700 ** ofthefor outtheobligations hasinformed itcontinuestoexercise therightsandcarry The Russian Federation UNESCOthat 14/04/77 07/02/98 58,970 * This listofContractingPartiestothe Conventionon Wetlands reflects 31December 1998, at thesituation ElSal exceptthat 6 12/03/97 2 Notes 149,841 15/03/85 3 Korea, Republicof 102,575 1,357,150 Kenya 19 225,011 01/02/82 Jordan 08/08/92 18 3 39,098 Japan 83,099 02/04/78 6 163,501 Jamaica 178,410 11/08/79 1 Italy 3 21/12/75 Israel 10 34,223 23/10/93 6 672,852 Ireland 20,000 18/03/93 Iran, IslamicRepublicof 31 2 14/05/90 1,080,000 Indonesia 21/12/75 26/10/90 1 795,085 India 22/06/88 3 101,343 Iceland ? 18 215,950 Hungary 26/06/76 07/06/97 Honduras 105,700 11 16/01/97 Guinea-Bissau 10 30/04/87 94,750 Guinea 2 01/12/86 1 Guatemala 21/12/75 3 Greece 80,455 2,283,013 29/07/94 Ghana 38 Germany 09/09/88 37,891 4 19,400 22/05/99 Georgia 245,301 07/01/91 Gambia 10 Gabon 30 02/01/78 1 7 France 25/06/91 Finland Estonia 588,380 01/01/93 400,000 438,960 El Salvador 1 27/06/96 27/04/92 195,000 Egypt 7 1 1 7 Ecuador Denmark 1 2,803 Czech Republic 09/06/95 13,050,975 Croatia 31/07/92 36 18/10/98 299,200 4,536,623 18/10/98 27/11/81 Cote d’Ivoire 5 13/10/90 Costa Rica 5 805,240 3 Congo, 6,864,000 The Republicof 15/05/81 7,935 Republic of 7 2 1 Congo, Democratic 2 24/01/76 Comoros 24/09/93 27/10/90 596,000 6 Colombia 32,600 China 27/10/90 09/04/97 102,772 2 Chile 1 22/08/98 Chad 1 9 04/07/86 492,239 Canada 5,099,180 4,900 Burkina Faso 420,039 49 27/02/98 Bulgaria 21/09/92 2 20,000 Brazil 07/06/97 6 16/04/83 2 Botswana 1 Bolivia 21/12/75 06/11/93 Belize Belgium 04/09/92 04/03/84 Bangladesh Area 29/03/96 Bahrain Wetlands Bahamas Austria Convention Australia Armenia Argentina Algeria Albania Country Ramsar ContractingParties* 80/62866,000 2 18/05/96 in conformity with their legislative procedures, the fulfilment of international obligations, stemming from the agreements sign agreements the from stemming obligations, international of fulfilment the procedures, legislative their with conformity in 100,174 (ha) oas9870,517,638 958 5 Totals former USSR** Zambia 2 Yugoslavia Viet Nam Venezuela Uruguay 04/11/95 United StatesofAmerica United Kingdom Ukraine Uganda Turkey Tunisia Trinidad and Tobago Togo The FYRofMacedonia Thailand Syria Switzerland Sweden Suriname Sri Lanka Spain South Africa Slovenia Slovak Republic 8 Senegal Russian Federation Romania Portugal 23/11/76 Poland Philippines Peru Paraguay Papua NewGuinea Panama Pakistan Norway Niger Nicaragua New Zealand 313 Netherlands 50,451 Nepal 43,300 101 Namibia Morocco 5 1 Mongolia 3 Monaco 1 Mexico Mauritania 20/12/93 15/08/98 Malta Area 25/11/95 Mali 06/12/91 Wetlands Malaysia Malawi Convention Madagascar Luxembourg Lithuania Liechtenstein Latvia Country mer USSRundertheRamsarConvention. Ofthesitesdesignated vador, tojoin(1999)hasbeenincluded. country thelatest re inotherindependentStates (Azerbaijan1,Kazakhstan2, SSR but have not yet designated any notyetdesignated theList.SSR buthave sitefor None raine andUzbekistan, have undertaken, inthe Alma-Ata yzstan, Moldova, and Turkmenistan) as oftheirstatus 81/12 4 1 5 28/12/91 1 28/07/77 17 20/01/89 23/11/88 119 22 22/09/84 1 18/04/87 9 05/05/76 1 494 01/12/91 1 04/07/88 13/11/94 1 24/03/81 1 21/04/93 1 8 08/09/91 30 13/09/98 1 650 05/07/98 1 16/05/76 38 21/12/75 16 22/11/85 1 15/10/90 11 04/09/82 4 21/12/75 35 25/06/91 1 01/01/93 10 11/11/77 8 11/02/77 1 21/09/91 7 24/03/81 4 22/03/78 2 08/11/94 3 30/03/92 07/10/95 23 16/07/93 1 26/11/90 1 5 21/12/75 24 30/08/87 1 10 30/11/97 4 13/12/76 4 23/09/80 4 16 17/04/88 1 23/12/95 6 20/10/80 2 08/04/98 2 20/12/97 3 04/11/86 1 22/02/83 1 30/01/89 2 25/09/87 10/03/95 14/03/97 25/01/99 ed by the former USSR former the by ed 10,323,767 1,172,633 2,932,059 1,095,414 1,188,600 1,559,500 333,000 263,636 435,000 513,585 716,250 159,300 194,400 382,750 158,216 492,830 647,000 775,000 594,924 110,984 220,000 326,928 629,600 264,220 162,000 224,800 39,861 12,000 15,000 12,600 18,920 10,000 12,000 37,130 99,720 65,813 90,455 61,706 70,150 43,750 38,868 17,500 10,580 38,446 53,095 6,234 7,049 6,210 5,800 (ha) ”. designated by the former USSR. designated by theformer Contracting Partiesbutcontain Ramsarsites indicates independentStateswhich arenotyet not yetjoinedtheConvention. Light shading 1999.Countrieswithnoshading have January PartiesperRamsarregion,Contracting at Map 1. The globaldistribution ofRamsar About the List of Wetlands of International Importance Ramsar Sites Overview 5 6 Ramsar Sites Overview About the List of Wetlands of International Importance An arrowindicates 2ormoresites. general location ofRamsarsites. Map 2. Africa: Regionalmembershipandthe 0 2 0 1000 1500 2000 500 km 2 2 2 About the List of Wetlands of International Importance Ramsar Sites Overview 7 2 2 2 km 1000 2000 Asia: Regional membership and the general location of membership and the general Regional Asia: Ramsar sites. Light shading indicates independent States which Ramsar sites. Light shading indicates independent Contracting Parties but contain Ramsar sites are not yet the formerdesignated by USSR. An arrow sites. indicates 2 or more Map 3. 0 8 Ramsar Sites Overview About the List of Wetlands of International Importance but containsaRamsar sitedesignatedby USSR. theformer sites. Lightshadingindicatesan independentStatethatisnotyetaContractingParty Map 4. EasternEurope: Regionalmembership andthegenerallocationofRamsar 1000 0 5 0 750 500 250 km About the List of Wetlands of International Importance Ramsar Sites Overview 9 1000 2 km 500 0 An arrow indicates 2 or more sites. cooperation with the Greenland Home rule Authority). Home rule with the Greenland cooperation Western Europe: Regional membership and the general Regional Europe: Western affairs of Greenland are the responsibility of Denmark, in of Denmark, responsibility are the affairs of Greenland location of Ramsar sites. Those sites designated in Western in Those sites designated location of Ramsar sites. depicted on the Map 6, the Neotropics. (Inset: The international (Inset: the Neotropics. 6, depicted on the Map Map 5. European dependent or overseas territories in the Neotropics are or overseas territories in the Neotropics European dependent km 0750 250 500 1000 10 Ramsar Sites Overview About the List of Wetlands of International Importance An arrowindicates 2ormoresites. and thegenerallocationofRamsar sites. Map 6. The Neotropics: Regionalmembership 0 0 0010 2000 1500 1000 500 km Isla delCoco 5 About the List of Wetlands of International Importance Ramsar Sites Overview 11 3 km 500 1000 1500 North America: Regional membership America: North Map 7. and the general location of Ramsar sites. An arrow sites. indicates 2 or more 0 12 Ramsar Sites Overview About the List of Wetlands of International Importance (Keeling) Islands Cocos location ofRamsar sites. membership andthegeneral Map 8. Oceania:Regional Christmas Island 50100015002000 500 0 km About the List of Wetlands of International Importance Ramsar Sites Overview 13 70,517,638 hectares Contracting Party Ramsar Region* Contracting Party Ramsar Cumulative Designated Area (ha) per Cumulative Designated 4 912 814 13 133 686 14 020 734 *Area data for 3 sites in the Neotropics are unavailable 5 993 646 North America Oceania North 5 732 972 11 404 764 11 15 319 022 958 Sites 74 Ramsar Region 145 76 56 Distribution of Sites per Contracting Party Distribution 59 65 32.4% (the largest size class). 483 18 19 Eight. Thirteen.

22 per Ramsar Region 28 114 Contracting Parties 114 Distribution of Contracting Parties Distribution Africa Asia Eastern Europe Western Europe Neotropics Western Asia Eastern Europe Africa 21 73,686 hectares. Hosnie’s Spring, on Christmas Island, Australia measures just 0.33 hectare. The site contains some of the The site contains some hectare. Australia measures just 0.33 on Christmas Island, Spring, Hosnie’s Okavango Wetland System, Botswana, 6,864,000 hectares. This is nearlythe total area of the 10% of 6,864,000 hectares. Botswana, System, Wetland Okavango Reserva Costa Atlantica de Tierra del Fuego, Argentina (53°20’S 68°30’W). del Fuego, Tierra Atlantica de Reserva Costa Kilen, Greenland, Denmark (81°15’N 12°00’W). 3 3 Salar de Tara, Chile, 4,400 metres in elevation. 4,400 Chile, Tara, Salar de Coburg Peninsula, Australia, was designated on 8 May 1974. Australia, Coburg Peninsula, respectively. mangrove trees ever recorded. Brugieria and the combined area of area and the combined Ramsar sites: some facts and figures some facts and Ramsar sites: The regional distribution of distribution regional The from Western This far Europe. largest The most southerly RamsarThe most site: northerly RamsarThe oldest site: Ramsar site: The number of RamsarThe sites average measuring size of 10 a orTheRamsar less proportion hectares site: of in Ramsarextent:The siteshighest measuring Ramsar site:between 1,000 and 10,000 hectares: The world’sAfrica. Ramsar sites and almost 50% of the area designated in world’s largest Ramsar site: The number of RamsarThe sites world’s measuring smallest 1,000,000 Ramsar hectaressite: or more: designated wetlands. Western wetlands. designated Europe while nearing complete Europe while greatest total areas of wetlands, greatest exceeds any other Region in this any other Region exceeds region with the most Contracting region with the most Contracting Parties, Ramsar sites Parties, Contracting • • • • • • • • • • Box 1. designated by Contracting Parties Contracting designated by category. North America, Africa and America, North category. Parties after Africa. Over 50% of all Africa. after Parties Eastern the Europe have designated Convention membership, remains the remains membership, Convention Ramsar sites in the world have been have Ramsar sites in the world Figure 1. Figure 14 Ramsar Sites Overview About the List of Wetlands of International Importance Contracting Parties. site area in111of114 totals ofdesignatedRamsar extent, thanthecountry (see Box1)isgreater in single largestRamsarsite the world.However, the largest territorialcountriesin areFederation) amongthe Denmark andRussian (Australia, Canada, appear inbothgraphs four ContractingPartiesthat wetlands, respectively. The greatest area ofdesignated states possessingthe the mostlistedsiteswith Contracting Partieshaving Figures 2and3contrast states isinthetop10Partieswith Western Europe, butonly oneofthese Seven ofSeven the mostRamsarsites(contrasted Figure 2. greatest area ofRamsarsites(see with cumulativedesignatedarea). most Ramsarsitescomefrom the 10countrieshaving the ContractingPartieswith Figure 3). Russian Federation United Kingdom Germany Denmark Australia Sweden Canada Ireland Spain Italy 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 80604020 120 100 119 Number oflistedsites Area Sites 49 46 45 38 38 36 35 31 30 56 950 66 994 158 216 382 750 513 585 672 852 2 283013 Total area(x1000ha) 5 099180 10 323767 13 050975 About the List of Wetlands of International Importance Ramsar Sites Overview 15 13 050 975 10 323 767 Contracting Parties with Parties Contracting 6 864 000 Figure 3. Figure of cumulative areas the largest with (contrasted Ramsar sites sites). numbers of 5 099 180 Total area (x 1 000 000 ha) Total 4 536 623 2 932 059 2 283 013 1 357 150 1 188 600 1 172 633 Five of the sites designated in 1976 by the former USSR are in the independent States of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan (2), Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan. These States have not formally acceded to the Convention on Wetlands. Collectively these 5 sites cover 1,559,500 hectares. 1 2 5 7 17 18 35 36 38 49 Sites Area Number of listed sites 120 100120 80 60 40 20 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 Peru Brazil of Iran Canada America Australia Denmark Botswana Mauritania United States of Islamic Republic Russian Federation 16 Ramsar Sites Overview About the List of Wetlands of International Importance the globe.Thenextchaptertakesacloserlookatkindsofwetlandsrepresented intheworld’s Ramsarsites. Having 114ContractingPartiestotheConventionmeansthatRamsarwetlandsare foundinmanyregions of the Convention’s history. Figure 4chartsthetrend ofaccessiontotheConventiononWetlands. between thisandtheprevious Convention entered orentersintoforce inacountryfourmonthsafteritjoins.Theinterveningthree years into force inDecember 1975,afterGreece (theseventhstate)depositeditsinstrument.Thereafter, the accession” (1974)totheConvention,makingitfirstRamsarContractingParty. TheConventionthenentered importance atthetimethatitjoinsConvention.Australiawasfirststatetodepositan“instrumentof In order tobecomeaContractingPartystatemustdesignateatleastonesiteaswetlandofinternational New Contracting Parties 10 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1974 19751976197719781979198019811982198319841985 1986198719881989199019911992199319941995199619971998 Overview , hasbeenoneofthemostactiveperiodsincrease inmembership Convention on Wetlands. Contracting Partiestothe Figure 4. The trend of Accession of River 16% Ramsar Sites Overview 17 Artificial 10% Lake 25% may incorporate riparian and may incorporate Marine 10% ”. ”. The text of the Convention further elaborates that wetlands: “ Convention further elaborates that ”. The text of the areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is or temporary, whether natural or artificial, permanent fen, peatland or water, areas of marsh, coastal zones adjacent to the wetlands, and islands or bodies of marine water deeper than six metres at low tide or bodies of marine water deeper to the wetlands, and islands coastal zones adjacent lying within the wetlands Wetland types Wetland of forms. wide range variations, these to discuss extremely possess an “wetlands” order In mustWetlands first that over 50 separate wetland many; Dugan (1990) stated are definitions of wetlands However defined. be in a globally has defined wetlands in use. The Ramsar Convention then) currently (even definitions were applicable way as: “ of which at low tide does not areas of marine water the depth fresh, brackish or salt, including static or flowing, exceed six metres Estuary 8% Wetland systems recorded in Ramsar systems recorded Wetland

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Figure 5. sites. Percentage of 2,465 total wetland-systems- records from 957 total sites; 85% of sites include more than one wetland system.

Marsh 31% Swamp and 18 Ramsar Sites Overview Wetland types recorded wetlandsystemsisdepictedinFigure 5. more thanone by Ramsarsitestoo.About85% out be assignedexclusivelytojustonesystem.Thisisborne Wetlands are dynamicandcomplexhabitatscanrarely their mainpurposeorfunction. level. Artificialwetlandsare usuallysubdividedaccording to wetlands are also recognized somewhatarbitrarilyatthis be assigned.Sincethere are manywetlandsthathavebeencreated orgreatly modifiedbyhumans,“artificial” thesesystemswetland“types”can are Lakes,Rivers,Swamps,EstuariesandMarinewetlandsystems.Within In general,naturalwetlandscanbeassignedtoatleastoneoffivebasickindsdivisionsor modified) systems(seeFigure 6). between themarine,estuaryandartificial(orintensively by swamps.Leastrepresented systemsvaryregionally Oceania reverse it, withlakesbeingrecorded mostfollowed exemplify theglobaltrend, whileAfrica,theNeotropics and Europe, Europe Western Asia, Eastern andNorthAmerica systems (25%ofallrecords). Onaregional scale, are thenextmostcommonlyrecorded ofthesixwetland 2,465 wetland-systems-records from 957totalsites).Lakes are themostoftenrecorded wetlandsystem(31%ofall wetlandsystem.Thepercentage of

of Ramsarsitesincorporate

Swamps all

% of total wetland systems recorded 100 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 0 fiaAi atr uoeWsenErp etoisNrhAeiaOceania North America Neotropics Western Europe EasternEurope Asia Africa Artificial Estuary MarineRiverLake

systems

Figure 6. . These Wetland inRamsarsites.* systemsrecorded *85% ofthese957siteshave morethanonewetlandsystempresent Swamp Wetland types Ramsar Sites Overview 19 wetland types. Some examples of floodplain wetlands are seasonally inundated grassland wetland types. e herein...... on inorganic soil; includes sloughs, potholes, seasonally flooded meadows, sedge marshes. flooded seasonally meadows, potholes, on inorganic soil; includes sloughs, . (over 8 ha); includes floodplain lakes. ; ponds (below 8 ha), marshes and swamps on inorganic soils; with emergent vegetation water-logged for at least most of the vegetation marshes and swamps on inorganic soils; with emergent water-logged ; ponds (below 8 ha), ; includes freshwater swamp forest, seasonally flooded forest, wooded swamps; on inorganic soils. flooded seasonally forest, ; includes freshwater swamp forest, .* . ; includes waterfalls. less than six metres deep at low tide; includes sea bays and straits. includes sea bays and metres deep at low tide; less than six . ; brackish to saline lagoonsone relatively with at least to the sea. narrow connection ; includes sand bars, spits and sandy islets; includes dune systems. spits and sandy islets; includes ; includes sand bars, , ditches. , ponds ; sewage farms, settling ponds, oxidation basins, etc. oxidation basins, settling ponds, ; sewage farms, (over 8 ha); includes large oxbow lakes. (over 8 ha); includes large ; includes kelp beds, sea-grass beds, tropical marine meadows. tropical marine beds, sea-grass beds, ; includes kelp ; includes mangrove swamps, nipah swamps and tidal freshwater swamp forests. nipah swamps and ; includes mangrove swamps, ; includes freshwater delta lagoons. ; shrub swamps, shrub-dominated freshwater marsh, shrub carr, alder thicket; on inorganic soils. shrub carr, shrub-dominated freshwater marsh, ; shrub swamps, . . ; includes shrub or open bogs, swamps, fens. swamps, ; includes shrub or open bogs, salt flats ; salt pans, salines, etc. . ; includes rocky offshore islands, sea cliffs. islands, ; includes rocky offshore ; reservoirs/barrages/dams/impoundments; 8 ha). (generally over or channels

; peatswamp forest. ; includes salt marshes, salt meadows, saltings, raised salt marshes; includes tidal brackish and freshwater marshes. raised salt marshes; includes tidal brackish and saltings, salt meadows, ; includes salt marshes, ; permanent water systems of deltas. of estuaries and estuarine pebble shores ; includes tundra pools, temporary from snowmelt. waters ; includes tundra pools, ; includes alpine meadows, temporary waters from snowmelt. ; includes alpine meadows,

sand , ; includes irrigation channels and rice fields.

peatlands or

(e.g., fish/shrimp) (e.g., ; gravel/brick/clay pits; borrow pits, mining pools. ; gravel/brick/clay pits; borrow pits, inland deltas drainage .

shallow marine waters shallow marine mud

subtidal aquatic beds subtidal aquatic ; includes farm ponds, stock ponds, small tanks; (generally 8 ha). below stock ponds, ; includes farm ponds, shingle , Canals and Wastewater treatment areas treatment Wastewater Irrigated land land Seasonally flooded agricultural Salt exploitation sites areas storage Water Excavations Aquaculture Ponds Forested peatlands Forested Freshwater, tree-dominated wetlands tree-dominated Freshwater, springs; oases Freshwater hydrological systems karst and cave Subterranean Ramsar wetland type Ramsar wetland Seasonal/intermittent saline/brackish/alkaline lakes and flats lakes Seasonal/intermittent saline/brackish/alkaline Permanent saline/brackish/alkaline lakes saline/brackish/alkaline Permanent wetlands Tundra Geothermal wetlands Coastal freshwater lagoons Coastal freshwater rivers/streams/creeks Permanent lakes freshwater Seasonal/intermittent Shrub-dominated wetlands Seasonal/intermittent/irregular rivers/streams/creeks Seasonal/intermittent/irregular lakes freshwater Permanent Coastal brackish/saline lagoons Coastal brackish/saline Sand Intertidal marshes wetlands Intertidal forested Coral reefs Coral Rocky marine shores Estuarine waters Seasonal/intermittent saline/brackish/alkaline marshes/pools Seasonal/intermittent saline/brackish/alkaline growing season. marshes/pools Seasonal/intermittent freshwater Non-forested Permanent saline/brackish/alkaline marshes/pools saline/brackish/alkaline Permanent marshes/pools freshwater Permanent Alpine wetlands Permanent Intertidal I J Y E F L 9 8 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 K P A Permanent B Marine R U N H C D G Q O Xf Vt M W Ts Zk Ss Tp Va Xp Zg Sp Code is a broad term used to refer to one or more wetland types, which may include examples from the R, Ss, Ts, W, Xf, Xp, or other Xp, Xf, W, Ts, Ss, which may include examples from the R, is a broad term used to refer to one or more wetland types, WETLANDS ” Ramsar Wetland Types. Wetland Ramsar “floodplain” MAN-MADE * To include intensively managed or grazed wet meadow or pasture. To * Note : Note : Floodplain wetlands are not listed as a specific wetland typ woodlands and forest. shrublands, (including natural wet meadows), “ Box 2. MARINE/COASTAL INLAND WETLANDS 20 Ramsar Sites Overview Wetland types Figure 9). the firstRamsarsitetoincludethisnewtype(Seealso Ramsar siteinPapuaNewGuinea(designated1998)was addedtothelistofwetlandtypes. were (1996), “subterraneankarstandcavehydrological systems” Meeting oftheContractingPartiesatBrisbane,Australia Classification Systemfor“Wetland Type”. Montreux, Switzerland (1990).Itisknownasthe Fourth Meetingof theContractingPartiesat by the types (Scott,1989,unpubl.report) draftedforand approved or typology. Thistypologywasbasedonalistofwetland of wetlandsintheworld”ratherthananyformalclassification hierarchy of“wetlandterms”todescribethe“principal types Ramsar ContractingPartieshaveadopteda simple types inthecontextofaglobalConventiononWetlands, subject ofdebate.To effectively treat thesubjectofwetland and Svensson,1996).Needlesstosayclassificationisa wetland definitions,“more (Öquist thanseventyglobal[wetland] classificationschemesexistinternationally” management (ortothedevelopmentofwetlandpolicy)atnationallevel.Parallelexistence ofmany which wetlandsare similarandwhichare different isageneralizationwhichfundamentallyusefultowetland Wetland systemsarebroadcategoriesthatcanusefullybebrokendownintomorespecific

Lake Kutubu AttheSixth 100% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 0% Figure 7. Intertidal marshes(H) Intertidal flats(G) Estuarine waters(F) Sandy, etc.shores(E) Shallow marinewaters(A) fiaAi atr uoeWsenErp etoisNrhAeiaOceania North America Neotropics Western Europe EasternEurope Asia Africa The fivemostcommonlyrecorded occurringwetlandtypesperregion.(SeeBox2.) types . Knowing Permanent brackishlakes(Q) Permanent freshwaterlakes(O) Permanent rivers(M) Coastal brackishlagoons(J) Intertidal forests(I) Non-forested peatlands(U) Seasonal freshwatermarshes(Ts) Permanent freshwatermarshes(Tp) Wetland types Ramsar Sites Overview 21 . are

But

. . . . . or , and permanent permanent Figure 9 presents the 9 presents Figure

wetland types coral reefs subterranean karst and geothermal wetlands rare type to begin with, rare per region are depicted in depicted are per region (which includes, among (which includes, primary type , is least recorded (2 sites) , is least recorded permanent freshwater lakes permanent freshwater newest

this is tied most. In the Neotropics,

comparatively seagrass beds, mangroves recorded probably indicates comparative probably recorded , slightly more than river types, as the most than , slightly more (a swamp type) that emerges as the most type) that emerges (a swamp wetland types across the world’s Ramsar sites. the world’s wetland types across in general too, even though they are not included are in general too, even though they the least-recorded types depicted in this analysis. types depicted in the least-recorded intertidal forested wetlands intertidal forested peatlands among under-representation in the Ramsar List of sites. This is under-representation thought to extend to forested peatlands forested On the other hand, the low numbers of On the other hand, the low numbers this is also probably a this is also probably like the second least recorded type, like the second least recorded frequently recorded wetland type. On the regional level, the regional wetland type. On recorded frequently while North America support this trend, and Western Europe and Oceania record Neotropics Africa, Asia, the rivers/streams/creeks lakes freshwater type. The five most commonly wetland recorded frequently occurring wetland types recorded 7. The most dominant or Figure with lists Eastern Europe Finally, others, mangroves). in five of the seven regions. predominant recorded are presented per region in Figure 8. The most in Figure per region presented are recorded is that here obvious trend least recorded In the first instance, the cave hydrological systems cave hydrological permanent freshwater marshes/pools freshwater permanent Permanent brackish lakes (Q) Permanent freshwater marshes (Tp) Non-forested peatlands (U) All 40 wetland types are represented among the world’s Ramsar sites (see Box 2 for the complete list of Ramsar list the complete 2 for (see Box sites Ramsar world’s among the represented types are All 40 wetland types multiple wetland usually encompass Ramsar sites wetland systems, with the broader As Types). Wetland recorded the most commonly with swamps as one). In synchrony only 73 sites that record only are (there system, it is also wetland Africa Asia Eastern Europe Europe Western NeotropicsAmerica North Oceania Estuarine waters (F) Intertidal flats (G) Intertidal forests (I) Coastal brackish lagoons (J) Permanent freshwater lakes (O) The two most frequently recorded primary (See Box 2.) recorded types per region. most frequently wetland The two 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Figure 8. 22 Ramsar Sites Overview Wetland types International Importance. International Ramsar ListofWetlands of for inclusion to themthrough the of theimportanceascribed look atRamsarsitesinterms The nextchapterprovides a not toodistantfuture. sensing isonearea where clearer delineationofwetlandextentanddiversificationseems toholdpromise inthe regions, andevensimplifiedtoemploymore general wetlandtypedelimitation.Technological advanceinremote Costa delineating wetlandsintheMediterraneanregion withinasuiteofwetlandinventory“tools”itproduced (see more available.Forexample,theMediterranean Wetlands Initiative(“MedWet”) developedamethodfor a designatedsite)issorely needed.Howevermethodologiesforwetlanddifferentiation are becomingmore and available. Still,quantifyingtheextentofthesegeneralwetlandtypes(andwetlandsversusnon-wetlands within to counthabitats,includingwetlands,thanmeasure them.Thatisanunfortunateartefactofthedatathatare difficulty orlackof expertiseindelineatingwetlands(orfiscalconstraintstodetailedmapping).Itismucheasier been “quantified”inmostcases(Thisalsoextendstowetlandsgeneral).Thismightlargelybetheresult of Wetland systemsandtypesrecorded intheworld’s Ramsarsiteshavebeencountedbuttheirareas havenot et al. , 1996;Farinha ofsitesonthe Criteria et al. , 1996;andZalidas Number of Ramsar sites 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 0 Subterranean karst (Zk) et al. Geothermal wetlands As primarywetlandtype Occuring wetlandtype , 1996).Thesameprinciplescouldbeadaptedtoother (Zg) wetlands Alpine (Va) Figure 9. Coral reefs (C) Leastcommonlyrecorded Ramsarwetlandtypes(world).(SeeBox2.) wetlands Tundra (Vt) Freshwater springs (Y) inland deltas Permanent (L) brackish lakes Seasonal (R) freshwater lagoons Coastal (K) Seasonal brackish marshes (Ss) peatlands Forested (Xp) Ramsar Sites Overview 23 criteria for representative . Within the these groups, specific criteria based on specific criteria , 3) have evolved since they were first have evolved since eciable number of individuals of any one or more of these species; ical region; within the wetland or elsewhere, depend. within the wetland or elsewhere, geographical region; , productivity or diversity; , bspecies of waterfowl. ctions and/or populations that representative of wetland benefits and/or are ical role in the natural functioning of an major river basin or coastal system, rities of its flora fauna; and , 1971) to guide implementation of Article 2.1 on designation sites. of Ramsar 1971) to guide implementation of , Ramsar Criteria specific criteria based on fish specific criteria general criteria based on plants or animals general criteria , 2) , and the newest “family” of criteria, 4) , and the newest adopted in 1980 (Ramsar Convention Bureau, 1997); most recently (in 1996) a fourth group or cluster of or cluster (in 1996) a fourth group 1997); most recently (Ramsar Convention Bureau, adopted in 1980 can be labeled: 1) These clusters groups. to the existing three criteria was added or unique wetlands waterfowl The international importance international The sites Ramsar of by definition internationally adopted a system for selecting important. The Convention has Ramsar sites are the basis of a set of “criteria”. These Ramsar sites on criteria are further subdivided into a total of 13 specific criteria. See Box 3 for the full list of criteria. a total of 13 specific criteria. See further subdivided into criteria are values and thereby contributes to global biological diversity; especiallyit is located where in a trans-border position; (a) life-history species intera stages, species or families, it supports a significant proportion of indigenous fish subspecies, (a) it regularly 20,000 waterfowl; supports (a) or an appr vulnerable or endangered species or subspecies of plant or animal, it supports an appreciable assemblage of rare, (a) characteristic of the appropriate bio wetland, it is a particularly example of a natural good representative or near-natural Criteria for Identifying Wetlands of International Importance. Wetlands Criteria for Identifying or (b) either nursery and/or migration path on which fish stocks, spawning ground, it is an important source of food for fishes, A wetland should be considered internationally important if: or (b)or it is of special value for and ecological diversity of a region maintaining the genetic because of the quality and peculia (c)or (d) it is of special value as the habitat of plants or animals at a critical stage of their biological cycle; it is of special value forplant or animal species or communities. one or more endemic if: A wetland should be considered internationally important or (b)or(c) indicative it regularly of wetland values from particular groups supports substantial numbers of individuals of waterfowl, where data it regularlypopulations on 1% of the individuals in a population of one species or su supports are available, or (b)or common to more than one biogeograph wetland, it is a particularly good representative of a natural or near-natural example (c) biological it is a particularly or ecolog good representative a substantial hydrological, example of a wetland which plays or (d) rare or unusual in the appropriate biogeographical region. it is an example of a specific type of wetland, if: A wetland should be considered internationally important A wetland should be considered internationally important if: A wetland should be considered internationally important 4 4. SPECIFIC CRITERIA BASED ON FISH 3. SPECIFIC CRITERIA BASED ON WATERFOWL 2. GENERAL CRITERIA BASED ON PLANTS OR ANIMALS Annexes to Recommendation 4.2, Montreux, Switzerland, 1990, and Resolution VI.2, Brisbane, Australia, 1996 Australia, Brisbane, VI.2, and Resolution 1990, Switzerland, Montreux, Annexes to Recommendation 4.2, A wetland is identified as being of international importance if it meets at of the criteria set out below: least one 1. OR UNIQUE WETLANDS CRITERIA FOR REPRESENTATIVE Box 3. Iran (Ramsar, Wetlands As adopted by 4th and 6th Meetings of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Convention on the 24 Ramsar Sites Overview The international importance of Ramsar sites biodiversity and/oritshydrological andecologicalfunctioning. be expressed (withingeographicallimits,etc.)thr or anywetlandhasahealthy“ecologicalcharacter”,thatthiswill to theirspecialstatus.ItalsofollowslogicallythatifaRamsarsite sites are usuallyimportantformore thanonereason furtherattests official RamsarInformation Sheet(sitedatasheet).ThatRamsar be listedunderthefishcriteria,givenanappropriate updateofan “fish” were specificallyaddedtotheRamsarcriteriacouldnowalso likely thatasignificantproportion ofthesitesdesignatedbefore come from onlya singlecriteria cluster. Furthermore, itishighly data toreveal thatonly10%ofsitesare listedusingcriteriathat of theother(three) clustersofcriteria.Figure 11combinesthese demonstrates thatover80%oftotalRamsarsitesqualifyforeach the exceptionofrecently addedfishcriteria,Figure 10 important foranotherreason (clusterand/orspecificcriterion).With particular criterion),there isastrong likelihoodthatitisalso general presents importantforone itself.Thisis,ifasiteisinternationally When gaugingtheuseofRamsarsiteselectioncriteria,aclearparallel reason (i.e.,from acluster)orforone specific ough its reason (i.e.,a Representative oruniquewetlands 86% 82% lse lses3cutr 4clusters 3clusters 2clusters 1 cluster "Waterbird" Criteria Figure 11. Figure 10. Percentageof935* World Ramsarsiteslistingoneormore criteria “clusters”. World ofsitesrecordingeach Ramsarsitesandthepercentage “cluster” of 18% 14% 60% Not recording* Sites recording* General Criteriabasedonplantsandanimals 25% 86% 94% *935 of957totalsiteswithcriteriarecords "Fish" Criteria Ramsar criteria. *of 957totalsites 14%

10% 6% 5% Criterion

The international importance of Ramsar sites Ramsar Sites Overview 25 general are listed are 1a 1c 1c 1d 2a 2b 2c 2d 3a 3b 3c 4a 4b *935 of 957 world sites with criteria information waterbird criteria waterbird criteria, while that has the most records. North America presents yet another pattern yet North America presents records. that has the most representative or unique wetlands representative animals high rather than low, there are regional differences. For instance, in Africa 89% of For instance, differences. regional are there low, high rather than appears Representative or unique wetlands animals General Criteria based on plants and “Waterbird” Criteria “Fish” Criteria based on plants or based onplants of criteria all 0

600 500 400 300 200 100 Number of Ramsar Sites Ramsar of Number Figure 12 shows the individual application of all 13 of the criteria across the entire Ramsar List. The single most List. The single entire Ramsar criteria across the of all 13 of the application shows the individual Figure 12 of example good and representative that the site is a one that says the is, not surprisingly, used criterion frequently of the general view a regional to provide presented are 13–19 Figures region. its biogeographical from a wetland among from criteria that record region of sites in each the number this simple analysis, of criteria. In application long-standing three the use of the the fact that Notwithstanding is depicted. the four criteria clusters each of groups sites employ one or more of the or more sites employ one criteria for 72% of the sites. In Asia and especially Western Europe, this pattern is reversed (with the waterbird criteria (with the waterbird pattern this is reversed Europe, In Asia and especially Western for 72% of the sites. it is the second cluster, and Oceania In Eastern the Neotropics frequently). most Europe, being recorded criteria or unique wetlands of application, but representative all have a high rate criteria groups the first three where listed for all but one site. are furnish but also or biodiversity, not only for support of of wetlands provide and functions The natural productivity two chapters look first at how people. The next Ramsar upon millions of contribute to the livelihoods of millions some of the factors challenging the sustainable, used, and then at wise use, or of these wetlands are wetlands. (See Box 3.) World World frequency of Ramsar criteria application*. Figure 12. Figure 26 Ramsar Sites Overview The international importance of Ramsar sites recorded in: Ramsar criteriaclusters Number of Ramsar sites 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 50 0 15 of472totalsiteswithoutcriteriarecords Figure 16. 1 234 Criteria cluster Western Europe Western

Number of Ramsar sites Number of Ramsar sites 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 0 0 1 234 1 234 Figure 17. Figure 13. Criteria cluster Criteria cluster criteriarecords 4 of76totalsiteswithout Neotropics Africa records criteria without regions) fromother territories overseas dependentor 11sitesfrom (including totalsites 2of75

Number of Ramsar sites Number of Ramsar sites 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 10 20 30 40 50 60 0 0 1 of74totalsiteswithoutcriteriarecords Figure 18. 1 234 1 234 Figure 14. Criteria cluster Criteria cluster North America Asia 59 totalsites

Number of Ramsar sites Number of Ramsar sites 100 120 140 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 20 40 60 80 0 5 0 Figure 15. 1 234 1 234 Figure 19. Criteria cluster Criteria cluster Eastern Europe Eastern Oceania 145 totalsites 56 totalsites Ramsar Sites Overview 27 Towards the Towards sustainable the phrase “wise use” in 1971 (Article 3.1), calling on use” in 1971 (Article 3.1), calling the phrase “wise coined (Davis, 1993), which elaborated through case studies, the diversity, complexity and case studies, the diversity, through (Davis, 1993), which elaborated Guidelines for wise use of wetlands were presented in 1990 (annex to COP Recommendation in presented were Guidelines for wise use of wetlands . ” Land uses Land in the relationship integral role play an that wetlands has recognized the Convention very beginning its From and sustenance, materials providing section of the human community, broad and a between the environment that maintaining the hydrological and ecological functions for millions of people. Further, economic opportunities to humankind. This a host of benefits a dividend through but pays only sustains biodiversity, of wetlands not is now a thinking at the time to what what was perhaps innovative has evolved from “wise use” concept used, and that to maintain their so many ways, that they will be valuable in are that wetlands pragmatic realism; be used wisely. value, they must on Wetlands The text of the Convention This territory. wise use of other wetlands in their of Listed sites and conservation to promote Contracting Parties it was defined in 1987 by COP Recommendation 3.3 as the “ phrase became a concept when utilization for the benefit of mankind in a way compatible with the maintenance of the natural properties of the in a way compatible with the maintenance of the natural properties utilization for the benefit of mankind ecosystem Resolution 5.6. But it was a “Wise (an annex to) COP amplified in 1993 through Use 4.10) and these were publication the Ramsar Bureau 1997) culminating in Convention Bureau, (see Ramsar Project” Wise Use of Wetlands Wise Use of Wetlands in 1996, in the Ramsar was echoed strongly the call to wise use of wetlands importance of the concept. Finally, wise use of wetlands. implementing outlines 26 specific actions towards Strategic Plan 1997–2002 which Within those identified as of the Convention, wise use extends to all wetlands including the context Ramsar sites is one of the internationally sites. Information about land uses in and around important Ramsar Sheet Ramsar Information the Convention-approved by Contracting Parties through categories to be reported for an sites). While guidelines for supplying land use information call (the datasheet for describing Listed (or provided described land use, useful information on “scale” is usually not indication of the importance of each uses of Nor can some kind of “wise use quotient“ for particular quantifiable. and is rarely to provide) is difficult available data. given currently general way, Ramsar sites be assigned in any 5 28 Ramsar Sites Overview Land uses were reported foroneregion each. was amongthemostlistedusesintworegions, whilefrequent useofsitesforeducationaswellsettlement, recorded amongthemostcommonlandusesofsites in3regions). Useofsitesforcollectionnaturalproducts scientific research (inthetopfivelandusesrecorded insitesof5regions) andagriculture andhunting (both highest levelofrecording inOceaniaRamsarsitesofanylanduseclass.Otherprevalent landusesinclude list conservationasthemostfrequent landusecategory. Figure 27reveals thatrecreation andtourismenjoysthe (Figures 21–23and Figure 25,respectively). Western Europe (Figure 24)andNorthAmerica(Figure 26)regions EuropeOn aregional basis, fishingismostoftenlistedforsitesinAfrica,Asia,Eastern andtheNeotropics sites), nothing canbesaidofthescaletheseusesoractivities,itis Figure 20depicts themostfrequently recorded landusecategoriesinsidetheworld’s Ramsarsites.While on, orrelevance to theRamsarsiteisnotalwaysclearfrom theavailableinformation. presented. Landuses inthe“surroundings” are recorded intheRamsarDatabase,buttheirproximity, influence globally andperRamsarregion. Inthefollowinganalysisonlylandusesrecorded What ispossible,tosimplynotethefrequencythatgenerallandusesclassesarerecordedatRamsarsites Number of Ramsar sites 100 200 300 400 500 600 0 conservation ihn Agriculture Fishing osrainRecreation/ Conservation , and recreation andtourism tourism (56%ofallsitesforboth)thatare mostcommonlyrecorded. Scientific research fishing utn Water Hunting (562of955siteswithdata;59%all inside *38 of957totalsiteswithnolanduseinformation the Ramsarsiteare Education natural products Collecting sites (world). recorded* landusesinsideRamsar Figure 20. regulation Most frequently Aquaculture

Land uses Ramsar Sites Overview

29 Education

56 total sites

land use information Fishing Conservation

Conservation Agriculture

Oceania

research

Hunting

Eastern Europe Scientific

research

tourism Scientific

Recreation/ tourism

4 of 145 Eastern European sites with no 4 of 145 Eastern

Figure 27. Recreation/ Figure 23. Figure Fishing 0 5 0 80 60 40 20

50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10

120 100

Number of Ramsar sites Ramsar of Number Number of Ramsar sites Ramsar of Number Hunting

59 total sites Fishing

Conservation tourism

Asia natural products natural Recreation/

Collecting

research

North America North

tourism Scientific

Recreation/

Conservation

Figure 22. Figure research Scientific

Figure 26. Fishing 1 of 74 Asian sites with no land use information Asian sites with 1 of 74 0 0

60 50 40 30 20 10 60 50 40 30 20 10

Number of Ramsar sites Ramsar of Number Number of Ramsar sites Ramsar of Number

Conservation Conservation

Africa products natural

with no land use information Settlement

Collecting

Neotropics

Agriculture Agriculture

tourism tourism

Recreation/ Figure 21. Figure Recreation/ 5 of 75 sites in the Neotropics (including

those in dependent or overseas territories)

Figure 25.

Fishing Fishing 5 of 76 African sites with no land use information African sites 5 of 76 5 0 0

50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 60 50 40 30 20 10

Number of Ramsar sites Ramsar of Number Number of Ramsar sites Ramsar of Number

research

land use information Scientific

Hunting

Fishing

tourism Western Europe

Recreation/ Conservation 23 of 472 Western European sites with no Figure 24. Figure 0 50

350 300 250 200 150 100 Number of Ramsar sites Ramsar of Number Most frequently recorded land recorded frequently Most Ramsar sites: uses inside 30 Ramsar Sites Overview Land uses

are discussed. factors ofchangethatoperateinandaround Ramsarsites, activities orsources outsideofit.Inthenextchapter, the But impactsappearingwithinasitecanalsoderivefrom character” mightbeexpectedtomanifestitselfovertime. case ofthelatter, anadversechangeinthe“ecological A particularuseofawetlandmayornotbewise.Inthe

. H /M WWF-C : India. Park, National Corbett wetlands. of use sustainable a is eco-tourism Well-planned ARVEY ARTIN ANON PHOTO Ramsar Sites Overview 31 -valued (again). And there is there -valued (again). And under another factor that makes wetlands particularly susceptible to certain impacts, and that is that the water that to certain impacts, and makes wetlands particularly susceptible another factor that large loads of domestic and industrial Cities create else. somewhere from makes them wetlands often comes applied on their way into rivers and other wetlands. Some of the chemicals wastes that can, and often do, make system. flows similarly into the hydrological activities that cause erosion, agricultural land, or soil from sources on underground often relying water, vast amounts of also require Urbanization and certain industries other areas. or on water supplied from connected to other regions, the factors of change that might, or to report requested Contracting Parties are Parallel to the topic of land uses, the use of the through their Ramsar sites, at the time of designation. This is accomplished do, adversely affect Parties Should adverse changes arise after completion of this site datasheet, Ramsar Information Sheet (RIS). of in advance of triennial Conferences national reports standard such information through asked to provide are there reported, And as with other subjects that are notifying the Ramsar Bureau. the Parties, or even by directly change factors, Parties are for detailing these “adverse factors”. In addition to enumerating certain guidelines are appears likely that such detailed measurable/quantifiable information about them, if possible. It asked to provide is generally provided submitted data. So what in officially reported to obtain, for it is rarely information is difficult at Ramsar sites. Temporal, or even just lists, of change factors (potentially) operating basic descriptions, are usually either missing or ambiguous. of these factors are spatial and quantifiable contexts Factors of change Factors or to something “useful” (either to sites to be converted been seen as have traditionally places, wetlands In many witness wetland “reclamation”, this: reinforced Even the terminology that evolved “benign”). something more the wetland. While this from valuable reclaimed something more needs to be the connotation is that there where of its influence in the decision- still residues are there years, in recent has changed significantly perception integral ecological and and productive that such places. It is indeed ironic operating in some making processes are there However, such bad reputations. had (and still upon occasion have) systems could have hydrological they because precisely under pressure are Some wetland areas driving the wetland loss engine. other impetuses exploitation suffer bound to are wetlands resources, or diminishing or because, given scarce so productive, are wetlands to be can cause resources Scarce resilience. beyond their natural 6 32 Ramsar Sites Overview Factors of change conversion toaquaculture, notrelated habitatburning toagriculture, andextractiveforest impacts). (not specificallyagricultural)factorsresultingother settlement, andvarious inhabitatlossordegradation(e.g. change factorsforworldRamsarsitesinclude,respectively, generalpollution,waterregulation, urbanizationand would appeartobecomingfrom agriculturalactivityoutsideoftheRamsarsites.Othermostfrequently recorded sixth highestrecorded landuseinsidesites(244records; seeagainFigure 20),therefore manyoftheseimpacts frequently recorded changefactorsinthiscontext(513Ramsarsites).Forlanduses, agriculture wasonlythe commonly reported changefactorsfortheglobal datasetofRamsarsites agriculture factors canbecategorizedinmore thanoneway, there are overlaps.Acaseinpointare theimpacts sites. Suchimpactsare manyandvaried,buttheirscalesare generally unknown.Becausesomeofthese Figure 28illustratesthemostfrequently recorded changefactorsreported Number of Ramsar sites 100 200 300 400 500 600 agriculture 0 From ,

pollution ingeneral Pollution, all types , andspecifically, From water regulation urbanization/ settlement From agricultural pollution (non-agricultural) Habitat loss Impact sourceortarget , allofwhichappearamongthemost . . . Agriculturalimpactsare themost . . . in andaround From waste disposal *79 of957worldsiteswithnochangefactorsinformation the world’s Ramsar industry From from agricultural Pollution, around Ramsarsites(world). recorded* change factorsinand Figure 28. From tourism/ recreation Mostfrequently (non-forestry) Extractive land uses Factors of change Ramsar Sites Overview 33 factors threatening their ecological character. factors threatening no

Upon regional analysis, agriculture is either the most or second is either analysis, agriculture Upon regional regions for 6 of 7 Ramsar change factor recorded most frequently 34), does it 29–33(Figures America (Figure 35). Only in North and where change factor), recorded (fifth most prominently rate less commonly recorded. the most are regulation water from impacts and urbanization and settlement regulation, Pollution, water factors in change five most recorded among the impacts are the is most important (based on but pollution every region, Europe Western in Eastern Europe, records) numbers of relative 29 and Africa and Asia (Figures Interestingly, and the Neotropics. ranking of their the same relative proportions 30) list in differing factors. Other impact change recorded five most commonly non-agricultural habitat loss and of note include, sources (e.g. extractive impacts and non-forestry degradation (4 regions) from as occurring listed gravel and minerals, extraction) are sand, Ramsar sites in two regions. in and/or around “factors of change” Overview, Of all parameters examined in this (over 8% of all Ramsar had the highest rate of “no information” as specifically recorded are sites). Just over 3% of Ramsar sites having

If practised in the traditional manner, fisheries is a sustainable use of wetland resources. wetland of use sustainable a is fisheries manner, traditional the in practised If : G : M . PHOTO AGNIN ERNANT 34 Ramsar Sites Overview Factors of change Ramsar sites: change factorsinandaround Most frequentlyrecorded Number of Ramsar sites 100 150 200 250 300 50 0

Figure 32. Pollution, all types Impact sourceortarget From agriculture 49 of472Western Europeansiteswith From water Western Europe regulation From no changefactorsinformation urbanization/ settlement

Habitat loss (non-agricultural)

Number of Ramsar sites Number of Ramsar sites 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 0 5 0 5

Pollution, 9 of76 African siteswithnochangefactorsinformation all types From From agriculture Figure 33. agriculture

Impact sourceortarget Impact sourceortarget From water those independentoroverseasterritories) Figure 29. From water 8 of75sitesintheNeotropics(including regulation regulation From urbanization/ From with nochangefactorsinformation urbanization/ settlement Neotropics settlement Habitat loss (non-agricultural) Habitat loss Africa (non-agricultural) Pollution, all types

Number of Ramsar sites Number of Ramsar sites 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 0 5 0 5 From water regulation From

Figure 34. From agriculture urbanization/Impact sourceortarget settlement

Impact sourceortarget From water

Pollution, regulation Figure 30. all types 1 of59North American siteswithno From urbanization/

Extractive North America land settlement uses (non-forestry) change factorsinformation

Habitat loss 3 of74 Asian siteswithno From (non-agricultural) change factorsinformation agriculture Asia Pollution, all types

Number of Ramsar sites Number of Ramsar sites 100 120 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 20 40 60 80 0 5 0 From agriculture Figure 31. From water Pollution, all types Figure 35. regulation Impact sourceortarget Impact sourceortarget From From

urbanization/ agriculture 9 of145EasternEuropeansiteswith settlement Pollution, Pollution, Eastern Europe

all types agricultural no changefactorsinformation Oceania From Extractive land urbanization/ uses (non-forestry) settlement From water

56 totalsites regulation Ramsar Sites Overview 35 (RIS), a wherein were of an were Overview Ramsar Information Sheet Ramsar Information 16% series (Jones, 1993; Frazier, 1996b) published by the 1996b) published by Frazier, series (Jones, 1993; datasheets Substandard have negligible data (a 67% drop in percentage terms). have negligible data (a 67% drop 78% of the sites have satisfactory datasheet formats, 16% are sub-optimal and 6% 78% of the sites have satisfactory appreciable data. Contrast that with the present situation (see appreciable data. Contrast that with Figure 36) 17% were represented by substandard data formats, and data formats, 17% were represented by substandard 18% of sites had no acceptable structure (i.e. covering the required categories of information). Some acceptable structure (i.e. covering now. About 65% of site datasheets available for previous About 65% of site datasheets available for previous now. datasheet quality was more complicated, a comparison is possible with the situation datasheet quality was more complicated, 6% is required (i.e. an RIS or “equivalent”) or it does not. Even though the initial overview of is required (i.e. an RIS or “equivalent”) No data represented by the approved RIS, and to the conclusion that either a datasheet provides what represented by the approved RIS, analysis has now been greatly simplified owing to the fact that more and more sites are (being) analysis has now been greatly simplified Directory of International Importance of Wetlands datasheet providing a standardized format for describing their Ramsar sites, and facilitating management of this sites, and facilitating management for describing their Ramsar format standardized a datasheet providing Ramsar COP numerous through RIS has been requested Ramsar Database. Use of the information by the RIS and the of the and Resolution VI.13). The presentation 4.7, Resolution 5.3, decisions (Recommendation derived may have used in this report Other information have been periodically refined. content of its Guidelines from other “official” Parties, or from National Reports by Contracting triennial Ramsar or from Ramsar Bureau, material. classified into 1996a), individual Ramsar site datasheets were (Frazier, analysis to the present In the predecessor and context to that of the RIS. This the similarity of their content, structure a number of categories based on The dataThe sites Ramsar on Ramsar to the data provided official derived from publication was in this presented information The summary 31 at December available data 1998). (from Bureau the Ramsar Parties through Database by Contracting by a covered the categories of information have approved Contracting Parties Ramsar Information 7 957 Ramsar sites RIS & equivalents 78% Figure 36. Figure Sheets (RIS). 36 Ramsar Sites Overview The data on Ramsar sites and therefore compromises theimplementationofConvention. Importanceanditscredibility,inaccurate orsimplyolddataimpoverishestheList ofWetlands of International significant informationgaps.Anyexistinggapswere Incomplete, notedintheappropriateanalyses. foregoing Nevertheless, thissubstantialtangibleimprovement1990). mustbetemperedDecember inthelightofstill Contracting Partiestorevise theirsitedataatleast everysixyears(startingwithallsitesdesignatedbefore 31 (RIS) format,andmanydatawere updatedinresponse toCOPResolutionVI.13whichcalledupon proportion ofdataavailable,more informationwassuppliedintheapproved conducted ona“better”setofdata.Better, becausethere wasahigher Contrasted withtheprevious analysis,this site maps. zonation). There is stillconsiderableroom forimprovement inthearea ofRamsar sound media,andperhapsadditionalusefulfeatures (likeanindicationofhabitat geographic coordinates), Ramsarsiteboundaries,aclearlylegibleimageon those includinganumberofstandard cartographic features (e.g.scale, of thefullrangemaps,from the“best”to“worst”.Highlyratedmapswere no map.Insimplesttermsthese Figure poor”mapsrepresented 37.“Poor–very 23%ofsites,and1%siteshad 31% ofallRamsarsites,while“fair”mapswere availablefor45%ofsites.See report, goodmaps” was butasoftheend1998,level“good–very of designation.Inthe1996versionthispublicationthere wasnocomparable should supplyamapdelimitingtheboundariesoftheirRamsarsitesattime In additiontoprovisionofaRamsarInformationSheet,ContractingParties subjective ratingswere basedonacomparison Ramsar Sites

Overview 23% Poor–very poor was 957 Ramsarsites 1% No maps Figure 37. RamsarSiteMaps. 45% Fair 31% Good–very good Ramsar Sites Overview 37 An Overview of represent a snapshot of Contracting Parties and their Parties and of Contracting a snapshot represent Ramsar Sites OverviewRamsar , which was the first analysis of over 20 years of Ramsar site designations. In just this Ramsar site designations. In just first analysis of over 20 years of , which was the designated Ramsar sites at 31 December 1998. This publication updates by exactly three years, years, three This publication updates by exactly sites at 31 December 1998. designated Ramsar Ramsar Sites the World’s and total their Ramsar sites by 24%, by 25%, Parties has increased year span the number of Contracting three 35%. by designated area extent, sites and their areal the distribution of Ramsar coverage of Convention membership, In addition to the attributes or and the special represented on the types of wetlands information presented this Overview has of wetlands, them internationallycriteria, that make and productivity Because of the natural richness important. use wise use is in harmony with Ramsar’s Ramsar sites. Sometimes the subject to use, including they are Information on land uses and factors of change operating in Ramsar principle, and sometimes it is not. these below that can be drawn from some salient conclusions outlined are wetlands, was There presented. also analyses. is approaching Europe in North America and coverage in Western Convention membership is complete East, for extension, especially in large parts of Africa, the Middle scope is great there completion. Elsewhere, and under- rare and the Pacific. Many countries with major wetlands, central and southeast Asia, the Caribbean in not yet represented are types, or wetlands important for maintaining global biodiversity, wetland represented geographic size, and the extent and variety of widely in differ and regions the Convention. Of course, countries must be taken into in Countries’ economies, populations and resources differences their wetlands. Importantly, to advance toward countries in order to appropriate a need to expand assistance remains clearly account. There in the Convention. wetland coverage universal membership and representative Conclusion in this presented The analyses 8 38 Ramsar Sites Overview Conclusion Resolution VI.3callsforthepossiblefurtherdevelopment ofRamsarsiteselectioncriteria. or clusters.Ramsarcriteriahaveevolvedwiththe Convention(criteriaspecifictofishwere addedin1996).COP for multiplereasons, thoughtheyneedonlybelistedforoneof13 criteria,whichare dividedamongfourfamilies importanceaccording toasetof criteria.TheoverwhelmingmajorityofRamsarsitesareinternational important flooding, watersupply, migratoryspecies,etc.).Ramsar sitesare wetlands thathavemetsomethreshold of Wetland systemsare someofthemostproductive andimportantsystemsonEarth,(influencing climate, there iswithinRamsar sites,astoknowitsdistributionamongthem. provided without an indicationofareal scale.Itislikelyjustasimportanttoknowhowmuchofawetlandtype on under-representation. Afurtherelementtoconsideraboutwetlandtypeinformation,isthatitnearlyalways of wetlandtypes(e.g.coralreefs andforested peatlands)intheRamsarDatabasedoesmatchspecialistopinion in theRamsarList.Otherexpertsadvisethatpeatlandstooare under-represented. Insomecases,lowrecording mangrove forests, andseagrassbedsare veryimportantandthreatened systemswhichare under-represented In COPRecommendation6.7,ContractingPartieshaveacknowledgedexpertopinionthatcoral reefs, on rare andunder-represented wetlandtypes,specialistinputissometimesneeded. necessarily indicaterarityalthoughitmightunder-representation, dependingonthetype.Forguidance orinlanddeltas).Lowrecordinga veryspecificgeologicform(e.g.geothermalwetlands,springs, doesnot relatively uncommonbecauseitisgeographicallyrestricted (e.g.mangroves ortundrawetlands)becauseitis qualified. Thefactthatawetlandtypeisnotoftenrecorded couldmeananumberofthings.Thetypebe types atRamsarsiteshavebeenreported. Thisapproach isdictatedbythedatathatare available,andmustbe maintained forpurposesoftheConvention.Inthisanalysis,mostandleastfrequently recorded wetland contextofRamsarWetlandimprovements Type or adjustments, buttheinternational istheattributethatmustbe provide theelement of“globalapplicability”currently enjoyed.Thisisnottosaythatthere isnotaneedfor detailed classificationmightbewarrantedatthenationalorregional level,itprobably wouldnotbeableto It isnotthecasethatsystemofRamsarWetland Types provides acomprehensive classification.Whilea Conclusion Ramsar Sites Overview 39

Data available for analysis of Ramsar wetland use of Ramsar wetland for analysis Data available extent, details on spatial do not include generally “wise of quantifiable figure context or some temporal basic simply land use data are use”. Generally, What is of general types. or even a list descriptions is that Ramsar sites are this information, clear from of ways, and that communities being used in a variety the sustainability of these wetlands. often depend on in can be made about land uses Certain deductions a is described from of use record general but each The set of circumstances. site, with its own discreet within a site is crucial to assessing scale of a land use or possible impacts, of the use. the sustainability, a only to the spatial coverage of Scale extends not duration and land use within a site, but also the intensity of that use. is the main tenet The “wise use of wetlands” principle that benefit of the Ramsar Convention. Activities the “ecological people but do not adversely affect compatible with the character” of a wetland are that can cause a conservation of that wetland. Factors of wetlands are change in the ecological character Contracting Parties have listed such factors in many. course of describing their sites. These data the routine often without details of the extent, intensity too, are and duration of the impact.

Field worker placing mudskipper traps, Hong Kong. Kong. Hong traps, mudskipper placing worker Field : WWF-C : /D.S. M /D.S. . PHOTO ANON ELVILLE 40 Ramsar Sites Overview Conclusion

project toaddress it,meritsseriousconsideration. important thatdevelopmentofaspecificallyfunded Ramsar sites.Theissueofadversechangeisso analysis ofthesefactorschangeoperatingin information itself,willsupportamore comprehensive data butonlyanimprovement ordiversificationofthe developed. Thiswillfacilitatemanagementofthese factor datainastructured (hierarchical) wayisbeing Database application,amoduleforhandlingadverse the same.Incourseofcreating anewRamsar breadth ofinformation thatitconveyshasremained but essentiallythestructure ofthedata,and been basedonarevised (computerprogram) analysis, presentation ofinformation onchangefactorshas significantly more-definitive results. Thecurrent available onthreats wouldnotyetappeartosupport markedly since1996,thespecificinformationnow quality ofRamsarsiteinformationhasimproved be furtherdeveloped.Whiletheoverallquantityand analysis ofthreats recorded intheRamsarDatabase In 1996,COPResolutionVI.13requestedthatthe

. D N : Senegal. gathering, Salt AVIDSON ICK PHOTO Conclusion Ramsar Sites Overview 41 ” (Moser ” was conducted for the ” was conducted The Ramsar Convention The Ramsar inventory Frazier, 1996a, for a detailed treatment for a detailed 1996a, Frazier, Overview, A global review of wetland loss and degradation A global review of resources and priorities for wetland and priorities for wetland resources A global review of wetland A global review of national and international national Procedure Guidance the Management attention) and conservation Ramsar Convention Bureau, 1997, and the previous and the previous 1997, Convention Bureau, Ramsar positive Ramsar Convention Bureau, 1996). This highlighted the fact that while data are incomplete, wetlands in the fact that while data are Bureau, 1996). This highlighted Ramsar Convention in , of these subjects). Australia, 1996, at the 6th COP in Brisbane was addressed loss and degradation in general The issue of wetland B entitled “ Session in Technical with a presentation Ramsar Bureau (with additional funding from the Netherlands government) by Wetlands International the Netherlands government) and its by Wetlands (with additional funding from Ramsar Bureau Institute of Research in association with the Environmental Inventory and Monitoring Specialist Group, Wetland which has examined the status and on the findings of this project, A report the Supervising Scientist of Australia. Jose, Costa Rica, in San at the 7th COP, worldwide, will be released coverage of national wetland inventories wetlands, and and status of the world’s knowledge of the extent summarizes current May 1999. The report gaps in quality and coverage. the most pressing wetland inventory to address priorities for future recommends sites and all Parties is to maintain the ecological character of their listed The challenge of Ramsar Contracting but complementary. not contradictory conservation and wise use. These mechanisms are their wetlands through fundamental More for maintaining ecological character. no viable alternative is probably to this approach There functions of wise use is necessary to maintain the values, benefits and than meeting Convention obligations, of people and their economies. support the livelihoods and indirectly wetlands that directly et al. the saw an initiative born also of funding from with a pledge Conference The Brisbane under threat. general are of global Plan call to “begin quantification a Ramsar Strategic government of the United Kingdom toward conservation or loss.” The resulting in wetland for considering trends as baseline information wetland resources, entitled “ project, (formerly Monitoring Procedure) to address threats at Listed sites. Individual Contracting Parties have also Parties have Contracting Listed sites. Individual at threats to address Monitoring Procedure) (formerly sites. (See “ at their Ramsar measures and rehabilitation various restoration initiated The Convention of Wetlands has developed the mechanisms of the Montreux Record (a list of priority Ramsar Record (a of the Montreux the mechanisms has developed of Wetlands The Convention sites for Manual”, Manual”, 42 Ramsar Sites Overview M Importance H D International publication.Lisbon.112pp. MedWet/Instituto daConservaçãoNatureza/Wetlands areferencemanual Mediterranean Wetland Inventory: C References Switzerland. 92pp. Proceedings. Volume 10/12.RamsarConventionBureau, Gland, Convention onWetlands. Technical SessionsB&D.Conference 1996. RamsarConvention,Brisbane,Australia,19–27March 1996. of WetlandLossandDegradation F Publication No.39,WetlandsInternational.58pp. J Switzerland. Importance –AnUpdate F Biotope WetlandCenter(EKBY)publication.84pp. da ConservaçãoNatureza/WetlandsInternational/Greek habitatdescriptionsystem Inventory: F 96 pp. Issues andRequiredAction D Project, RamsarConventionBureau,GlandSwitzerland.180pp. ONES RAZIER RAZIER ARINHA UGAN AVIS ECKER OSTA OSER , TJ. (ed). 1993. , TJ.(ed). , TA. (compiler).1993. , LT., F , PJ.(ed).1990. , ME.,P , S.(compiler).1996b. , S.1996a. , N., , JC.,C . 4Vols AND ARINHA RENTICE OSTA T OMAS An Overview oftheWorld’sAn Overview RamsarSites , JC.,H . , LT., Z RamsarConventionBureau, Gland,Switzerland. , RC. Towards UseofWetlands The Wise Wetland Conservation,AReviewofCurrent V IVES . RamsarConventionBureau.Gland, ALIDIS ECKER . IUCN–TheWorldConservationUnion. AND , P. (eds).1996. A Directory ofWetlandsA Directory ofInternational Directory ofWetlands ofInternational Directory F , G.,M , N. RAZIER . inRamsarConventionBureau. AND . Vol. III.5vols.MedWet/Instituto ANTZAVELAS , S.1996. T OMAS Mediterranean Wetland V , A.,F IVES A GlobalOverview , P. (eds).1996. ITOKA . Vol. I.5vols. . Wise Use . Wise , E., . R Climate Change to theSecondAssessmentReportofIntergovernmentalPanelon Change: Scientific-Technical Analyses Climate Change1995:Impacts,AdaptationsandMitigationof R 5/12. RamsarConventionBureau,Gland,Switzerland.26pp. Objectives andactions1997–2002. Australia, 19–27March1996.ConventiononWetlandsStrategicPlan. R Convention Bureau,Gland,Switzerland.71pp. Recommendations. Australia, 19–27March1996.ConventiononWetlandsResolutions& R Switzerland. 317pp. 27 June–4July1990 of theConferenceContractingParties,Montreux,Switzerland, S Ramsar ConventionBureau,Gland,Switzerland.161pp. guide totheConventiononWetlands (Ramsar, Iran,1971), chapter da ConservaçãoNatureza/Wetlands Internationalpublication.44pp. Vol. IV. 5vols.Medwet/Greek BiotopeWetland Center(EKBY)/Instituto Wetland Inventory:photointerpretationandcartographicconventions Z Switzerland. 41pp.(unpublishedreport) Gland, Ramsar Sites. Ö ALIDIS COTT AMSAR AMSAR AMSAR AMSAR QUIST , DA.1989. , GC.,M , MG. C C C C in ONVENTION ONVENTION ONVENTION ONVENTION W ATSON AND Mimeographed ReporttoRamsarConventionBureau, ANTZAVELAS . CambridgeUniversityPress.Cambridge,UK. S Design ofWetland DataSheetforDatabase on , RT., Z VENSSON B B B B Conference Proceedings Volume 4/12.Ramsar UREAU UREAU UREAU UREAU . Volume I.RamsarConventionBureau, Gland, INYOWERA , AL. , BH.(eds).1996. . 1997. . 1996. . 1996. . 1990. AND , MC. F The RamsarConventionManual:a Proceedings oftheFourthMeeting Ramsar Convention,Brisbane, Ramsar Convention,Brisbane, ConferenceProceedings Volume ITOKA . Contribution ofWorking GroupII AND , EN. 1996. M Non-Tidal Wetlands OSS , RH. (eds).1996 , RH. Mediterranean 2nded. . . WATC is the centre through which the RIZA makes its experience with wetland management and restoration available for international co-operation. The necessary staff are drawn from the divisions of RIZA and from other institutions. INTERNATIONAL COURSE ON WETLAND MANAGEMENT

RIZA’s International Course on Wetland Management provides wetland managers with the knowledge and skills they need to manage wetlands sustainably. During the six week course, participants learn how to assess wetlands’ ecological and socio-economic values, involve stakeholders in the planning process, set management objectives, and translate these into relevant measures. At the same time they produce a draft management plan for their own wetland.

The course is structured in such a way that the participants learn, not only from specialists from RIZA and other institutions, but also from the rich experience of their fellow participants. The multi-faceted course utilises interactive lectures, group work, case studies, field work, excursions, poster presentations, panel discussions, role playing and other games, to facilitate group exchange and transfer of knowledge.

For more information: WATC P.O. Box 17, 8200 AA Lelystad The Netherlands telephone: +31 320 298346 telefax: +31 320 298339 e-mail: [email protected]

Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management

Institute for Inland Water Management and Waste Water Treatment RIZA This Publication:

Presents a thematic and graphically illustrated analysis of the world’s Wetlands of International Importance at 31 December 1998, including information on:

• the regional distribution of Contracting Parties to the Convention on Wetlands and their designated Ramsar sites

• the kinds of wetlands represented in the Ramsar List of sites

• the reasons why these wetlands have been designated as internationally important

• the principle of “wise use of wetlands” and the land uses recorded in Ramsar sites, and

• the factors of change challenging these and other wetlands

These analyses are derived from information provided to the Ramsar Convention Bureau by Contracting Parties to the Convention on Wetlands, and compiled in the Ramsar Sites Database. The Ramsar Database is managed by Wetlands International on behalf of the Ramsar Bureau.

This publication was made possible by a generous grant to Wetlands Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management International from the Netherlands Institute for Inland Water Management and Waste Water Treatment RIZA, of the Dutch Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management. Institute for Inland Water Management and Waste Water Treatment RIZA