Resolution VII.13 “People and Wetlands: The Vital Link” 7th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971), San José, Costa Rica, 10-18 May 1999 Guidelines for identifying and designating karst and other subterranean hydrological systems as Wetlands of International Importance 1. RECALLING Resolution VI.5, which added “subterranean karst and cave hydrological systems” to the Ramsar classification system for wetland type and urged Contracting Parties “to assess the significance of karst and cave wetland systems within their territories and to consider their designation for the List [of Wetlands of International Importance]”; 2. AWARE of the important functions and values of karst and other subterranean hydrological systems, including the provision of vital services to human communities as well as intrinsic value for the conservation of biological diversity; 3. RECOGNIZING that conservation and sustainable use of such systems requires unified consideration of both surface and subterranean wetland components; 4. NOTING that IUCN-The World Conservation Union has published “Guidelines for Cave and Karst Protection”; 5. GRATEFUL to the Government of Slovenia for having hosted a Central European workshop on this issue in September 1998, which resulted in draft guidelines for applying the Ramsar Criteria to identify karst and other subterranean hydrological systems of international importance, and for completing the Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands for such sites; THE CONFERENCE OF THE CONTRACTING PARTIES 6. ADOPTS for application by Contracting Parties and others the attached: a) Guidelines for identifying and designating karst and other subterranean hydrological systems as Wetlands of International Importance, in Annex I, and b) the related additions to the Guidelines for completing the Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands, in Annex II; 7. URGES Contracting Parties to include and consider karst and other subterranean hydrological systems in their wetland inventories, wetland policies, and wetland management planning, to ensure, as far as possible, the maintenance of the ecological character of these systems and hence of their functions and values. Resolution VII.13, page 2 8. CALLS ON Contracting Parties to renew their efforts to designate appropriate examples of karst and other subterranean hydrological systems for the List of Wetlands of International Importance, taking into consideration the Strategic Framework and guidelines for the future development of the List of Wetlands of International Importance (Resolution VII.11); 9. REQUESTS Contracting Parties to report to the 8th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties on progress made with initiatives for the conservation and wise use of karst and other subterranean hydrological systems; 10. INSTRUCTS the Ramsar Bureau to integrate, as appropriate, the Annexes to this Resolution into the Strategic Framework and guidelines for the future development of the List of Wetlands of International Importance (Resolution VII.11). Resolution VII.13, page 3 Annex I Guidelines for identifying and designating karst and other subterranean hydrological systems as Wetlands of International Importance 1. The Values of karst wetlands are numerous. In accordance with Article 2.2 of the Ramsar Convention, “wetlands should be selected for the List on account of their international significance in terms of biology, botany, zoology, limnology or hydrology”. From this perspective the principal wetland conservation values of karst and other subterranean hydrological systems include: a) uniqueness of karst phenomena/functions and functioning; b) inter-dependency and fragility of karst systems and their hydrological and hydrogeological characteristics; c) uniqueness of these ecosystems and endemism of their species; d) importance for conserving particular taxa of fauna and flora. 2. In addition to their many natural values, karst systems also have important socio-economic values, which include (but are not limited to) the supply of drinking water, water for grazing animals or agriculture, tourism and recreation. Karst wetland systems may play an especially vital role in ensuring adequate water supplies for human communities in generally dry surface landscapes. 3. Threats can be generated within or outside of the karst area. In general terms, many “living” karst areas are wetlands, whether surface or subterranean. The subterranean systems are, in many cases, still well-preserved, but due to increasing development pressures they are becoming endangered. The pressures are both direct (visitors to caves, researchers) and indirect, including pollution of all kinds (particularly water pollution; dumping of solid waste, sewage; development of infrastructure, etc.), water abstraction, retention in reservoirs and other uses. 4. To avoid confusion in terminology, the formulations “karst and other subterranean hydrological systems” and “subterranean wetlands” should be used throughout. Regardless of genesis, these terms should be used to include all subterranean cavities and voids with water (including ice caves). Such sites would be eligible for inclusion in the Ramsar List whenever the site selection criteria are fulfilled. These terms should also clearly cover coastal, inland and human-made subterranean sites, following the broad approach of the Ramsar definition of “wetland” and thereby offering a high degree of flexibility for each Contracting Party. 5. The specialized technical terminology used to describe karst and other subterranean phenomena makes a glossary indispensable for non-experts. UNESCO’s Glossary and Multilingual Equivalents of Karst Terms (UNESCO, 1972) can be used as a detailed source of reference, but a simplified glossary is proposed for Ramsar purposes and is provided below at paragraph 14. 6. Information provided for the purposes of Ramsar site designation and management of subterranean wetlands should be according to: Resolution VII.13, page 4 a) what is available (in many cases this may be limited, and subject to future research efforts); and b) what is appropriate for the scale being considered. For example, local and national management authorities should have access to the full range and detail of information available, whilst a summary will normally suffice for international purposes, notably completion of the Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands. 7. Ramsar designation should be considered as part of a mosaic of national and international instruments. In this way, the most representative part(s) of larger karst/subterranean systems might be designated under the Ramsar Convention, with land-use planning controls, etc., applied to achieve “wise use” of the whole system and its catchment area. 8. Site survey and mapping may present special problems and should be done according to practical possibilities. For example, a two dimensional ground plan of subterranean features, projected against surface features, would suffice as a Ramsar site map. It is recognized that many Contracting Parties will not have the resources to generate three- dimensional representations of subterranean sites, and the lack of such resources should not be a barrier to designation. 9. Optimal boundaries for karst/subterranean Ramsar sites would cover whole catchments, but this is unlikely to be realistic in most cases. Site boundaries should, however, cover the areas which have the most significant direct or indirect impacts on the features of interest. 10. In applying the Ramsar Criteria for Identifying Wetlands of International Importance, special attention should be given to unique and representative hydrological, hydrogeological, biological and landscape values. In this regard intermittent karst and thermal springs can be of special interest. 11. The flexible approach of the Convention allows countries to choose the most appropriate boundaries for national or site-specific situations. In particular, designation of either or both single cave and complex systems (for example, with surface and subterranean wetlands) can be envisaged. 12. The Ramsar definition of wetlands (Article 1.1) should be read/understood to include surface and subterranean wetlands, although the Convention text does not explicitly refer to these systems. Text to this effect should be inserted in section IV of the Strategic Framework and guidelines for the future development of the List of Wetlands of International Importance (Resolution VII.11). 13. Special consideration should be given to the cultural and socio-economic values of karst and other subterranean hydrological systems and to the fact that their “wise use” must be implemented at both national and local levels. A clear distinction is required between designation, management and monitoring of these wetlands. 14. The following is a glossary of terms relating to karst and other subterranean hydrological systems to be applied when completing the Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands: Allogenic drainage: karst drainage that is derived from surface run-off that originates on adjacent impermeable, rocks. Also known as allochthonous drainage. Resolution VII.13, page 5 Aquiclude: relatively impermeable rock acting as the boundary to an aquifer. Aquifer: a water-bearing horizon, sufficiently permeable to transmit groundwater and yield such water to wells and springs. Aquitard: a bed of rock that retards, but does not totally inhibit, the movement of water into or out of an aquifer. Artesian flow: flow through a confined