Ramsarconvention

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty adopted in 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar. Its primary purpose is the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local, national actions, and international cooperation. The convention aims to halt and reverse the worldwide loss of wetlands and their resources, recognizing their crucial role in maintaining biodiversity, supporting human livelihoods, and contributing to global economic, cultural, and scientific values.

Parties to the convention commit to designating at least one Ramsar site within their territory, which is a wetland of international importance. These sites are chosen for their ecological, botanical, zoological, limnological, or hydrological significance. The convention promotes a framework for national action by encouraging contracting parties to integrate wetland conservation and management into their national planning. This includes developing national wetlands policies, identifying and managing Ramsar sites, and undertaking wetland inventories.

International cooperation under the Ramsar Convention includes shared responsibility for transboundary wetlands, capacity building, and financial assistance. The convention provides a platform for sharing expertise, technologies, and best practices for wetland conservation and management. It works through a secretariat, the Ramsar Bureau, which is administered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The convention is one of the oldest modern global environmental agreements.