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Solongo Khurelbaatar (Former) Assistant Advisor for Asia-Oceania Ramsar Convention Secretariat
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
Mission
Conservation and wise use of all wetlands through
local and national actions and international
cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving
sustainable development throughout the world.
Background
• Adopted on 2 February, 1971 in the
Iranian coastal town of Ramsar;
• First of the modern intergovernmental
environmental treaties
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
Contracting Parties
• 169 worldwide
Wetlands ecosystems can be
found from the mountains to the
coast where it is not deeper than
6m at low tide.
Human-made wetlands:
Rice fields, fish ponds,
reservoirs, ditches and canals.
Inland Wetlands
Glaciers, lakes, marshes, rivers,
streams, aquifers.
Coastal Wetlands
Mangroves, tidal flats, sea grass
beds, coral reefs.
What are wetlands?
REGULATE: Climate change mitigation and adaptation; nutrient removal
SUPPORT: Biodiversity; soil formation; nutrient cycling
CULTURE: heritage; spiritual + artistic inspiration; recreation, education
PROVIDE: Food; freshwater; fibre, fuel; medicines; genetic material
Wetland ecosystem services
The ‘3 Implementation Pillars’
The sustainable
use of wetlands and
their resources to
benefit umankind.
• Wetland inventory
• Legislation
• Wetland CEPA
Wise Use of
Wetlands
International
cooperation
International cooperation for shared
wetlands and their resources, e.g.
water, migratory species.
Designation of priority
wetlands as Wetlands of
International Importance
(Ramsar Sites), and to
ensure their conservation
and wise use.
2,241 sites wordwide.
Ramsar
Sites
The concept of “WISE USE”
Upper Navua Ramsar Site (Fiji):
The Site is leased to a private
rafting company “Rivers Fiji”
The company provides
employment opportunities to local
community
Developed a joint site
management plan
•Total area = 80.1 hectares
•95% set aside for wetland conservation on a long-term basis
•5% set aside for housing development on a less ecologically sensitive section of the site
Mai Po Ramsar Site (Hong Kong):
International cooperation: Ramsar Regional Initiatives
International cooperation: Issues
Mesopotamian marshes: need to
improve regional collaboration
using Ramsar Convention as a
tool Working with DPRK on
enviromental issues: