CBD/Ramsar: Joint Work Plan

A new four year work programme between CBD and the Ramsar Convention has been finalized and will be submitted to the respective COPs in 2012.

Press Release

Ramsar: Looking back at 40 Years

In a paper entitled "The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands: 40 Years of Action," Ramsar Secretary General Anada Tièga reflects on progress Ramsar has made as well as areas where attention is still needed. The article offers an overview of the importance of wetland conservation, climate change and wetlands, interdependencies, impacts of climate change, links between climate change, wetlands and short- and medium-term consequences on agriculture, and the importance of cooperation and partnerships.

Ramsar: Handbooks on Wise Use

The Ramsar Secretariat has released the 4th edition of the Ramsar Handbooks for the wise use of wetlands is not available in English, French and Spanish in PDF format. The 20 handbooks, together with the Ramsar Strategic Plan 2009-2015, embody all of the current guidelines and advice officially adopted by the COPs on a range of wetland-related matters, including wetland policy and management, inventory and monitoring, river basin management, Ramsar Site designation, and international cooperation. The Secretariat also is preparing a CD-ROM edition, which will be available free of charge.

Ramsar Implementation in Caribbean

The second meeting of the Caribbean Wetlands Initiative discussed the region's implementation of the Ramsar Convention, and resulted in agreement on activities and material to be presented and disseminated during the upcoming Pan-American meeting scheduled to take place in December and Ramsar COP-11 from 19-26 June, 2012 in Bucharest (Romania).

Ramsar Press Release

Ramsar: MoC with IOPs

The Ramsar Secretariat has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) for 2011-2017 with its five International Organization Partners (IOPs), namely: WWF International; Wetlands International; International Water Management Institute (IWMI); International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN); and BirdLife International.

The MoC "sealed the IOPs' renewed commitment to keep working with Parties to achieve the Ramsar mission." It aims to bring focus to the partnerships and maximize the synergies between IOPs and with the Secretariat, to be even more effective in wetlands conservation and issued a joint statement in this regard.

Assessment: Transboundary wetlands

The Ramsar Secretariat is collaborating with the Secretariat of the UNECE Water Convention in carrying out the 2nd Assessment of transboundary rivers, lakes and groundwaters in the UNECE Pan-European region. It includes about 30 transboundary Ramsar Sites and other important transboundary wetlands, and is being prepared by sub-regions including Caucasus, South Eastern Europe, North Eastern Europe, Central Asia as well as Central and Western Europe. The final result will be presented at the 7th Ministerial Conference “Environment for Europe,” in Astana (Kazakhstan) from 21-23 September.

Press Release