The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands aims to conserve and promote sustainable use of wetlands. It provides guidance to contracting parties on integrating wetland conservation into river basin management through establishing institutional frameworks, assessing wetlands' role in water management, minimizing impacts of development projects, and maintaining natural water regimes. It also offers guidelines for contracting parties to manage shared wetland systems and river basins through cooperation, including jointly monitoring water quality and quantity, sharing information, and regulating flows across borders.

1. Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
(www.ramsar.org)

2. Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
(www.ramsar.org)
Convention on Wetlands
“The conservation and wise use of
wetlands by national action and
international cooperation as a
means of achieving sustainable
development throughout the
world.”
Mission Statement :

3. Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
(www.ramsar.org)
Handbook # 4
Integrating wetland
conservation
and wise use into
river basin management
(Annex to Resolution VII.18, 1999)
Guidelines
on

4. Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
(www.ramsar.org)
Institutional frameworks
• Integrated river basin management
• Development and strengthening of policy and
legislation for integrated water resources
management
• Establishment of river basin management
authorities and strengthening of institutional
capacity
• Involvement of stakeholders, community
participation and public awareness
Guidelines for Contracting Parties on:

5. Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
(www.ramsar.org)
• Assessment and enhancement of the role of
wetlands for water management
• Identification of current and future supply and
demand for water
Wetlands perform
hydrological functions
• mitigating flood impacts
• reducing erosion
• recharging groundwater
• improving water quality
Guidelines for Contracting Parties relating to the:

6. Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
(www.ramsar.org)
Guidelines for Contracting Parties relating to
reducing the impact of water development projects
on wetlands
Minimizing the impacts of land use
and development projects on
wetlands and their biodiversity
Guidelines to assist Contracting Parties to
minimize the impacts of land use and development
projects on wetlands and their biodiversity

7. Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
(www.ramsar.org)
Guidelines for Contracting Parties for
the protection and restoration of wetlands
and their biodiversity
Maintenance of natural water
regimes to maintain wetlands
Guidelines for Contracting Parties relating to
the maintenance of natural water regimes to
maintain wetlands

8. Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
(www.ramsar.org)
Guidance for Contracting Parties on
partnership with relevant conventions,
organizations and initiatives
International cooperation
Guidelines for Contracting Parties for the
management of shared river basins and
wetland systems

9. Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
(www.ramsar.org)
Shared river basins and
wetland ecosystems
Countries sharing a drainage basin should
• establish water quality and quantity monitoring
networks
• analyse jointly information on water use for
different purposes
• exchange information on measures for
groundwater, upper catchments and wetland
protection
• share information on mechanisms for flow
regulation, navigation and flood prevention

10. Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
(www.ramsar.org)
Ramsar’s Toolkit : 9 handbooks
1
Wise Use
2 National
wetland policy
3 Law &
institutions
4 River basins
5 Local people
6 Education &
public
awareness
Site
management
International
cooperation
7
Ramsar site
selection
8
Management plans
Monitoring
Ecological change
Risk assessment
9
Shared waters
Shared species
Partnerships
Sharing
knowledge
Development
assistance
Business sector