The report tackles briefly the background, history, and status of implementation of the Ramsar Convention to date. This presentation was prepared for the course ENS (Environmental Science) 275: Contemporary Issues in the Environment and Development, School of Environmental Science and Management, University of the Philippines.

1. R
A
M
S
A
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Beverly Mae N. dela Cruz
ENS 275 2nd Sem AY 2018-2019
Section TV1-Lec
Convention on Wetlands

2. Ramsar Convention
The Convention on Wetlands
DESIGNATION AND MANAGEMENT
Classification and Evaluation (Wetlands of International
Importance)
MISSION
The Convention and its Mission
HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT
Arousing Public Interest in Wetlands
WETLANDS AND SDGs
Critical Role of Wetlands in the attainment of SDGs

3. “The 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.”
MISSION
An intergovernmental
treaty that provides the
framework for national
action and international
cooperation for
conservation and wise
use of wetlands and their
resources.
THE CONVENTION

4. W
E
T
L
A
N
D
S

5. Wetlands
remain in
disrepute
throughout
human history.

6. Man, Wetlands and Conflict
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Mesopotamia Egypt China
Yangtze and Huang
He Rivers
Nile Delta
Euphrates and Tigris
Rivers
India
Indus and Ganges
Rivers

7. MAR
Conference in
France -Project
MAR
"MARshes",
"MARécages"
"MARismas”
Convention on
Wetlands of
International
Importance
(Waterfowl
Habitat) signed
by 18 nations
(Ramsar, Iran)
Convention
came into force
upon receipt of
the UNESCO as
the depositary
Paris Protocol
enters into force.
First
amendments to
the Convention
Regina
Amendments to
Articles 6 and 7
of the
Convention
enter into force.
1962 1971 1975 1986 1994

9. A Conceptual
Framework for the
Wise Use of
Wetlands and the
maintenance of
their ecological
character, and the
application of the
guidelines in the
Ramsar ‘toolkit’ of
Wise Use
Handbooks 2nd
edition (2004).

10.  Facilitates development at the national level of policies and actions for the
wise use of wetlands.
 Presents an opportunity for a country to be heard in the principal forum on
conservation and wise use of wetlands.
 Brings increased publicity and prestige for wetlands.
 Encourages international cooperation on wetlands and brings access to
expert advice on national and site-related problems of wetland, conservation
and management.
 Provides access to financial aid through the Convention’s Small Grant Fund.
 Brings access to information and advice on application of the Conventions’
internationally-accepted standards, such as guidelines on application of the
wise use concept and management planning in wetlands.
Why join the Convention?

11. The network of Ramsar Sites is truly global, and includes coastal and inland wetlands
of all types in all six Ramsar regions.
Africa, Asia, Europe, Neotropics, North America, Oceania

12. Designating Ramsar Sites

13. ARTICLE 2.1. ‘Each Contracting
Party shall designate suitable
wetlands within its territory for
inclusion in a List of Wetlands of
International Importance,
hereinafter referred to as “the
List”.
The boundaries of each wetland
shall be precisely described and
also delimited on a map and
they may incorporate riparian
and coastal zones adjacent to
the wetlands, and islands or
bodies of marine water deeper
than six metres at low tide lying
within the wetlands’.

14. ARTICLE 2.2. ‘Article 2.2 states:
‘Wetlands should be selected for
the List on account of their
international significance in
terms of ecology, botany,
zoology, limnology
or hydrology.’
Accordingly, any wetland which
meets at least one of the
Criteria for Identifying
Wetlands of International
Importance can be designated
by the appropriate national
authority to be added to
the Ramsar List.

15. The Ramsar Sites
Criteria
The nine criteria for
identifying Wetlands
of International
Importance
Sites containing
representative, rare
or unique wetland
types
Group A
Sites of international
importance for
conserving biological
diversity Criteria
based on species
and ecological
communities
Group B

16. Group A
A wetland should be considered internationally important if it contains a
representative, rare, or unique example of a natural
or near-natural wetland type found within the
appropriate biogeographic region.
CRITERION 1

17. Group B
A wetland should be
considered internationally
important if it supports
vulnerable, endangered,
or critically endangered
species or threatened
ecological communities.
Criteria based on species and ecological communities
CRITERION 2 CRITERION 3 CRITERION 4
A wetland should be
considered internationally
important if it supports
populations of plant
and/or animal species
important for maintaining
the biological diversity of
a particular biogeographic
region.
A wetland should be
considered internationally
important if it supports
plant and/or animal
species at a critical stage
in their life cycles, or
provides refuge during
adverse conditions.

18. Group B
A wetland should be considered
internationally important if it
regularly supports 20,000 or
more waterbirds.
Specific criteria based on waterbirds
CRITERION 5 CRITERION 6
A wetland should be considered
internationally important if it
regularly supports 1% of the
individuals in a population of one
species or subspecies of
waterbird.

19. Group B
A wetland should be considered
internationally important if it supports a
significant proportion of indigenous fish
subspecies, species or families, life-
history stages, species interactions
and/or populations that are
representative of wetland benefits
and/or values and thereby contributes
to global biological diversity.
Specific criteria based on fish
CRITERION 7 CRITERION 8
A wetland should be considered
internationally important if it is an
important source of food for fishes,
spawning ground, nursery and/or
migration path on which fish stocks,
either within the wetland or
elsewhere, depend.

20. Group B
A wetland should be considered internationally important if it regularly
supports 1% of the individuals in a population of one species or
subspecies of wetland-dependent nonavian animal species.
Specific criteria based on other taxa
CRITERION 9

21. 8 May 1974
A remote and unspoilt
wilderness area on the far
northern coast of Australia,
was recognized for its
diversity of wetland habitats,
threatened marine species,
significant seabird colonies
and value as a refuge and
breeding site.
It also has a fascinating
Indigenous, Macassan and
European history.
Cobourg Peninsula, Northern Territory (Australia)
World’s Wetland of International Importance

22. Managing Ramsar Sites

23. ARTICLE 3.1. ‘Article 3.1
of the Convention specifies
that “Contracting Parties shall
formulate and implement their
planning so as to promote the
conservation of the wetlands
included in the List” as well as
promoting the wise use of all
the wetlands in their territory.
The Ramsar Management
Toolkit - simple guidance to
site managers on the key
steps and components
involved in managing a
Ramsar Site

24. ARTICLE 3.2. “Each Contracting
Party shall arrange to be informed
at the earliest possible time if the
ecological character of any wetland
in its territory and included in the
List has changed, is changing or is
likely to change as the result of
technological developments,
pollution or other human
interference.” Contracting Parties
commit to inform the Secretariat of
such changes.”
At the request of a Contracting
Party, the Secretariat may organize
a Ramsar Advisory Mission to
analyze the situation at one or more
Sites, and provide advice on
measures to address the situation.

25. ARTICLE 5. “Contracting Parties
shall consult with each other about
the implementing obligations
arising from the Convention
especially in the case of wetland
extending over the territories of
more than one Contracting Party.”
ARTICLE 7. “Contracting Parties
at such Conferences should
include persons who are experts
on wetlands or waterfowl by
reason of knowledge and
experience gained in scientific,
administrative or other appropriate
capacities.”

26. Access to Funds

27. SMALL GRANTS FUND
The Parties to the Convention
established the Small Grants
Fund (SGF) in 1990 to help
developing countries support
the conservation and wise use
of wetland resources, and the
sustainable development of
communities which depend
on them and care for them.
Since then, the Fund has
provided over eight million
Swiss Francs to over 240
projects from 110 countries.

28. Wetlands of International Importance: Philippines

29. Ramsar Sites in the Philippines
1. Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (Palawan;
Center of Sulu Sea)
2. Naujan Lake National Park (Oriental Mindoro)
3. Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary (Cebu)
4. Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary (Butuan)
5. Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and
Ecotourism Area (Manila)
6. Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National
Park
7. Negros Occidental Coastal Wetlands
Conservation Area (Negros Occidental)
Philippines entered into force (8 November 1994)

30. Wetlands of International Importance
CRITERIA
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1. Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (Palawan;
Center of Sulu Sea)
√ √ √ √ √ √
2. Naujan Lake National Park (Oriental
Mindoro)
√ √ √
3. Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary (Cebu) √ √
4. Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary (Butuan) √
5. Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and
Ecotourism Area (Manila)
√ √ √
6. Puerto Princesa Subterranean River
National Park
√ √ √
7. Negros Occidental Coastal Wetlands
Conservation Area
√ √ √ √
Rawa Aopa Watumohai National Park
(Indonesia)
√

31. February 2, 1997
First World Wetlands Day
The DENR held a
3-day celebration at
the Olango Island
Wildlife Sanctuary
Nature Center, a
Ramsar site, Lapu-
lapu City.
Philippines

32. 48th Meeting of the Standing
Committee Gland, Switzerland,
26‐30 January 2015
Resolution on Wetlands
and disaster risk
reduction
The impact of natural disasters,
particularly drought, on wetland
ecosystems and Resolution
Climate change and wetlands

33. The Society for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands receives “Wetland
Conservation Advocacy Award” 4 April 2016 (Philippines)
SCPW was given the “Wetland Conservation Advocacy
Award” in recognition of its campaign for the conservation
and wise use of Philippine Wetlands and attainment of the
Philippines’ commitment to the Ramsar Convention.
The SCPW is the principal and foremost organization
dealing with wetlands in the Philippines. It is a non-
stock, non-profit, non-governmental organization that
focuses its advocacy on educating and capacitating
communities so that they can take action for the wise
use of wetlands. T

34. Gabaldon floodplains.
Global Wetlands Youth Photo
Contest 2017, themed
“Wetlands that help us cope
with extreme weather events.”
I was mesmerized by the natural beauty and formation of the
place and I couldn’t resist taking the shot. I was inspired by the
fact that the floodplain looked like the African continent and
how it connected the two rural towns showing the unity of life
(Gabriel Mejia 21, BS Civil Engineering, UP Diliman)

35. Source:
https://www.ramsar.org/

36. Thank you
for
your attention.