Wetlands and the Ramsar Convention

wetlands definition

Areas that are regularly saturated by surface water or groundwater, including freshwater marshes, swamps and bogs.

habitat definition

they support a diverse range of plants and animal species

water filtration

wetlands filter pollutants and imporve water quality

flood protection

absorb excess rainwater reducing flooding risks

carbon storage

act as an carbon sinks, help to mitigate change

ramsar what is it

Ramsar is the oldest of the modern global intergovernmental environmental agreements. The treaty was negotiated through the 1960s by countries and non - governmental organizations concerned about the increasing loss and degradation of wetland habitat for migratory waterbirds. It was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971 and came into force in 1975.

convention’s definition of wetland

all lakes and rivers, underground aquifers, swamps and marshes, wet grasslands, peatlands, oases, estuaries, deltas and tidal flats, mangroves and other coastal areas, coral reefs, and all human-made sites such as fish ponds, rice paddies, reservoirs and salt pans.

three pilars

• work towards the wise use of wetlands;

• designate suitable wetlands for the list of Wetlands of International Importance (the “Ramsar List”) and ensure their effective management;

• cooperate internationally on transboundary wetlands, shared wetland systems and shared species.

why is wetland important

40% of all the world’s species live and breed in wetlands

preventing floods by slowing movement of water

enhance mental wellbeing - calm voice

absorbs co2

case study

mekong river