Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

The Ramsar Convention, adopted in 1971, is an intergovernmental treaty for the conservation and wise use of wetlands. Wetlands designated by contracting parties under the Convention are entered in the List of Wetlands of International Importance, commonly called Ramsar Sites.

Designation and conservation obligations

• Under Article 2, each party must designate at least one suitable wetland for the List when joining the Convention and precisely describe its boundaries on a map.
• Under Article 3, parties must formulate and implement planning that promotes the conservation of listed wetlands and, as far as possible, the wise use of all wetlands within their territory.
• Parties must establish nature reserves on wetlands, whether listed or not, and promote their appropriate management under Article 4.

Monitoring and reporting ecological change

The Convention requires continuing attention after designation; listing is not merely a one-time international recognition.

• A party must arrange to be informed at the earliest possible time if the ecological character of a listed wetland has changed, is changing or is likely to change because of technological development, pollution or other human interference.
• Such change must be reported without delay to the Convention's Secretariat under Article 3.
• Parties must encourage wetland research, exchange relevant data and promote the training of personnel competent in wetland management.

Cooperation and exceptional boundary changes

• Under Article 5, parties must consult one another regarding shared wetlands, transboundary water systems and shared wetland-dependent species.
• A party may delete or restrict the boundaries of a listed wetland only because of its urgent national interests; it should, as far as possible, compensate for the resulting loss, including by creating additional nature reserves.
• The Convention requires conservation through wise use and domestic planning; it does not itself prescribe one identical prohibition on every activity at every Ramsar Site.

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