Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.pptx

Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

1. RAMSAR CONVENTION ON WETLANDS Presented By Usama Shaukat Roll No: 019 Zoology 8 th Semester (Morning)

2. BACKGROUND & HISTORY Also know as ‘The Convention on Wetlands’ It is named after the city of 'Ramsar’ situated in Iran where the convention was signed in 1971. Came into force in 1975. Headquarter : In Gland, Switzerland

3. INTRODUCTION Ramsar Convention is an intergovernmental treaty (agreement b/w States) for the Conservation, Protection & Wise Use of Wetlands of international importance.

4. Introduction Wetlands As per the Article 1 of Ramsar Convention: “Wetlands are areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres.”

5. Aims/Objectives/Purpose The main Aims or Objectives of Ramsar Convention are as under: Conservation & Protection of Wetlands Wise use & Management of Wetlands

6. International Organazation Partners (IOPs) Ramsar Convention works closely with six other organizations known as International Organization Partners (IOPs). These are: Birdlife International International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) International Water Management Institute (IWMI) Wetlands International WWF International Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT)

7. Role of IOPs These organizations: 1. Support the Convention
2. Provide expert technical advice 3. Participate regularly in all meetings of Conference of the Parties (COP)
4. Aslo full memebers of Scientific and Technical Review Panel

8. Contracting Parties & Three pillars of Ramsar Convention There are 171 Countries (as of April 2022) which signed the Ramsar Convention. The countries which signed the Ramsar Convention are known as “Contracting Parties” All the Contracting Parties have to Agreed upon the three main commitments know as the Three Pillars: Three Pillars

9. Three Pillars Wise Use & Management of Wetlands – all the contracting parties have to make sure the wise use of Ramsar Sites (the wetlands under Ramsar Convention are know as Ramsar Sites) in their area and their proper management.

10. Three Pillars 2. List of Wetlands of International Important also know as Ramsar List. Each contracting party shall designate the suitable wetlands within its territory for inclusion in Ramsar List. The Contracting Parties also have right to add wetlands in the Ramsar List or the extend the boundaries of Wetlands already in the list or to delete or restrict the boundaries of wetlands already in the list because of their urgent national interest ( As per Section 5 of the Article 2 of Ramsar Convention)

11. Three Pillars 3. International Cooperation – the contracting parties have to cooperate with International organizations or cooperate with each other on shared wetlands.

12. Bodies Established by the Convention 1. Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP) Policy making body Reviews the progress made by Contracting parties Identify new priorities Make new amendments to the convention Collaborate with other international organizations

13. Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP) Representatives of Contracting Parties meet every three years. It is called Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP). The COP is the policy-making body of the Convention.

14. 2. The Standing Committee It is the Executive Body of the Convention. It executes Policies and decisions made by COP. The memebers which represent the Standing Committee are elected by each meeting of the COP to serve for three years. There are total of 18 memebers in Standing Committee.

15. 3. The Secretariat The Secretariat carries out the day-to-day coordination of the convention’s activities. Martha Rojas Urrego is the current Secretary General of Ramsar Convention She was appointed as the Sixth Secretary General in August 2016. It is based at the headquarters of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Gland, Switzerland.

16. 4. The Scientific and Technical Review Panel -STRP The Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP) provides scientific and technical guidance to the Conference of Contracting Parties, the Standing Committee, and the Ramsar Secretariat.

17. Ramsar Sites The Wetlands listed under Ramsar Convention are know as Ramsar Sites. Worldwide – 2,437 (As of April 2022) Ramsar Sites Pakistan – 19 Ramsar Sites Punjab – 3 Sindh – 10 KPK – 2 Balochistan - 4

18. Ramsar Sites in Pakistan Chasmha Barrage (Punjab) 2. Astola Lake (Balochistan) 3. Drigh Lake (Sindh) 4. Haleji Lake (Sindh) 5. Hub Dam (Siindh/Balochistan)

19. 6. Indus Delta (Sindh) 7. Indus Dolphin Reserve (Sindh) 8. Jiwani Coastal Wetland (Balochistan) 9. Keenjhar Lake (Sindh) 10. Tanda Lake (KPK)

20. Criteria for Ramsar Wetlands Following are some of the criteria which make a wetland is of International importance and can be included in the Ramsar List: It should be Representative, Rare or Unique Wetland type found within the appropriate geographic region It supports vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered species or threatened ecological communities.”

21. Criteria for Ramsar Wetlands It supports populations of plant and/or animal species important for maintaining the biological diversity of a particular biogeographic region.”
It supports plant and/or animal species at a critical stage in their life cycles, or provides refuge during adverse conditions.
It regularly supports 20,000 or more waterbirds.

22. Classification of Wetlands A wide variety of Wetlands can be classified for Ramsar Sites as under: Wetlands include swamps, marshes, lakes, salt marshes, mudflats, mangroves, coral reefs, fens, peat bogs, billabongs etc. Natural or Man-made Permanent or temporary Static or flowing Fresh, Brackish or Saline(Salt) Island rivers and coastal or marine water to a depth of Six meters Even underground wetlands

23. World Wetlands Day - WWD As the Ramsar Convention was signed 2 February 1971, February 2 is celebrated as World Wetlands Day each year. It is celebrated to raise awareness about the value of wetlands for humanity and the planet.

24. THE END