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Ramsar Convention
Camena Guneratne
Legal Studies Dept
Open University
Convention on
Wetlands of
International
Importance
especially as
Waterfowl Habitat
adopted 2 February
1971;
entered into force 21
December 1975
What are wetlands?
Wetlands are areas where water is the
primary factor controlling the environment and
the associated plant and animal life. They
occur where the water table is at or near the
surface of the land, or where the land is
covered by shallow water.
Ramsar is considered the first international
convention to deal with the conservation of an
ecosystem, namely wetlands.
Definition of wetlands under
the 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 doe not exceed six metres
(Article 1).
Wetlands designated for the purposes of
Ramsar may include 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,
especially where these have importance as
waterfowl habitat (Article 2).
Estimated that 4% - 6% of the earth's
surface is covered by wetlands.
Five types of wetlands have been
recognised.
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Types of wetlands
1. Marine (coastal wetlands including coastal
lagoons, rocky shores and coral reefs);
2. Estuarine (including deltas, tidal marshes
and mangrove swamps);
3. Lacustrine (wetlands associated with lakes);
4. Riverine (wetlands along rivers and
streams); and
5. Palustrine (meaning marshy marshes,
swamps and bogs).
Natural wetlands - Muthurajawela
marshes
Human made wetlands
fish and shrimp ponds,
farm ponds,
irrigated agricultural land,
salt pans,
reservoirs,
gravel pits, sewage farms
canals.
Human made wetlands
Paddy fields
Human made wetlands
Wewas or tanks
Sustainability of wetlands
The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
(MEA) notes that there is insufficient
information on wetlands to assess their
global loss generally.
However, provides some specific
examples which show that wetland
damage has reached critical
proportions.
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The surface area of the Mesopotamian
marshes (located between the Tigris
and Euphrates Rivers in southern Iraq)
decreased from an area of 15,000
20,000 square kilometers in the 1950s
to less than 400 square kilometers
today due to excessive water
withdrawals, dams, and industrial
development.
the volume of water in the Aral Sea
basin has been reduced by 75% since
1960 due mainly to large-scale
upstream diversions of the Amu Darya
and Syr Darya river flow for irrigation of
close to 7 million hectares.
Lake Chad shrank over 35 years from
about 2.5 million hectares in surface
area to only one twentieth that size at
the end of the twentieth century as a
consequence of natural and human-
induced effects, with the subsequent
loss of many species and ecosystem
services.
The Mesopotamian marshlands in Iraq
originally covered 1.52 million
hectares but were devastated in recent
decades by massive drainage and dam
construction along the Tigris and
Euphrates Rivers.
Coastal wetlands
Suffer the greatest damage.
About 35% of mangroves have been lost over
the last two decades, mainly as a result of
aquaculture development, deforestation, and
freshwater diversion.
About 20% of coral reefs were destroyed and
more than a further 20% degraded in the last
several decades of the twentieth century as a
result of overexploitation, destructive fishing
practices, pollution and siltation, and
changes in storm frequency and intensity.
Inter-dependence of species
and ecosystems
Ramsar as a Convention illustrates the inter-
dependence of species and ecosystems.
The Conventions original emphasis was on
wetlands of importance as waterfowl habitats.
However, the ecological importance of
wetlands is not limited to this dimension.
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Wetlands species loss
Of the 964 bird species that are
predominantly wetland-dependent, 203 (21%
of the total) are extinct or globally threatened.
The status of globally threatened birds
dependent on freshwater wetlands and, even
more so, that of coastal seabirds has
deteriorated faster since 1988 than the status
of birds dependent on other (terrestrial)
ecosystems.
Over one third (37%) of the freshwater-
dependent mammal species that were
assessed for the IUCN Red List are
globally threatened. These include
groups such as manatees, river
dolphins, and porpoises, in which all
species assessed are listed as
threatened.
Approximately 20% of the worlds 10,000
described freshwater fish species have
been listed as threatened, endangered, or
extinct in the last few decades.
Nearly one third (1,856 species) of the
worlds amphibian species are threatened
with extinction, a large portion of which
(964 species) are from fresh water,
especially flowing freshwater, habitats.
At least 50% of the 200 species of
freshwater turtles have been assessed in
the IUCN Red List as globally threatened,
and more than 75% of freshwater turtle
species in Asia are listed as globally
threatened, including 18 that are critically
endangered, with one being extinct. All 6
species of marine turtles that have been
assessed that use coastal wetlands for
feeding and breeding are listed as
threatened in the IUCN Red List.
Of the 23 species of crocodilians that
inhabit a range of wetlands including
marshes, swamps, rivers, lagoons, and
estuaries, four are critically endangered,
three endangered, and three vulnerable
Wetlands and climate change
Climate change impacts on wetlands,
According to the IPCC [Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change] Second
Assessment Report, changes in climate will
lead to an intensification of the global
hydrological cycle and could have major
impacts on regional water resources. Climate
change may also lead to shifts in the
geographical distribution of wetlands and an
increase in the severity and extent of coral
reef bleaching and mortality.
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Further, sea-level rise and increases in storm
surges associated with climate change could
result in the erosion of shores and habitat,
increased salinity of estuaries and freshwater
aquifers, altered tidal ranges in rivers and
bays, changes in sediment and nutrient
transport, increased coastal flooding, and in
turn, increase the vulnerability of some
coastal populations
Loss of wetlands contributes
to climate change
Although wetlands cover only a small part of
the earths land surface they contain around
10% of the total global carbon store.
Therefore the loss of wetlands and peatlands
releases carbon and methane into the
atmosphere, thus increasing human induced
greenhouse gas emissions and contributing
to climate change. The largest greenhouse
gas emissions resulting from peatland
degradation currently take place in the peat
swamp forests of developing countries,
particularly in South East Asia
Ecosystem services delivered
by wetlands
Wetlands deliver a wide range of ecosystem
services that contribute to human well-being,
such as fish and fibre, water supply, water
purification, climate regulation, flood
regulation, coastal protection, recreational
opportunities, and, increasingly, tourism.
When both the marketed and nonmarketed
economic benefits of wetlands are included,
the total economic value of unconverted
wetlands is often greater than that of
converted wetlands.
The projected continued loss and degradation of
wetlands will reduce the capacity of wetlands to
mitigate impacts and result in further reduction in
human well-being (including an increase in the
prevalence of disease), especially for poorer
people in lower-income countries, where
technological solutions are not as readily
available. At the same time, demand for many of
these services (such as denitrification and flood
and storm protection) will increase.
(Millennium Ecosystem Assessment)
Religious and cultural values
Wetlands provide significant aesthetic,
educational, cultural, and spiritual benefits, as
well as a vast array of opportunities for
recreation and tourism. Recreational fishing
can generate considerable income: 3545
million people take part in recreational fishing
(inland and saltwater) in the United States,
spending a total of $2437 billion each year
on their hobby. Much of the economic value
of coral reefswith net benefits estimated at
nearly $30 billion each yearis generated
from nature-based tourism, including scuba
diving and snorkeling.
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Culture contributes to
wetlands
Although there are no natural lakes in Sri Lanka,
an array of ancient irrigation tanks has
substituted the former wetland type. Numbering
nearly 10,000, these man-made wetlands depict
the rich cultural heritage of Sri Lanka. The major
irrigation reservoirs (each more than 200 ha)
cover an area of 7820 ha, while the seasonal/
minor irrigation tanks (each less than 200 ha)
account for 52250 ha. Typical ancient irrigation
tanks include the Parakrama Samudraya and
the Minneriya tank.
An Overview of the Wetlands of Sri Lanka and their
Conservation Significance - S W Kotagama and C N B
Bambaradeniya.
The causes of wetland
degradation
Human induced.
Indirect drivers - population growth and
economic development
Direct drivers - infrastructure
development, land conversion, water
withdrawal, pollution, over harvesting
and over exploitation, and the
introduction of invasive alien species
MEA has described the direct
drivers
The degradation and loss of inland wetlands
and species has been driven by
infrastructure development (such as dams,
dikes, and levees), land conversion, water
withdrawals, pollution, overharvesting, and
the introduction of invasive alien species.
Global climate change and nutrient loading
are projected to become increasingly
important drivers in the next 50 years.
Increased human use of fresh water has
reduced the amount available to maintain the
ecological character of many inland water
systems.
The loss of mangroves is caused by aquaculture
development, deforestation for firewood and other
land uses, and freshwater diversion.
Over the past four decades, excessive nutrient
loading has emerged as one of the most important
direct drivers of ecosystem change in inland and
coastal wetlands.
Global climate change is expected to exacerbate
the loss and degradation of many wetlands and the
loss or decline of their species and to harm the
human populations dependent on their services;
however, projections about the extent of such loss
and degradation or decline are not yet well
established.
The greatest threat to coastal wetlands is
development related conversion of coastal
ecosystems, leading to large-scale losses of
habitats and services.
Other direct drivers affecting coastal wetlands
include diversion of freshwater flows,
nitrogen loading, over harvesting, siltation,
changes in water temperature, and species
invasions.
Underlying causes of wetland
destruction
largely socio-economic and political.
poverty and economic inequality;
population pressures from growth,
immigration and mass tourism; social
and political conflicts; sectoral demands
on water resources; centralized
planning processes; and financial
policies
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Economic drivers of wetland
degradation
Economic-based information
deficiencies, market distortions, and
perverse subsidies contribute to the loss
of many wetlands. (MEA)
MEA notes that although the benefits gained from
maintaining wetlands are often greater than the
benefits of conversion, there are a number of
economic and inter-related reasons why wetlands
destruction continues.
The value of ecosystem services is often greater
than the value of conversion. However, many of
these values are not marketable for example,
flood mitigation, climate regulation, groundwater
recharge, and prevention of erosion.
In some cases the conversion has greater benefits
than maintenance, as for example in conversion to
agriculture. However, as more and more wetlands
are thus converted, the value and importance of
the remainder correspondingly increases.
Summary
Value of ecosystem services is not
marketable.
Wetlands are public goods so there will
not be accountability in using them
inappropriately.
The private benefits of converting them
are often made greater by subsidies.
Benefits of wetlands to local
people
MEA states that local people benefit the
most from wetlands.
However, they belong to groups that are
often politically marginalized and are
unable to participate in decision making
processes that often disregard their
needs, and lack transparency and
accountability.
The Ramsar Convention as a
response
recognises the interdependence of Man
and his environment and takes note of
the fundamental ecological functions of
wetlands as regulators of water regimes
and as habitats supporting a
characteristic flora and fauna, especially
waterfowl.
(Preamble)
Preamble says that they are a resource
of great economic, cultural, scientific,
and recreational value, the loss of which
would be irreparable and expresses the
desire to stem their progressive
encroachment and loss, now and in the
future.
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The Preamble also recognises that
waterfowl in their seasonal migrations may
transcend frontiers and so should be
regarded as an international resource and
expresses confidence that the
conservation of wetlands and their flora
and fauna can be ensured by combining
far-sighted national policies with co-
ordinated international action.
Mission of the Convention
the conservation and wise use of all
wetlands through local, regional and
national actions and international co-
operation, as a contribution towards
achieving sustainable development
throughout the world.
List of Wetlands
Central point of the Convention is the List of
Wetlands of International Importance.
On signing the Convention each Contracting
Party must designate at least one wetland to
be included in the List. According to Article 2
(2) wetlands should be selected for the List
on account of their international significance
in terms of ecology, botany, zoology,
limnology or hydrology.
In the first instance wetlands of international
importance to waterfowl at any season should
be included.
A Party may add further wetlands to the List
and may also extend the boundaries of those
already on it, or, because of urgent national
interests delete or restrict the boundaries
already on it.
Contracting Parties must promote the
conservation included in the List and the wise
use of wetlands in their territory.
Therefore States who join the Convention are
expressing a commitment to promote the
conservation and wise use of wetlands within
their territories.
Convention processes
carried out by the Contracting Parties, the
Convention Secretariat and the Standing
Committee.
there is a Scientific and Technical Review
Panel of the Ramsar Convention which was
established in 1993 as a subsidiary body of
the Convention. Its functions are to provide
scientific and technical guidance to the
Conference of the Parties, the Standing
Committee, and the Ramsar Secretariat
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Second Strategic Plan
Parties identified three pillars of action. These
are:
Working towards the wise use of their
wetlands
Identifying, designating and managing a
coherent and comprehensive suite of sites for
the List of Wetlands of International
Importance (the Ramsar List); and
Co-operating internationally in wetland
conservation and wise use.
International Co-operation
Wetlands cut across territorial
boundaries.
In 1999, the Conference of the Parties
adopted The Guidelines for
International Co-operation under the
Ramsar Convention by Resolution VII.
19.
International co-operation
covers:
Managing shared wetland and river
basins
Managing shared wetland-related
species
Ramsar working in partnership with
international/regional environment
conventions and agencies
Sharing of experience and information

International assistance to support the
conservation and wise use of wetlands
Sustainable harvesting and international trade
in wetland-derived plants and animal products
Regulation of foreign investment to ensure
wetland conservation and wise use
Success of the Convention
As at 30 January 2008 there were 158
Parties to the Ramsar Convention.
They have collectively listed 1831
Ramsar sites comprising a total area of
170,040,380 hectares.
Sri Lankas Ramsar sites
Bundala (1990)
Annaiwilundawa Tank Sanctuary (2001)
Maduganga (2003)
Vankalai Sanctuary(2010)
Kumana Wetland Cluster (2011)
Wilpattu Ramsar Wetland Cluster (2013)
http://www.ramsar.org/cda/en/ramsar-pubs-notes-annotated-ramsar-16173/main/ramsar/
1-30-168%5E16173_4000_0__
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Annaiwilundawa Tank
Sanctuary
Co-operation with other
Conventions
The Ramsar Secretariat has entered
into several Memoranda of
Understanding with other Convention
Secretariats. These include:
Convention on Biological Diversity
(CBD),
Convention on the Conservation of
Migratory Species of Wild Animals
(CMS),
UNESCO World Heritage Convention,
United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC).
United Nations Convention to Combat
Desertification (UNCCD),
Ramsar also works closely with several
regional conventions, the UNESCO
Man and Biosphere Programme and
with the UN Food and Agricultural
Organisation
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The Future?
The future of wetland ecosystems and
the species dependent upon them
remains bleak, with loss of wetlands
expected to continue until the mid 21
st

century (Millenium Ecosystem Assessment)
Pressure will be most felt in lesser
developed countries.