CONVENTION ON WETLANDS (Ramsar, Iran, 1971)
st41 Meeting of the Standing Committee
Kobuleti, Georgia, 26 April – 1 May 2010
DOC. SC41-21
Agenda item 12
Review of the Ramsar Convention’s relationship with its International
Organization Partners
Action requested: The Standing Committee is invited to note the review of the Ramsar
Convention‟s relationships with its International Organization Partners and advise on how to
strengthen these partnerships.
1. In Decision SC40-6, the Standing Committee instructed the Secretariat to “develop a
collaborative review with the International Organization Partners of the Convention‟s
relationships with the IOPs, in order to strengthen them strategically and make them more
concrete and detailed, including in relation to in-country implementation support
activities.”
2. The following is a preliminary review, in summaries and table form, including
consideration and completion by the IOPs.
rdUpdate on decisions taken at the 3 joint meeting on 9 October 2007: Joint action and special support as of March 2010
3. Review of joint activities with Ramsar IOPs: It is expected that, ideally, there will be a
significant contribution to the implementation of the Ramsar Convention from all IOPs
through their comprehensive policies/strategies, programmes and initiatives. The reality is
that, for most IOPs, only a few programmes are significantly working in collaboration with
the Ramsar community at global, regional and national levels. Almost all programmes have
a relevance to the Ramsar Convention, however, and a number of the IOPs‟ programmes
influence wetland conservation and wise use. For instance, the following programmes are
highly relevant and can significantly influence wetland management at different levels.
BirdLife International
4. BirdLife International consists of a global partnership of national conservation NGOs,
structured within six regions and supported by a decentralised Secretariat. BirdLife
Partners also maintain large local networks (e.g., Site Support Groups and Important Bird
Area Caretakers). BirdLife thus works to support implementation of the Ramsar
Convention in a diversity of ways at the local, national, regional and global level. At
regional or global level, many specific activities are carried out or coordinated by the
BirdLife Secretariat. The very significant work of numerous BirdLife Partners in
promoting and supporting Ramsar implementation nationally and locally is less visible and
less easy to track and report on. However, it represents an area where the strategic
relationship with Ramsar could be strengthened and should not be overlooked in this
review.
DOC. SC41-21, page 2
5. BirdLife‟s strategic conservation objectives include saving species, protecting sites, conserving habitats and empowering people, with cross-cutting strategic themes on seabirds, flyways and climate change. BirdLife is carrying out work relevant to Ramsar within all of these broad areas. A particularly strong and well-established link is through the Important Bird Areas programme, since the great majority of IBAs identified for waterbirds at global level are also actual or potential Ramsar sites. Other, still emerging programmes are also very relevant, including Preventing Extinctions, Climate Change, Flyways, Seabirds and Conservation Leadership. More information is available on
BirdLife‟s Web site: http://www.birdlife.org/action/change/ramsar/index.html .
IUCN
6. IUCN‟s global programme and initiatives include Climate Change, Energy, Ecosystems
and Livelihoods, Mangroves for the Future, Conservation for Poverty Reduction, Future of Sustainability; Water Programme; Marine Programme; Business and Biodiversity;
Economics; Ecosystem Management Programme; Environmental Law Programme; Forest
Programme; Global Policy; Social Policy; Species; and Protected Areas.
7. In practice, direct working relationships with the Ramsar Secretariat and sometimes with
Ramsar Administrative Authorities are mainly through the Water Programme. The
Secretariat is developing more working relationships with the Business and Biodiversity Programme, the Climate Change Initiative, Protected Areas and Forest Programmes. It is worth noting that the administration of the Ramsar Secretariat is provided by IUCN.
IWMI
8. IWMI is a research centre of the Consultative Group for International Agricultural
Research (CGIAR). Its mission is to improve the management of land and water resources for food, livelihoods and the environment. IWMI‟s Strategic Plan encompasses four
thematic areas of work:
- Water Availability and Access;
- Productive Water Use (with “Sustainable Use of Wetlands as one of the sub-
themes);
- Water Quality, Health and the Environment;
- Water and Society;
9. IWMI conducts research, primarily in Asia and Africa (but also partly in South America),
with a range of national and international partners and stakeholders, including other institutions of the Consultative Group for Interantional Agricultural Research (e.g., WorldFish and the International Livestock Research Institute). Many of the projects and programs with which IWMI is involved have direct relevance to the Ramsar Convention. These include:
- projects of the Challenge Programme on Water and Food (i., Wetlands-based
livelihoods in the Limpopo basin: balancing social welfare and environmental
security; ii., Water allocation in the Tonle Sap; iii., Valuing wetland resources in
China; iv., the Nile Basin Focal project);
DOC. SC41-21, page 3
- the Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture, which Ramsar
co-sponsored;
- a GEF project on Sustainable Management of Inland Wetlands in Southern Africa:
A Livelihoods and Ecosystems Approach;
- an EU project on enhancing the role of wetlands in integrated water resources
management of twinned river basins in EU, Africa and South-America in support of
EU Water Initiatives.
10. IWMI has collaborated with Wetlands International and other partners on the Wetlands
and Poverty project and the Guidelines on Agriculture, Wetlands and Water Resource
Interactions (GAWI) project. IWMI‟s staff participate in the Japanese Space Agency‟s
(JAXA) Kyoto and Carbon Initiative investigating remote sensing techniques for wetland
inventory and monitoring. IWMI‟s projects on water resource management, irrigation, small-holder agriculture, environmental flows, water storage and climate change all have
aspects that are relevant to Ramsar. In addition, key components of IWMI‟s work relate to
capacity building and outreach and knowledge dissemination.
11. Regarding the Ramsar Convention, IWMI clearly affirms: “At international level, we will
make sure that IWMI has a voice in key organizations like the Global Water Partnership
and the Ramsar Convention”.
Wetlands International
12. Wetlands International‟s mission is “to sustain and restore wetlands, their resources and biodiversity for future generations”. The Wetlands International Strategy identifies four long-term strategic global goals:
Global Goal 1: Stakeholders and decision-makers are well-informed about the status and
trends of wetlands, their biodiversity and priorities for action;
Global Goal 2: The functions and values of wetlands are recognised and integrated into
sustainable development;
Global Goal 3: Conservation and sustainable use of wetlands is achieved through
integrated water resource management and coastal zone management;
Global Goal 4: Large scale, strategic initiatives result in improved conservation status of
species, habitats and ecological networks.
13. All Wetlands International programmes are directly correlated with the work of the
Ramsar Convention: Protecting wetland biodiversity; Improving people‟s livelihoods;
Increasing resilience of vulnerable coasts; Mitigation of, and adaptation to climate change;
and Improving water management. All specific programmes and projects are also
contributing to the implementation of the Ramsar Convention: Central Kalimantan
Peatland Project in Indonesia (CKPP); GreenCoast; Wetlands and Poverty Reduction
Project; Avian Influenza and Waterbirds; Wings Over Wetlands; Wetlands and Biofuels;
Wetlands and Livelihoods Project. In addition, there are also relevant projects under the
Regional Coastal and Marine Conservation Programme for West Africa‟
14. In addition, Wetlands International delivers the Ramsar Sites Information Service (RSIS)
for the Convention, under a contractual arrangement with the Secretariat. This is one of
the key services that the Secretariat provides to Contracting Parties through this
arrangement with WI. The RSIS is meant to provide on-line access to all official
DOC. SC41-21, page 4
Information Sheets on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS), and increasingly it also includes links to
other relevant but unofficial information sources concerning Ramsar sites in different
countries, such as external Web sites, publications and management plans. Wetlands
International also provides the “STRP Support Service” to ensure effective communication among STRP members and STRP National Focal Points.
WWF International
15. WWF‟s approach to achieving its twin goals of saving biodiversity and reducing humanity‟s
impact on nature is consistent with Ramsar‟s mission and Resolutions: Tackling the causes; Global initiatives, including the Amazon, the Arctic, China for a Global SHIFT, Coastal
East Africa, Coral Triangle, Forest-based Carbon, Global Climate Deal, Green Heart of
Africa, Heart of Borneo, Living Himalaya, Market Transformation, Smart Energy, Smart
Fishing, Tigers. These are WWF‟s 14 so-called “Network Initiatives”. In addition, there are also 35 so-called “WWF Priority Places” to be taken into account.
16. WWF Programmes are also all related to wetland conservation and wise use: Freshwater
Programme; Forest Programme; Marine Programme; and Species Programme.
17. The Ramsar Convention is considered by WWF as a “Species and Biodiversity
Convention” as much as a “Freshwater Convention” (for example, several WWF-
supported projects have included coastal wetland conservation, e.g., deltas and mangroves,
as part of Freshwater Programme activities).
18. The Ramsar Convention receives tremendous support and significant contributions in its
implementation on the ground, thanks to the commitment of WWF‟s Freshwater
Programme. However, it would be extremely useful to extend collaborative work with all
other programmes as well.
19. WWF International Freshwater Programme covers anything related to supporting
implementation of Ramsar‟s Three Pillars, the Strategic Plan, goals, objectives, etc., as well as for the day-to-day relationships between WWF and the Ramsar Secretariat. Depending
upon the issues, regions, countries or even places, the International Freshwater
Programme represents, promotes, and supports the views, objectives, policy and field
work of the entire WWF network as far as Freshwater (including coastal) Ecosystems /
Biodiversity issues are concerned, through historically long-established and regular
cooperation with other WWF Programmes, Offices, Network Initiatives, Priority Places,
etc.
20. In addition to the International Freshwater Programme, many WWF National
Programmes Units or staff (including Freshwater, Forest, Species, Marine, each WWF
Office having its own way of organizing itself and its own local/national/regional
priorities) collaborate closely with environment/wetland conservation authorities in the
region and/or country corresponding to their areas and subjects of priority engagement. In
this respect, WWF‟s International Freshwater Programme‟s key role is one of coordination
as well as promotion and communication of WWF‟s worldwide wetland conservation
work.
DOC. SC41-21, page 5
21. This summary is not comprehensive; it is rather a preliminary overview that needs to be
completed in a meeting with IOPs. Unfortunately, it has not been possible to hold a stmeeting with all IOPs before the 41 meeting of the Standing Committee.
DOC. SC41-21, page 6
Areas of common BirdLife IUCN IWMI Wetlands WWF International work between IOPs International International and the Ramsar
Secretariat/ special
support
Administrative and Hosting the Secretariat Ramsar Sites Support to promote financial services to and providing Information Service; accession process to Ramsar Secretariat administrative and STRP support service the Convention (10
financial services new Contracting
Parties during the
1999-2009 period).
Financial support to
facilitate designation of
Ramsar sites (through
occasional co-funding
of Ramsar SGF
projects, or funding
through WWF relevant
offices or through
relevant governmental
offices, etc.)
DOC. SC41-21, page 7
Areas of common BirdLife IUCN IWMI Wetlands WWF International
work between IOPs International International and the Ramsar
Secretariat/ special
support
Technical support - IBA monitoring of Data and analyses services to the Ramsar-listed sites and from International Convention other wetlands Waterbird Census –
- National waterbird used as a tranche 2
census coordination in indicator on success of
many countries, in implementation of the
liaison with Wetlands Convention;
International RSIS analyses
- Review and tracking
of waterbird species
conservation status, as
the Red List Authority
for birds
- Development of
indicators of
Convention
effectiveness and the
associated guidelines
- Support to
implementation of Art.
3.2
- Lead on specific
issues within STRP
- Review of site
selection criteria
- Leading side events
during COP
- Arranging/organising
technical workshops
- Contribution to the
Secretariat and the
Culture Working
Group with
development of
guidance on
considering wetland
cultural values.
DOC. SC41-21, page 8
Areas of common BirdLife IUCN IWMI Wetlands WWF International work between IOPs International International and the Ramsar
Secretariat/ special
support
Ramsar Advisory - Financial support Contribution of IUCN - Highly appreciated Mission (RAM): Lake (RSPB) and direct Regional Office in contribution of WWF Natron Ramsar site, participation Asia and IUCN Int‟l HQ and WWF Tanzania - Partner support and Specialist Group on office in Mozambique
backstopping in-Flamingos (2009);
country - Promoting
- Partnership advocacy governments‟ interest
for implementation of and will to request
RAM RAM is part of
recommendations WWF‟s priorities for
the 2010-2020 decade IOP support events at - Organisation of X X 1) Climate Change X COP10 technical meetings Policies and Wetland
- Key side events: Conservation –
„Crane conservation in Conflict and Synergies
north-east Asia‟; and 2) Wetlands and
„IBA Local Biofuels
Conservation Groups 3) Flyways
and wetland - Events were
conservation‟ strategically placed to
- Support to campaign support resolutions (as
for conservation of well as others) on
Lake Natron, Tanzania wetlands and climate
- Support in drafting change and wetlands
resolutions. and biofuels Excellent participation - Support to the X X WI is contributing to X in STRP‟s work development of new several tasks under
guidance materials, e.g. TWA 2, TWA 3, TWA
further “wise use” 4, TWA 5, TWA 6 ,
conceptual TWA 9 and TWA 10
frameworks and within the current
DOC. SC41-21, page 9
Areas of common BirdLife IUCN IWMI Wetlands WWF International work between IOPs International International and the Ramsar
Secretariat/ special
support
promotion of related STRP Work Plan.
policy
- Technical inputs on
indicators & reporting,
knowledge
management and
interoperability,
resolutions, assessing
coherence, gaps,
redundancies,
conflicts, user needs,
etc.
- Assistance to the
Convention Secretariat
and STRP with
reviews of guidances
and COP.
Active participation in Asia Division, Japan, Vietnam, Regional Thailand,Oceania, Regional pre-COP Ramsar regional Thailand, Vietnam, Asia Office Japan, China meetings; and several meetings Cambodia, Cameroon, regional Initiatives
UK meetings/workshops
(detail hereafter)
Financial support to Cambodia &UK office Yaoundé, Cameroon, Yaoundé, Cameroon, regional meetings IUCN Central Africa WWF Central Africa
Office Office
Financial arrangements Reg Asia and Lao Nepal Office and logistics to Office
organize regional
meetings
DOC. SC41-21, page 10
Areas of common BirdLife IUCN IWMI Wetlands WWF International work between IOPs International International and the Ramsar
Secretariat/ special
support
Special contribution to Many inputs from Assistance in drafting Assistance in prepare COP10 BirdLife to help draft Resolutions (on redrafting COP9
specific resolutions, Biogeographic Resolution 14 on
guidance documents, regionalization in the poverty eradication,
etc.‟ prior to the COP application of the flyways partnership,
Strategic Framework and wetlands and climate
Wetlands and biofuels) change, wetlands and Staff time to develop and input to several biofuels key documents other resolutions:
Refinements to the
modus operandi of the
STRP; Wetlands and Financial support BirdLife provided human health and well WWF International
financial support to 19 being; Wetlands and sponsored some
delegates to attend poverty reduction; African delegates
COP 10 Enhancing biodiversity
in rice paddies
Specific campaign for Funding, technical and X the conservation and political support for
wise use of peatlands peatland restoration in
Belarus
Joint action in Bali, X UNFCCC COP13