Ramsar Convention: Environment for UPSC Exams
Ramsar Convention: Environment for UPSC Exams
Ramsar Convention:
- The Convention on Wetlands, called the Ramsar Convention, is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
- It is named after the city of Ramsar in Iran, where the Convention was signed in 1971.
- Every three years, representatives of the Contracting Parties meet as the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP), the policy-making organ of the Convention.
- The most recent COP12 was held in Punta del Este, Uruguay, in 2015.
- COP13 will take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in 2018.
- The Ramsar Convention works closely with six other organisations known as International Organization Partners (IOPs).
- Birdlife International
- International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
- International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
- Wetlands International
- WWF International
- Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT)
- These organizations support the work of the Convention by providing expert technical advice, helping implement field studies, and providing financial support.
- The IOPs also participate regularly as observers in all meetings of the Conference of the Parties and as full members of the Scientific and Technical Review Panel.
- The 2nd of February each year is World Wetlands Day, marking the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971.
- The Montreux Record is a register of wetland sites on the List of
Wetlands of International Importance where changes in ecological character
have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur as a result of
technological developments, pollution or other human interference. It is
maintained as part of the Ramsar List.