Transcript What’s in water?... - Regional Environmental Center

A global environmental treaty for
water-related ecosystems
an introduction to the
Ramsar Convention
Convention on Wetlands
www.ramsar.org
was adopted on
2 February 1971
in the city of Ramsar
at the shores of the
Caspian Sea in Iran
where 18 States signed
the oldest modern global
environmental
intergovernmental
agreement
www.ramsar.org
Photo E. Kuijken
The Convention on Wetlands
USSR
A. FIROUZ (chair) S-AFRICA
M.F.MÖRZER BRUIJNS G.MATTHEWS
E. CARP
today160 countries are Contracting Parties
… developing their
cooperation at local,
national and
international levels
1890 Ramsar sites
cover together
a surface of
185 million ha
(~ the size of Indonesia)
a global network of 1890 protected Ramsar sites
www.ramsar.org
The Convention on Wetlands
addresses wetlands
from the mountains to the sea
inland wetlands:
marshes, lakes, rivers,
peatlands, wet forests
coastal and near-shore
marine systems:
coral reefs, mangroves,
estuaries
human-made wetlands:
wet grasslands, salt pans,
rice paddies, reservoirs
www.ramsar.org
www.ramsar.org
the Mission
the conservation and wise use of all wetlands
through local, regional and national actions
and international cooperation,
as a contribution towards achieving sustainable
development throughout the world
www.ramsar.org
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
40 years ago, the Convention was
far-sighted in recognising:
the interdependence of people
and their environment;
the fundamental ecological
functions of wetlands as regulators
of water regimes and as habitats supporting
characteristic flora and fauna; and
that wetlands constitute a resource
of great economic, cultural,
scientific, and recreational value,
the loss of which would be
irreparable
www.ramsar.org
The 3 pillars of the Ramsar Convention
Les trois piliers de la Convention
1.
1. l’utilistion rationnelle
(ou durable) des zones
humides
Wise Use (sustainable use) of all wetlands through national
land-use planning, appropriate policies and legislation,
management actions and public eduction
2. designation of suitable wetlands for the List of Wetlands of
International Importance (Ramsar Sites) and ensuring their
effective management to maintain their ecological character,
provide training, undertake necessary research and monitoring
3. International Cooperation concerning transboundary wetlands,
shared wetland systems (and water catchments), shared
species, and development projects that may affect wetland
ecosystems
www.ramsar.org
the “wise use” definition
Wise use of wetlands
“ . . .is the maintenance of their ecological
character, achieved through the
implementation of ecosystem approaches,
within the context of sustainable
development.”
Ecological character
“ . . .is the combination of the ecosystem
components, processes and
benefits/services that characterise the
wetland at a given point in time ”
www.ramsar.org
use Ramsar’s toolbox:
17 handbooks on
the wise use of wetlands
wetlands and people
wetlands and water
wetlands and spatial planning
inventory, monitoring and assessment
managing wetlands
international cooperation
available on CD or at www.ramsar.org
www.ramsar.org
wetland
ecosystems
and
water
management
take into account all wetland ecosystems,
their (hydrological) services, restoration,
service costs and necessary payments
www.ramsar.org
the global water cycle maintains and links all environmental components
Ramsar focuses on Aquatic, Subterranean and Coastal marine ecosystems
www.ramsar.org
water for wetlands - wetlands for water
Resolution VI.23 “Ramsar and water” in 1996
recognizing the “important hydrological functions of
wetlands, including groundwater recharge, water
quality improvement and flood alleviation, and the
inextricable link between water resources and
wetlands”
acknowledges the “need for planning at the river
basin scale which involves integration of water
resources management and wetland conservation”
and the need to ensure that wetland users, as well
as management authorities and technical experts,
participate directly in the decision-making process
www.ramsar.org
using a catchment
basin approach…
purpose of the WFD (Art.1):
Ramsar & WFD
focusing on all waters
(wetlands): surface and
underground, fresh,
brackish and coastal
sustainable long-term
water use
pollution reduction
mitigate floods and
droughts
sufficient supply of good
quality water
protect and enhance
the status of aquatic
ecosystems (wetlands)
www.ramsar.org
linking river basin with wetland site
management - Ramsar’s critical path …
Ramsar Handbooks 2, 3, 4,
5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, Resolution
IX.1 Annex C i & Ramsar
Technical Report
“Environmental water
requirements”
Ideal
start
9. Review,
Ramsar
Handbooks 8 &
10
Ramsar Handbooks
8 & 11
7a.
Implementation at
wetland level:
- Management plan
- Wise use
- Restoration
Primary
bottleneck
Ramsar
Handbooks 1, 4,
8, 10 & 12
www.ramsar.org
1. Policy,
regulatory &
institutional
contexts
reflect, revisit
priorities &
plans
8. Monitor &
report:
Basin level
Wetland level
Ramsar Handbooks 2,
3&4
Ramsar
Handbook 10
Ramsar Handbooks 4, 12,
Resolution IX.1 Annex C i &
Ramsar Technical Report
“Environmental water
requirements”
7b. Implementation
at basin level:
- Water resources
management
- Operating rules
- Water allocations
6. Water & land
use
management
plan for basin
(includes water
allocation plan)
2. Design & initiate
stakeholder
participation
process
Ramsar
Handbooks 2, 3,
4, 5, 6 & 9
5. Set
quantitative
management
objectives for
wetlands (wise
use)
3a. Inventory
of wetlands
in the basin
3b. Water
resource
function of
wetlands
3c. Assessment of
current status &
trends
4. Set relative
priorities for
wetlands in
Ramsar Handbooks
4,
basin
8, 12, Resolution IX.1
Annex C i & Ramsar
Technical Report
“Environmental water
requirements”
Ramsar Handbooks
7, 8, 10, 12 ,
Resolution IX.1
Annex C i & Ramsar
Technical Report
“Environmental water
requirements”
Ramsar
Handbooks 7, 8 &
10
Ramsar
Handbooks 1, 4, 5,
11 & 12
wetlands and
climate change
the main climate impact is
on the hydrological cycle
wetlands provide resilience to
harmful effects (through storm
protection, freshwater storage)
wetland rehabilitation can
mitigate CO2 emissions from
degraded wetlands
keep the carbon stored in
wetlands where it is
peatlands are the most
space-effective carbon stores
of all ecosystems
www.ramsar.org
delivering the Convention in Albania
Administrative Authority
the main governmental agency responsible
for the application of the treaty
STRP focal point
a committed scientist with many contacts
CEPA focal points
provide leadership to spread the
Convention’s approaches to wetland and
water management
International Organisation Partners
official NGO partners of the Convention
who contribute to its implementation,
together with local stakeholders
National Ramsar Committee
to spread the Convention’s tools beyond
individuals and to develop national policies
www.ramsar.org
implementing the guidance
 the Parties are the key implementers at the national
(Ministries) and local level (municipalities, provinces)
but ...
 our International Organisation Partners (IOPs) play
important roles at regional, national and local levels
the
IOPs
www.ramsar.org
wetland management:
what for?
a tool:
to identify
interests and conflicts
to involve
stakeholders and interest group
to elaborate rules
and to find solutions
www.ramsar.org
management guidelines
Resolution X.19
Wetlands and River Basin Management
providing an overall framework and addressing
aspects of: institutional settings, policy and
legislation, basin-level assessments, water
resources planning, maintenance of water regimes
and land use management
Handbooks 6, 8, 9, 16:
water-related guidance
water allocation and management
manging groundwater
managing wetlands
www.ramsar.org
developing a
management
planning process
the integrated package of
the Convention tools:
1 description
2 development of
management plan
3 management actions
4 ongoing monitoring and
impact assessments
www.ramsar.org
strategic value of management planning
 based on foresight and a strategic vision
 providing answers to concrete issues and problems
 being able to rule conflicts and indicate solutions
 need of regular assessment, evaluation and readaptation
www.ramsar.org
a way forward …
recognising the vital links, water resources management schemes
should be based on an integrated ecosystem approach
only then can human livelihoods be properly ensured, through
–
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www.ramsar.org
food security
access to clean water
adequate sanitation
property rights
nature resource entitlement
designation of Ramsar Sites
according to a National Wetland Policy
identification of Wetlands of International Importance in line
with the 9 approved criteria:
specific character, hydrology, cultural heritage, threatened
species, biodiversity, bird numbers, animal populations, fish
hydrological wetland functions in the basin as well as sociocultural values and benefits
www.ramsar.org
a Vision for the Ramsar List
to develop and maintain an
international network of
wetlands which are important
for the conservation of global
biodiversity and for sustaining
human life through the
ecological and hydrological
functions they perform.
Target 2010: 250 million ha and
2500 Ramsar Sites
(currently 185 million ha and 1890 sites)
www.ramsar.org
strategic goal:
Ramsar sites
 many sites – but still some gaps > new designations
 management experience > more exchange of know-how
 linking site management with catchment planning
 hydrological functions of wetland ecosystems
 CEPA > more visitor centres, exchange and awareness
 World Wetlands Day > what in Albania and its neighbours?
www.ramsar.org
What is a Ramsar Site
 meet strict criteria: rare, representative or
unique wetland type (incl. cultural values)
and particularly important for biodiversity
 a flexible approach that can easily be
adapted to the needs in each country
 a planning tool, rather than overlap with
other designations
 Ramsar Site designation needs to be
complemented by national legal protection
 different (IUCN) categories possible:
Landscape, National, Nature Park, Nature
Reserve, etc. – or being the first legal designation
www.ramsar.org
Ramsar recommendations
Ramsar Sites are the «jewels in the crown»
- however designation is not an end in
itself:
 need for management planning
 with stakeholder participation
 need for professional management staff and
experts
 opportunities to exchange experience and
know-how
 wish to create specific networks and
thematic task forces
www.ramsar.org
current situation in Albania: 3 Ramsar sites
upper Drin,
riverine and
mountain
wetlands
Shkodra lake and
Buna river valley
Narta, Drin lagoons
Karavasta lagoon
Trilateral Prespa Park
Butrint lake and
coastal area
www.ramsar.org
concrete proposals
 Protected Areas managers can use Ramsar’s tools
and implement its principles: (ground)water
management, participatory management,
inventory, assessment and monitoring, CEPA,…
 reinforce cooperation between protected areas
managers’ networks
 hold specific seminars on particular topics (by
theme, e.g. karst wetlands, coastal lagoons, etc.)
> through MedWet
 support cooperation for transboundary Ramsar
Sites, e.g. along the Buna river, Prespa and Ohrid
lakes …
coastal development
upstream conservation
transboundary cooperation
www.ramsar.org
reaching out to all sectors of society…
(rather than preaching to the converted)
Communication – Education – Participation – Awareness
the Ramsar Convention has a full programme and detailed
guidelines how to plan and undertake national CEPA work plans
www.ramsar.org
MedWet – the Mediterranean wetlands initiative
operating since 1991
the first Ramsar Regional Initiative
with a Secretariat based in Athens – www. medwet.org
ready to support you in the development of national and regional projects,
technical and policy seminars, training, outreach, etc.
past projects in Albania:
- coastal area management planning
- Karavasta lagoon management plan
- national wetlands inventory
- MedWetCoast Narta lagoon management
- Butrint National Park management
www.ramsar.org
Ramsar’s
anniversary celebrations throughout
2011 - starting on
World Wetlands Day 2 February
what are You planning?
« Grado+20 » and « Ramsar+40 »
anniversary conference on
wetland ecosystems for
Mediterranean societies
watch these spaces:
www.ramsar.org
www.medwet.org
www.ramsar.org