Wetlands Conservation

The term “wetland” represents a host of ecosystems inundated by water for a certain period of the year and possessing characteristics unique to wetland ecosystems. While there have been many definitions proposed by many scientists/researchers but the most versatile and widely accepted definition has been given by the Ramsar Convention which has taken care of every aspect of the wetlands. Article 1.1 of the Ramsar convention defines wetlands as “the 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 6 m.” Article 2.1 further states that “the riparian and coastal zone adjacent to the wetlands and islands or bodies of marine water deeper than six meters at low tide” may also be considered as wetlands. The typology of wetland accepted by the Ramsar Convention (which also accompanies the Ramsar definition) incorporates the three attributes to describe 42 different types of habitats across coastal/marine and inland environments ( Table 2.1). These typologies also include streams, rivers, caves, coral reefs, alpine meadows, springs, dams, wastewater treatment areas as well as the more traditionally considered marshes and swamps (Ramsar Convention Secretariat 2011).

Table 2.1 Ramsar classification system for wetland types.

The Ramsar Convention has adopted a Ramsar Classification for wetland types ( Table 2.1) which includes 42 types, grouped into three categories: Marine and Coastal Wetlands, Inland Wetlands, and Human‐made Wetlands. The marine wetlands are considered to be wetlands up to a depth of 6 m at low tide (and this depth is believed to be the maximum depth to which various sea ducks can dive during feeding). The treaty also includes waters deeper than 6 m, as well as islands, within the boundaries of protected wetlands. The lakes and rivers are understood to be covered by the Ramsar definition of wetlands in their entirety, regardless of their depth (Ramsar Convention Secretariat 2010, 2011).

The mission of the Ramsar Convention was adopted by the Conference of Parties in 1999 and was later redefined in 2002. The Convention’s mission statement is: “the conservation and wise‐use of all wetlands through local, regional, and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution toward achieving sustainable development throughout the world” (Matthews 1993; Ramsar Convention Secretariat 2011, 2016).

The Ramsar Convention has four main organs including the Conference of Parties (COP), Standing Committee, Ramsar Secretariat and the Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP) ( Figure 2.1). These organs have been discussed below in detail.

1 Conference of Parties (COP): The Conference of Parties constitutes “the policy‐making organ of the Convention.” The representatives from the governments of the various contracting parties meet every three years. Since the inception of the Ramsar Convention, 13 ordinary and 2 extraordinary meetings of the conference of contracting parties have been organized ( Table 2.2). During the COP, the contracting parties receive their national reports for the last three years (previous triennium) and approve the new work‐plan for the next triennium. The budget for the approved work‐plan for the succeeding triennium is also discussed and approved. Further, discussions are held on a wide range of ongoing and emerging environmental issues and points of guidance from different contracting parties are summed up and given due consideration. As per the procedures laid down under Articles 6 and 7 of the Convention, broad duties are assigned to various contracting parties. There is also the provision for the representatives of nonmember States, intergovernmental institutions, and national and international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to attend or participate in the conference of parties but only as non‐voting observers (Matthews 1993; Ramsar Convention Secretariat 2011, 2016).