Ramsar Convention

Ramsar Convention
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat
Ramsar logo
Signed2 February 1971
LocationRamsar, Iran
Effective21 December 1975
ConditionRatification by 7 states
Signatories23[1]
Parties172[1]
DepositaryDirector General of UNESCO
LanguagesEnglish (prevailing in case of divergence), French, German, Russian and Spanish[1]

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of Ramsar sites (wetlands).[2] It is also known as the Convention on Wetlands. 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 which adopts decisions (site designations, resolutions and recommendations) to administer the work of the convention and improve the way in which the parties are able to implement its objectives.[3] In 2022, COP14 was co-held in Wuhan, China, and Geneva, Switzerland.

The Upper Navua Conservation Area Ramsar site in Fiji
Sustainable fishing in India, an example of wise use.
  1. ^ a b c "Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat". UNESCO. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  2. ^ "The Ramsar Convention and its Mission". Archived from the original on 9 April 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  3. ^ "The Conference of the Contracting Parties". Ramsar. Retrieved 31 March 2019.