Ramsar Standing Committee 36Ramsar Standing Committee 36

REPORT OF THE REPORT OF THE

SECRETARY GENERALSECRETARY GENERAL

DOC. SC36-2DOC. SC36-2

CONSTITUENCYCONSTITUENCYThe Secretariat is currently The Secretariat is currently

serving serving 158 Contracting 158 Contracting Parties with 1720Parties with 1720 Ramsar Ramsar sites, totaling sites, totaling 159 million 159 million hectareshectares

Increasing MembershipIncreasing Membership

Asia Asia is the only region that is the only region that welcomed new Contracting Parties: welcomed new Contracting Parties: – Iraq, Iraq, – Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan, – the United Arab Emirates, the United Arab Emirates, – and Yemenand Yemen

Increasing Ramsar Increasing Ramsar sitessites

4 new sites from 3 CP in 4 new sites from 3 CP in the Americasthe Americas–41 new African Ramsar sites 41 new African Ramsar sites from 9 CPfrom 9 CP

Increasing Ramsar Increasing Ramsar sitessites

4 new sites from 3 CP in the 4 new sites from 3 CP in the AmericasAmericas

41 new African Ramsar sites 41 new African Ramsar sites from 9 CPfrom 9 CP

9 new sites in Asia9 new sites in Asia

Joint activitiesJoint activities

Regional meetingsRegional meetings: involvement of : involvement of key organizations key organizations

Wetland inventoriesWetland inventories: : cooperation cooperation with specialized organizations that with specialized organizations that are able to exploit new tools, such as are able to exploit new tools, such as remote sensing technologies; remote sensing technologies;

Increasing collaboration Increasing collaboration with UN with UN systemsystem

Threats to WetlandsThreats to Wetlands

Americas:Americas: Argentina, Belize, Honduras, Argentina, Belize, Honduras,

Uruguay, BoliviaUruguay, Bolivia AfricaAfrica Algeria, Democratic Republic of Algeria, Democratic Republic of

Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, Mauritania, Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, Mauritania, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, ZambiaSouth Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, Zambia

Threats to WetlandsThreats to Wetlands

EuropeEurope– UkraineUkraine– Germany and Georgia (Germany and Georgia (ReductionReduction

of of Ramsar site boundaries)Ramsar site boundaries)

IOP participationIOP participation

IOPS: IOPS: Excellent participation in Excellent participation in STRP’s workSTRP’s work

Projects on wetland managementProjects on wetland management Ramsar site designation Ramsar site designation World Wetlands DayWorld Wetlands Day Input in regional meetingsInput in regional meetings

Global TrendsGlobal Trends

TThe level of activity demanded of he level of activity demanded of the Secretariat continues to the Secretariat continues to increase, as the number of increase, as the number of Contracting Parties increases and Contracting Parties increases and new challenges are emerging from new challenges are emerging from global debates.global debates.

Global ChallengeGlobal Challenge

Changing environment in which Changing environment in which the Convention has to operate.the Convention has to operate.

REQUIREMENTS for Better REQUIREMENTS for Better implementation of the Conventionimplementation of the Convention

Understanding of the status and Understanding of the status and trends of wetlands: values, threats trends of wetlands: values, threats and opportunities;and opportunities;

updated reliable information that updated reliable information that supports decision-making and supports decision-making and enhances the commitment of enhances the commitment of Contracting Parties to take the right Contracting Parties to take the right actions at the right time.actions at the right time.

Approaches regarding achievable Approaches regarding achievable solutionssolutions

Common understanding of Common understanding of « what are wetlands »?« what are wetlands »?

Effective PartnershipsEffective Partnerships

Existing PartnershipsExisting Partnerships

5 International Organization Partners 5 International Organization Partners (IOPs), (IOPs),

4 global conventions, 4 global conventions, 1 regional convention,1 regional convention, 4 UN agencies,4 UN agencies, 4 global programmes, 4 global programmes, 4 river/lake basin organizations. 4 river/lake basin organizations.

Existing PartnershipsExisting Partnerships 1 institute, 1 institute, 1 regional programme, 1 regional programme, 1 regional UN agency, 1 regional UN agency, 7 other NGOs, 7 other NGOs, 1 university center, 1 university center, 1 private company, 1 private company, 1 alliance of private companies.1 alliance of private companies.

Existing PartnershipsExisting Partnerships

Recurring voluntary funding from Recurring voluntary funding from some developed Contracting Parties.some developed Contracting Parties.

No signed agreement about funding No signed agreement about funding from governments. from governments.

Only 1 financial agreement with a Only 1 financial agreement with a private company.private company.

Increasing partnership withIncreasing partnership with IOPsIOPs UN SystemUN System other environmental conventions,other environmental conventions, research institutes, research institutes, river/lake basin organizations, river/lake basin organizations, business sector,business sector, the media, the media, and the civil society at large.and the civil society at large.

Partnerships to enhance wetlands’ Partnerships to enhance wetlands’ contribution to sustainable contribution to sustainable

development development wetlands and biodiversity, wetlands and biodiversity,

conservation and sustainable use conservation and sustainable use wetlands and water allocation wetlands and water allocation wetlands and food security wetlands and food security wetlands and human health wetlands and human health

Partnerships to enhance wetlands’ Partnerships to enhance wetlands’ contribution to sustainable contribution to sustainable

development development wetlands and poverty reduction wetlands and poverty reduction wetlands and energy/extractive wetlands and energy/extractive

industries industries wetlands and tourism wetlands and tourism wetlands and urban/rural wetlands and urban/rural

development development wetlands and protected areas wetlands and protected areas wetlands and climate changewetlands and climate change

Adjustment in reporting systemAdjustment in reporting system

Reporting system to encompass Reporting system to encompass important contributions of key important contributions of key players in:players in:

land use, land use, water management, water management, biodiversity conservation and biodiversity conservation and

sustainable use. sustainable use.

Adjustment in reporting systemAdjustment in reporting system

Reporting system to encompass: Reporting system to encompass: desertification control, desertification control, climate change mitigation and climate change mitigation and

adaptation, adaptation, agriculture, agriculture, sanitation, sanitation, and rural/urban development, tourismand rural/urban development, tourism

Development and use of new tools Development and use of new tools

““Payment for ecosystem Payment for ecosystem services”services”

Enhancing the involvement of Enhancing the involvement of the private sectorthe private sector

CEPA: Communication, Education CEPA: Communication, Education and Public Awarenessand Public Awareness

World Wetlands DayWorld Wetlands Day Ramsar Web siteRamsar Web site Collaboration with mediaCollaboration with media

Capacity BuildingCapacity Building

STRP’s workSTRP’s work Advisory Board on Capacity BuildingAdvisory Board on Capacity Building Training centersTraining centers Regional initiativesRegional initiatives FundraisingFundraising Ramsar Secretariat’s legal statusRamsar Secretariat’s legal status

Other opportunitiesOther opportunities Global Environment FacilityGlobal Environment Facility Regional banksRegional banks Special fundsSpecial funds Organizations working on specific wetland Organizations working on specific wetland

ecosystems (glaciers, peatlands, ecosystems (glaciers, peatlands, mangroves, coral reefs, rivers, lakes, mangroves, coral reefs, rivers, lakes, deltas, man-made wetlands, including rice deltas, man-made wetlands, including rice paddies)paddies)