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UNESCO, People Biodiversity and Ecology
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UNESCO, People Biodiversity and Ecology
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UNESCO, People Biodiversity and Ecology
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Wetlands: UNESCO and Ramsar join efforts to preserve
important sites
Wetlands are 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 six metres. ('Ramsar' definition
)
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©UNESCO-MAB/T. Schaaf |
This web resource, launched on World Wetlands
Day 2001 by UNESCO and Ramsar, focuses on wetland sites of significant
value. These wetlands share international recognition as biosphere
reserves or world heritage sites (under the auspices of UNESCO),
and as Wetlands of International Importance (under the Ramsar Convention).
Wetlands provide important services to human societies, including
water supply, sanitation, flood control and food resources clean
water and medicines. All over the world, management of water - the
key component of wetlands - is an issue of crucial importance which
affects the daily lives of millions of people.
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At the same time, many wetlands are under threat from a variety
of man-induced impacts and technological developments such as hydraulic
works, tourism installations and leisure activities, pollution and
other forms of human intervention. Over 50% of the world's wetlands
have been destroyed over the past 100 years and only 10% of the
remaining wetlands are protected. It is feared that flood-related
disasters and water shortages will increase in 60 countries by the
year 2050 unless the remaining wetlands are preserved.
Preserving remarkable sites
The Convention on Wetlands was signed in Ramsar, Iran, 1971. Since
then, UNESCO-MAB and the Ramsar Bureau have been partners. Synergistic
efforts to preserve wetlands concern in particular a network of
common sites of interest:
- Biosphere reserves are areas of terrestrial and coastal
ecosystems which are internationally recognized within the framework
of UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) programme.
- Ramsar Wetlands are sites inscribed on the List of Wetlands
of International Importance (the "Ramsar List") under the Convention
on Wetlands (signed in Ramsar, Iran, 1971).
Among the most remarkable protected wetlands we find:
Some exceptional wetlands are also protected through their inscription
on UNESCO's World Heritage List.
Links
- Polesie
project on wetlands
- Joint UNESCO-RAMSAR wetlands sites
Complete list of wetlands recognized as biosphere reserves (under
the auspices of UNESCO), and as Wetlands of International Importance
(under the Ramsar Convention).
- Information on World
Wetland Day
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Updated:
23/07/2008
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