Wetlands are among the world's most productive environments.
They are cradles of biological diversity, providing the water and
primary productivity upon which large numbers of plant and animal
species depend for survival. They are also important locations of
plant genetic diversity and support large numbers of bird, mammal,
reptile, amphibian, fish and invertebrate species. Wetlands provide
tremendous economic benefits through their role in supporting
fisheries, agriculture and tourism, and through much of the world
they have a crucial role as a source of clean water and other
ecosystem services for dependant human populations. However, as
highlighted in the 2005
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, they are also among the
world's most threatened ecosystems, owing mainly to continued
drainage, pollution, over-exploitation, impacts of invasive alien
species, and/or other unsustainable uses of their resources.
The
Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as
Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar Convention or Wetlands
Convention) was adopted in Ramsar, Iran in February 1971
and came into force in December 1975. The Convention covers all
aspects of wetland conservation and wise use. The Convention has
three main 'pillars' of activity: the designation of wetlands of
international importance as Ramsar sites; the promotion of
the
wise-use of all wetlands in the territory of each country; and
international co-operation with other countries to further the
wise-use of wetlands and their resources. The Convention's
Contracting Parties have assumed a wide range of related
obligations. Current details of
Contracting Parties to the Convention, and the number and
extent of Ramsar sites designated globally, are available on the
Ramsar website.
The UK ratified the Convention in 1976. The UK
has generally chosen to underpin the designation of its Ramsar
sites through prior notification of these areas as Sites of Special
Scientific Interest (SSSIs) (or Areas of Special Scientific
Interest (ASSIs) in Northern Ireland). Accordingly, these receive
statutory protection under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981(as amended),
the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act
2004 (as amended) and the Nature
Conservation and Amenity Lands (Northern Ireland) Order
1985 (as amended). Government have issued policy
statements relating to the special status of Ramsar sites. This
extends the same protection at a policy level to listed Ramsar
sites in respect of new development as that afforded to sites which
have been designated under the EC Birds and Habitats Directives as
part of the EU Natura 2000 network. Summary details of designated
Ramsar sites in the UK are available here.
A National Ramsar Committee acts in an
advisory capacity to assist government in the implementation of the
Convention. The Committee a rolling three-year work plan linked to
the
Convention's Strategic Plan. A range of other activities also
support the Convention's implementation. These include the UK
Biodiversity Action Plan, involving action on a wide range of
wetland habitats and species, and UK implementation of the EC Water
Framework Directive (2000/60/EEC) which requires all inland and
coastal waters to reach 'good status' by 2015; the EC Directive on
the conservation of wild birds (79/409/EEC); the EC Habitats and
Species Directive (92/43/EEC) and the African-Eurasian Waterbirds
Agreement under the Bonn Convention.
The UK's ratification also extends to its
Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. Details of Ramsar
sites in UK Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies are
available here. Throughout the UK's Overseas Territories
and Crown Dependencies, Ramsar provides the only international
mechanism for protecting sites of global importance and is thus of
key conservation significance.
As a member of the UK Natura 2000 and Ramsar Steering
Committee, JNCC contributes to the development of Government policy
by providing scientific advice and participating in delegations to
national, European and international Ramsar meetings, as well as
assisting Government with harmonisation of Ramsar procedures within
the European Union and worldwide. It also co-ordinates the
production of the UK's national report to the triennial Conferences
of the Parties to Ramsar. These reports provide valuable summaries of the
range of national activities associated with the UK's Ramsar
implementation.