Rationale and objectives Rationale and objectives
of Ramsarof Ramsar’’s participations participation
Nadezhda Alexeeva
Tobias Salathe
Wetland Convention Secretariat
protect nature to improve water
sustainable solutions for water-
related management problems
valuing ecosystem services
Second Assessment of Transboundary Rivers, Lakes and Groundwaters
Buna/Boiana river Albania-Montenegro
Ramsar is concerned about:
ecosystem managementecosystem managementat the heart of the catchment-based
approach:
use hydrological services
provided by wetland
ecosystems for the water
cycle
maintain natural flows and
aquifer recharges
maintain and restore
biodiversity and cultural
heritage
RamsarRamsar’’s s Critical PathCritical Path
2. Design & initiate stakeholder participation
process
3a. Inventory of wetlands in
the basin
3b. Water resource function
of wetlands
3c. Assessment of current status
& trends
4. Set relative priorities for
wetlands in basin6. Water & land use management plan for basin (includes water allocation plan)
7b. Implementation at basin level:- Water resources management- Operating rules- Water allocations
7a. Implementation at wetland level:- Management plan- Wise use- Restoration
8. Monitor & report:Basin levelWetland level
9. Review, reflect, revisit priorities & plans
5. Set quantitative management objectives for wetlands (wise
use)
1. Policy, regulatory & institutional
contexts
Ramsar Handbooks 2, 3 & 4
Ramsar Handbooks 2, 3, 4,
5, 6 & 9
Ramsar Handbook 10
Ramsar Handbooks 7, 8 & 10
Ramsar Handbooks 7, 8, 10, 12 , Resolution
IX.1 Annex C i & Ramsar Technical
Report “Environmental water requirements”
Ramsar Handbooks 1, 4, 5, 11 & 12
Ramsar Handbooks 4, 8, 12, Resolution IX.1 Annex C i & Ramsar
Technical Report “Environmental water
requirements”
Ramsar Handbooks 1, 4, 8, 10 & 12
Ramsar Handbooks 8 & 11
Ramsar Handbooks 8 &
10
Ramsar Handbooks 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, Resolution IX.1 Annex C i & Ramsar Technical Report “Environmental water
requirements”
Ideal start
Primary bottleneck
Ramsar Handbooks 4, 12, Resolution IX.1 Annex C i & Ramsar Technical Report
“Environmental water requirements”
is an operational tool to link water catchment planning
with wetland site management
water and nature managers working together:establishing partnerships
getting better information
strengthening capacities
using innovative economic tools and financing
national legislation and international agreements
Rhone river Switzerland-France
where are we standing ?
1. unilateral work on each side
by experts, local stakeholders, governmental authorities
2. contacts across the border are established
regular consultations, cooperation, joint actions, river contracts
3. joint planning
common management plans are elaborated and implemented
1. undertake common, coordinated activities
2. administer shared sites and basins jointly, share personnel and
resources
processes of transboundary cooperation
transboundary wetland ecosystems 2nd Assessment: some Ramsar sites as examples
description of the ecosystem and its services
socio-economy support
cultural values
biodiversity values
pressure factors and transboundary impacts
transboundary management (water and ecosystem)
Prespa lakes Albania-Greece-FYROM
South-Eastern Europe
transboundary examples of
Wetlands of International Importance
(Ramsar sites)
Danube basin:
Drava-Danube
confluence
(Croatia, Hungary,
Serbia)
Drin basin:
Prespa lakes
(Albania, FYROM,
Greece)
Skadar lake & Buna
river
(Albania, Montenegro)
Caucasus
Kura basin:
Javakheti plateau (Armenia, Georgia)
Araks basin:
Araks floodplain (Armenia, Azerbaijan, I.R.Iran, Turkey)
Northern and Eastern EuropeNarva basin:
Peipsi lakes
(Estonia, Russian Fed.)
Salaca basin:
Livonian bogs
(Estonia, Latvia)
Vistula basin:
Western Bug (Belarus,
Poland, Ukraine)
Dniepr basin:
Pripyat-Stochid
(Belarus, Ukraine)
Danube basin:
Upper Tizsa
Aggtelek karst
Lower Danube
(Hungary, Moldova,
Romania, Slovakia,
Ukraine)
Central Asia
Volga basin:
Lower Volga (Kazakhstan, Russian Fed.)
Ob basin:
Ishim forest steppe (Kazakhstan, Russian
Fed.)
Amur basin:
Daurian wetlands
Khanka lake
(China, Mongolia, Russian Fed.)
Western Europe (EU)
Foyle basin:Loch Earne(Ireland, UK)
Scheldt basin:Lower Schelde(Belgium, Netherlands)
Rhine basin: Upper Rhine (France, Germany)
Danube basin:Wildalm miresUpper Inn(Austria, Germany)
Danube-Dyie-Morava confluence(Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia)
