With thousands of miles of coastline and riparian areas, both the United States and Mexico have millions of acres of wetlands.  Wetlands, further defined below, are the most biodivers and biologically productive of known ecosystems on the planet.  Because so much of these two countries are wetlands, each joined the "Ramsar Convention" in order to join a world-wide movement to understand, protect and utilize wisely the resources inherent in these wetlands.  Read below to find out how CEDO is supporting the activities of the Ramsar Convention.  Further articles on CEDO's involvement with wetlands conservation activities can be found in this website's Press Releases.  

What is "Ramsar?"

The Convention on Wetlands (which took place at Ramsar, Iran, 1971) -- called the "Ramsar Convention" -- is an intergovernmental treaty that embodies the commitments of its member countries to maintain the ecological character of their Wetlands of International Importance and to plan for the "wise use," or sustainable use, of all of the wetlands in their territories. Unlike the other global environmental conventions, Ramsar is not affiliated with the United Nations system of Multilateral Environmental Agreements, but it works very closely with the other MEAs and is a full partner among the "biodiversity-related cluster" of treaties and agreements.  In 1986, Mexico became a Ramsar partner, and the United States joined the list of nations in 1987. there are 120 designated Ramsar Sites in Mexico and 29 such wetlands designated in the United States.  Today, 160 nations have joined the Ramsar Convention treaty, committing their national resources towards the protection of these important ecosystems, and promising to develop management plans for sustainable use and conservation of the sites designated within their borders. 

What are wetlands?

Wetlands are expanses of swamps, coastal lagoons, common estuaries, hypersaline estuaries, mud flats, mangroves, coral reefs, marshes, fresh water lagoons, oases and natural wells, which can be natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, stagnant or flowing, fresh, brackish or salty, and include the extensions of sea water which do not fall below 20 feet deep at low tide.

The principal characteristic of wetlands is that they are areas of transition between aquatic and terrestrial systems. They are ecosystems which depend on flooding or mild saturation, continuous or periodic, and maintain some type of halophytic, or salt-tolerant, vegetation.

Why conserve wetlands?

--They are the most productive ecosystems in the world.
--They are cradles of biological diversity, water sources and primary production on which innumerable animal and plant species depend for survival.
--They give sustenance to high concentrations of bird, mammal, reptile, amphibian, fish and invertebrate species.

What is the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands?

--It is an intergovernmental treaty approved the 2nd of February 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, from where it received its name.
--It is the first modern intergovernmental treaty on conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.
--Its full name is:   "Convention on Internationally Important Wetlands in particular as Aquatic Bird Habitats"
--Began in earnest in 1975
--160 countries involved to date
--Mexico is one of the members

What is the Mission of the Ramsar Convention?

Mission Statement:  "the conservation and rational use of wetlands through local, regional and national action and thanks to international cooperation, as a contribution to reaching sustainable development throughout the world"

Why was the Ramsar Convention created?

--To bring international awareness to the accelerated rate of wetlands disappearance and its important functions and value
--Governments which adhere to the Convention commit to change the history of loss and degradation of wetlands
--Mexico joined the treaty on November 4, 1986
--Mexico has 121 Ramsar-designated sites encompassing 8,191,057 hectares of protected wetlands, putting Mexico in second place for countries with most Ramsar sites.

Sonora's 7 Ramsar sites and the dates of their Ramsar Designations:

1) The  Bahia Guasimas-Estero Lobos Lagunal Complex (2-2-08)
2) Agua Dulce (2-2-08)
3) Colorado River Delta Remnant Wetland System (2-2-08)
4) The Agiabampo-Bacorehuis-Rio Fuerto Antiguo Lagunal Complex (2-2-08)
5) Infiernillo and Comcaac territory estuaries Canal (Xepe Coosot) (27-11-09)
6) Bahia Adair Wetlands (2-2-09)
7) Bahia San Jorge Wetlands (2-2-10)

What is the commitment made for being part of the Ramsar Convention?

Ramsar Convention countries accept four primary commitments:

--Registering sites on the list: Promoting the conservation and protection of those designated wetlands sites
--Rational Use: Creating national wetland policies and management plans with rational (sustainable) use.
--Training: developing materials and training of research, management, and stewardship of wetlands.
--International Cooperation: Consulting with other parties of interest concerning the implementation of the Convention.   (Trans-border wetlands treaties, shared water systems and shared species).

What benefits are gained from being part of a Ramsar site?

--Status
--Informing involved sectors
--The benefits of the protection of the site
--Public support
--Publicity and Financing
--Political Support - international/national/local
--Conservation measures
--Natural areas for recreation and sport
--Scientific interest
--Increase in touristic activity
--Other benefits, depending on the interest and participation by local entities of the Ramsar site

In conclusion wetlands constitute a great resource of huge economic, cultural, scientific and recreational value for human life; wetlands and human interests are interdependent. It is of vital importance to avoid the loss of wetlands, to adopt measures to conserve the natural resources of wetlands, and to use those resources wisely.

For more information:

www.conanp.gob.mx

http://www.ramsar.org/

Page created by:

Biol. Hita Tovar
CEDO Intercultural A.C.
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