Ramsar Convention

The treaty commonly known as the Ramsar Convention takes its name from the Iranian city where it was adopted on 2 February 1971. Its formal title is the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat. It entered into force on 21 December 1975. Although its original title highlights waterfowl habitat, the treaty's scope and implementation concern wetlands more broadly.

Article 1 defines wetlands broadly to include marshes, fens, peatlands and areas of water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with static or flowing water that may be fresh, brackish or salt. It also includes marine waters where depth at low tide does not exceed six metres. This definition encompasses many inland and coastal wetland types, rather than only sites used by waterbirds.

A central commitment is the designation of suitable wetlands for inclusion in the List of Wetlands of International Importance, commonly called the Ramsar List. The treaty says sites should be selected for their international significance in ecology, botany, zoology, limnology or hydrology, initially emphasizing wetlands important to waterfowl at any season. Each Party must designate at least one wetland when signing, ratifying or acceding to the Convention. Inclusion does not remove the sovereignty of the country in which a site is located; the Convention expressly preserves that country's sovereign rights.

The Convention asks Parties to plan and implement policies that promote conservation of listed wetlands and, as far as possible, the wise use of wetlands in their territory. The Convention's current definition describes wise use as maintaining wetlands' ecological character through ecosystem approaches in the context of sustainable development. Parties work toward this through national plans, policies and legislation, management actions and public education. The treaty also calls for monitoring listed sites whose ecological character has changed, is changing or is likely to change because of development, pollution or other human interference.

The treaty encourages wetland conservation through nature reserves, research, data exchange, training and management. It calls for consultation where wetlands cross national borders or where countries share a water system. The Convention's official website reported more than 2,500 Ramsar Sites across 172 Contracting Parties in its Ramsar List page accessed for this article on 1 November 2026; the list is maintained as countries designate or update sites. Ramsar designation is an international recognition and commitment within the treaty framework, not by itself a substitute for domestic conservation law or effective management.