Ramsar Convention: Transboundary Ramsar Sites

Abstract

A transboundary Ramsar Site refers to “an ecologically coherent wetland [that] extends across national borders” when “the Ramsar Site authorities on both or all sides of the border have formally agreed to collaborate in its management, and have notified the [Ramsar] Secretariat of this intent.” Such a cooperative management arrangement is one way that contracting parties to the Ramsar Convention may implement their duty of international cooperation, including the responsibilities related to Article 5 of the Convention, which requires contracting parties to consult with one another in the case of shared wetlands or water systems. A site’s designation as a transboundary Ramsar Site acknowledges the existence of a cooperative management arrangement, but it is not a distinct legal status for the Ramsar Sites involved. Accordingly, such a designation does not create additional international legal obligations beyond those already imposed by the Ramsar Convention.