National Wetland Policies: Overview

Abstract

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, formally known as the “Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat,” is an intergovernmental treaty for the “wiseuse” and conservation of wetlands, signed in Ramsar, Iran in 1971. It encourages its Contracting Parties to adopt National Wetland Policies as tools to achieve the wise use of wetlands and to implement the Convention at the national level. The force of law, content, scope and format of National Wetland Policies will vary from country to country depending on their government, legal systems and national context. This entry provides an overview about National Wetland Policies under the framework of the Ramsar Convention, highlighting the benefits and obstacles associated with adopting such policies, as well as the trends in their development and adoption by Ramsar Contracting Parties and future challenges for their development.