Ramsar COP9 DOC. 5, page 1
9th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971)
“Wetlands and water: supporting life, sustaining livelihoods”
Kampala, Uganda, 815 November 2005
Ramsar COP9 DOC. 5
Agenda item X
Report of the Secretary General on the implementation of the Convention at the global level
Preamble
1.This report covers developments in the Convention from the closing of Ramsar COP8 on 26 November2002 to 15 September 2005.
2.As the title indicates, the report is an analysis of the implementation of the Convention at the global level. An analysis for each of the six Ramsar regionsto complement this report will be available only in the official language(s) spoken in each region. This global report will be introduced and discussed in plenary on the morning of Wednesday, 9 November, whilst the regional reports should serve as the basis for discussion at the regional meetings scheduled for Tuesday, 8 November.
3.The purpose of the global and regional reports is to review the implementation of the Convention in the last triennium.However, as this is the first report that I have the honour to present to the COP as Secretary General, I am taking the opportunity to provide some personal perspectives and overviews which I have formed during the past two years.The structure of the report is based on the Strategic Plan 2003-2008, and the National Reports received, and also shows the activities of the Secretariat and how these dovetail with activities in Contracting Parties and the International Organization Partners (IOPs). The reports of the subsidiary bodies, namely the Standing Committee and the Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP), are contained in separate documents, as is my report under Article 8 on the status of List of Wetlands of International Importance.
General remarks
4.The Convention, despite some problems during this triennium with the budget, is in a very healthy state.We currently have 146 CPs, and we are working with another six or so countries to enable accession in the very near future –a larger number are in a state of discussion.We are thus moving rather quickly towards universality of membership, an important objective.
5.That said, the demands that this increasing membership places on the Secretariat are significant.We hope that COP9 will agree to the budget as presented in DR 13, but this is not a significant enough increase if we continue to work as we are currently configured in the Secretariat.Therefore, after the COP has reached its budgetary decision, I will be examining how we can best use the available human resources which arise from the budget, so that we “work smarter not harder” and thus are able to deliver more effective results for Parties from the new suite of COP decisions and advice.
6.Part of this means a need to de-bureaucratise the way the Convention works at all levels, already started by the implementation of some of the reforms proposed under Resolution VIII.45.That Standing Committee 31 took the view that the Subgroup on Resolution VIII.45 should continue its work in the next triennium will be a great help.But we do require a commitment of excellence in effective delivery of the Conventions’ various plans and programmes, with simplicity of form and clarity of language as high priorities.
7.One innovation introduced in this last year has been the role taken by some Parties (in particular Argentina and Switzerland) to represent the Convention at other meetings where it was operationally or financially difficult to have a member of the Secretariat present.This is a trend we should continue, for not only is it amore effective use of resources, but it confirms visibly the commitment of Parties to the Convention in a very powerful way.It is not the only answer, however, and we do need to find alternative sources of sustainable financing for all operations of the Convention, including the critical areas of Communications, Education, and Public Awareness (CEPA), the work of the STRP, and the support for Parties through the Small Grants Fund.
National Reports
8.A total of 110 Contracting Parties submitted their National Reports in preparation for COP9 (as of 20 September), all of which are available (in the language of submission only) in the Ramsar Web site at which have recently joined the Convention are not expected to submit a National Report. Annex 1 contains the list of Parties who submitted reports by the time of the analysis for this report.
9.There seems a widespread view that the format of the National Report for COP9 was far too complex and detailed for Contracting Parties to deal with effectively, although the number that were submitted in time for analysis bears evidence to the dedication of the Convention’s member states.Nevertheless, it is clear that for COP10 we need a simplified form of National Report which will enable easy analysis of the main trends in the Convention and allow effective feedback to Parties on the key trends which are emerging.At the same time, as DR 5 shows, there is a move afoot among the conventions in the biodiversity cluster to promote more cross-linkage and lessen redundancy of effort in providing national reports.
10.Should the COP agree, the Secretariat will work with the Standing Committee to prepare a revised format of National Report for COP10 and try to maximise linkage with activities in other conventions.Further developments are planned to include the simplification and the improvement of the user-friendliness of the form used for National Reporting for COP10.This includes envisaging new forms of reporting like common reporting with other major conventions for some parts of the reports and the possibility to complete the National Report questionnaire directly on the Internet, for an easier, simpler and faster reporting process
11.Of course, such a revision should also fully reflect the Strategic Plan, yet here again the Secretariat has received views from Parties that the Strategic Plan agreed in Resolution VIII.25 is too complex to work with, overly ambitious, and not readily capable of being monitored.For example, so far only 8% of the global implementation targets listed in the Strategic Plan have been achieved, even though we are 50% through the period covered by the Plan.Further, it is likely that 36% will not be able to be achieved at all, with a further 33% unlikely to be achieved, with the remaining 23% only possibly able to be achieved.While the enthusiasm behind constructing the plan for 2003 – 2008 was commendable, the reality check halfway through the period suggests that a different approach is needed for the next triennium.
12.A key objective thus of the Secretariat in the next triennium will be to simplify and demystify the National Report and Strategic Plan, as well as the work plan for the STRP and CEPA activities.To start this process, this current report is organized along the lines of the five goals and 25 strategies of the Strategic Framework developed for DR 9.
13.One point which emerges is that developing countries in particular see the need for high priority to be given to the issues of:
- wetland inventories
- identification of wetlands that need restoration
- restoring damaged wetlands
- monitoring of ecological character
- development of alternative wise use livelihoods for wetland dwellers,
and that donor countries and agencies should be notified of these issues.
Analysis of the National Reports
14.A relational database has been created to store and analyze the information provided by the Parties in their National Reports for COP9. The database includes indicators related to the implementation status of the actions included in the Convention’s Work Plan 2003-2008, as reflected in the National Reports format.
15.The following section reviews the implementation of the Convention by Contracting Parties and the Ramsar Secretariat activities in the last triennium in relation to the 25 strategies identified in the draft Strategic Framework presented in DR9, cross referenced to the Operational Objectives in the Strategic Plan 2003-2008.
16.The detailed quantitative results provided for theNational Reports have been the basis of this analysis, although as the numbers in some cases are very uncertain, there is a strong degree of “caveat emptor” in this analysis.Nonetheless the major trends seem consistently clear and will form a basis against which the COP10 National Report format can be developed to ensure continued consistency in analysis of implementation trends.
17.Overall, the percentage of “positive” replies, including, “yes”, “partly implemented”, “in progress” and “being updated”, summarised globally for each strategy, range between 30% and 70%.The percentage of absolute “yes” responses range between 10 and 65%, with the lowest “yes” response dealing with the strategy on incentives, and the highest dealing with the institutional mechanisms of the Convention.
CONSERVATION AND WISE USE OF WETLANDS AND WATER RESOURCES
GOAL 1. The wise use of wetlands
STRATEGY 1.1(Operational objective 1.1)
Assessment and monitoring extent and condition of wetland resources
18.Around 25% of respondent Parties currently have or are in the process of developing a comprehensive wetland inventory,witha further 35% showing they used or will use the Ramsar Framework for Wetland Inventory.However, the percentage fully dealing with all aspects of Inventory is only 30%, with an additional 25% dealing with or developing ways of dealing with inventories.Problem areas seem to exist in the adequate storage and retrieval of data, with 35% of parties saying they did not have arrangements in place for custodianship of data, as well as storage and development of metadata to ease handling and recall of the inventory data.
19.Further, only around 40% of respondentParties used the inventory to deal with issues like identifying wetlands for poverty alleviation, food security, coastal protection and flood defence.However, nearly 60% included wetlands importantfor water supply in their inventories.
20.Use of inventory data in some way by managers and decision-makers was reported by over 90% of Parties, but only just over 70% reported promotion of inventory data in some way among wetland users.
21.For the next triennium the challenges are clearly in the area of developing metadata and archival approaches to inventory, and to ensure thatinventories are being used to help focus on specific wetland issues, such as poverty reduction, flood defence, environmental security, human health issues, etc.
STRATEGY 1.2 (Operational objectives 2.12.2)
Develop, review, and implement national or supranational policies, to ensure that the wise use principle of the Convention is being effectively applied.
22.35% of Parties appear to be implementing this strategy, although around 60% have plans so to do in the future.
23.Over 70% of Parties are already developing National Wetlands Policies to help implement the sustainable development strategies as called for by WSSD, and to incorporate wetland issues into water resource management plans undertaking this, or they are planning to undertake it soon.
24.A particular issue is that although there are increasing amounts of experience accumulated by Parties in this area, the percentage of Parties transmitting material and information to the Secretariat or STRP for developing into advice and guidance is very low.
25.Another key issue is that it is clear that for synergies between different MEAs to work at the national level it is indispensable that there be clear linkages between the different environmental policies and legislation at the national level, e.g., wetland policies vs. ocean and marine policies,water policies, and biodiversity policies. Some of the latter policies in some countries do not make reference to Ramsar, which is disappointing.
26.For the next triennium the challenges are to accelerate work in Contracting Parties on the implementation of relevant policies to help implement the wise use principle, and to ensure that from Secretariat, STRP and the IOPs policy-relevant information is provided to Parties to assist this policy development.Key areas of concern include Parties reviewing legislation and policies impacting negatively on montane wetlands, where appropriate, and ensuring EIA considerations are incorporated into policy development for wetlands.
STRATEGY 1.3 (Operational objectives 3.1 -3.3)
Increase recognition of the significance of wetlands for reasons of water supply, coastal protection, flood defence, food security, poverty alleviation, cultural heritage, and scientific research.
27.Only20% of Parties are promoting the wise use of wetlands for water supply, coastal protection, etc., while 17% are promoting conservation and wise use of peatlands as an example of the ecosystem approach, and 14% are involved in the dissemination of methodologies to achieve the conservation and wise use of peatlands.However,90% are planning to promote the significance of wetlands for water supply, coastal protection and flood defence – particularly relevant given recent events such as the tsunami in the Indian Ocean and recent hurricanes.77% are attempting better dissemination of materials to promote wetland wise use.
28.Disappointingly, only 14% have contributed, or are planning to contribute, to STRP work on guidance forwise use using the ecosystem approach.
29.In response to Resolution VIII.17 the Secretariat has established a Coordinating Committee for Global Action on Peatlands, which, as requested, has developed an Implementation Plan for the Guidelines for Global Action on Peatlands (GGAP) adopted at COP8.The Committee is a multisectoral consortium involving representatives of NGOs, the private sector, academic and research institutes and intergovernmental conventions and agreements, and this has led to enhanced common understanding and agreement on implementation issues and priorities.The Committee is preparing a progress report on implementation of the COP8 guidelines which, together with the GGAP Implementation Plan, will be prepared as a Ramsar Technical Report so as to make it as widely available to Parties and other interested organizations as possible.
30.For the next triennium the challenges are to accelerate work in Contracting Parties on recognising the key role of wetlands and their ecological services, and to provide the STRP with national case studies and information, in order to enable Parties to formulate the most effective policy reactions.
STRATEGY 1.4(Operational objective 3.4)
Integrate policies on the conservation and wise use of wetlands in the planning activities and decision-making processes at national, regional, provincial and local levels, all in the context of implementing IWRM.
31.Only 17% of respondent Parties are attempting to integrate conservation and wise use of wetlands in policies as they develop, although another25% have plans so to do.On the positive side, over 50% of Parties have representatives of the water management authorities on their National Ramsar Committees.
32.Disappointing is that less than 10% of Parties have assessed the implications of the Kyoto Protocol on wetlands, and only 8% have studies on the role of wetlands in carbon sequestration underway.The same percentages relate to Parties undertaking efforts toavoid serious ecological damage to wetlands following implementation of the Kyoto Protocol.Only slightly better are the 22% of relevant Parties that are undertaking planning measures to ensure the role of mangrove ecosystems in mitigating the effects of climate change.And especially disappointing is the only 10% of Parties who are using the information provided in extenso at COP8 on climate change to inform national policy making on wetlands.
33.Between 10% and 20% of Parties have implemented activities to ensure that the critical role of waterallocation to maintain the ecological character of wetlands, especially in drought situations, is maintained.
34.For the next triennium the challenges are to ensure that Contracting Parties undertake more effective work on the relationship between the ecosystem services from wetlands in ameliorating climate change and ensuring that wetlands receive adequate water flows, especially during drought events.
STRATEGY 1.5(Operational objective 4.1)
Identify priority wetlands where restoration or rehabilitation would be beneficial.
35.Less than 25% of Parties have undertaken studies of priority wetlands to receive attention for restoration or rehabilitation, although 25% more are likely to undertake such work in the near future.
36.Over 70% of Parties are intending to take action to restore wetlands, and over 60% have taken account of wetland restoration to ensure adequate river basin management.A very low 5% of Parties are using the guidelines on wetland restoration in consideration of the implications of the Kyoto Protocol.
37.On training needs for restoration of systems, around 20% of Parties have identified opportunities for this.
38.For the next triennium the challenges are to accelerate work in Contracting Parties on ensuring that wetland restoration and rehabilitation are seen as critical elements of the wise use approach, and to developtraining needs assessments for restoration processes.
STRATEGY 1.6(Operational objective 5.1)
Develop guidance and promote protocols and actions to prevent, control or eradicate invasive alien species in wetland systems.
39.Only 17% of Parties have developed protocols for the control and management of invasive alien species in wetlands, although 33% more are in the process of so doing.
40.Somewhat worrying is the fact that only 5% of Parties have assessed and communicated invasive alien species problems as part of the Article 3.2 process.
41.For the next triennium the challenges are to ensure that better prominence is given to issues of alien species invasion as a critical problem in wetland management.
GOAL 2. Wetlands of International Importance
STRATEGY 2.1(Operational objective 10.1)
Apply the Strategic Framework and guidelines for the future development of the List of Wetlands of International Importance
42.36% of Parties have applied the Strategic Framework to help develop the Ramsar List, and an additional15% intend to.However, that leaves just under 50%apparently not using the StrategicFramework to develop the List.Particularly poor efforts have been made with respect to humanmade wetlands, cultural significance and wetland dependent taxa other than water birds.Around 35% of Parties have made efforts to nominate Ramsar sites of under-represented types, with another 9% working towards that.
43.For the next triennium the challenges are ensure much more widespread use of the strategic framework in developing the list, to ensure quality additions, especially of under-represented wetland types,and taxa other than water birds.