Multilateral Environmental Agreements

Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention 1971)

Status

Canada acceded on January 15, 1981
Entered into force internationally December 21, 1975
In force for Canada May 15, 1981
Protocol signed June 2, 1983
Protocol in force for Canada October 1, 1986

Objectives

Ramsar seeks to ensure the sustainable, wise use of wetland resources including designation of wetland sites of international importance and to ensure that all wetland resources are conserved, now and in the future.

Commitments

Canada is required to:

• implement the "wise use" principles of the Convention in Canada (including wetland policies, awareness programs, legislative review) and co-operate with other Contracting Parties, notably the U.S. and Mexico;
• manage a network of protected wetland sites of international importance in co-operation with provinces, territories, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs);
• foster co-operation through joint work plans and Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Bonn Convention, the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF), Wetlands International, BirdLife International, IUCN, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and other international treaties and organizations; and
• contribute financially to the Convention.

Action Required

Environment Canada is the lead. It must:

• facilitate policies and principles for wise use of wetlands in Canada;
• facilitate management of a network of protected wetland sites;
• work within the Convention to build international co-operation on wetlands conservation; and
• make financial contributions to the Convention.

Activities

Since accession in 1981, Canada has nominated and received designation of 36 sites as Wetlands of International Importance under the Convention.

Canada has sent national delegations to each Conference of the Parties (CoP), held every three years.

Canada's dues are fully up to date, paid on an annual basis against a United Nations (UN) scale percentage of the annual budget.

Environment Canada has published a national procedures booklet on the process for designating Ramsar sites in Canada agreed to by all the jurisdictional governments; a review of management plans on all Ramsar sites (28 of the 36 sites now have a management plan in place or under development as urged by the Convention); a Strategic Overview and recommendations for expansion/future focus of the National Program; and several public information booklets as well as a National Atlas of Canada map focusing on the nature and application of the Convention's programs and goals within Canada.

Canada has tabled National Reports at each CoP and published those for 1993 (CoP5) and 1996 (CoP6), The CoP7 and CoP8 Reports were prepared and are available on the Ramsar Convention Web site: www.ramsar.org under "National Reports." Canada has worked through the Convention and Ramsar Partners such as the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and Wetlands International to assist other organizations and governments on a wide variety of wetland and peatland management and conservation policy projects in several countries (including Malaysia, Trinidad and Tobago, Australia, Costa Rica, Uganda, and Mexico).

Canada has led drafting on International Guidelines on the Development and Implementation of National Wetland Policies published by the Ramsar Convention in 2000 and Guidelines on Global Action for Peatlands to be adopted at CoP8. It also facilitated a proposal for Global Guidelines on Wetland Restoration developed through an IUCN Global Biodiversity Forum in November 2002 and adopted by Ramsar CoP8 in 2002. Canada works closely with the U.S.A. and Mexico to assist in Mexico's National Wetland Managers Training Course offered annually. Canada currently is the North America Regional Representative on Ramsar Standing Committee and chairs that body's Finance Committee.

Evidence of Compliance

Canada's national reports.