The Montreux Record
Those wetlands on the list of Ramsar sites which are “either facing or likely to face large‐scale changes in their ecological character as a result of unsustainable technological developments, pollution or other human interference” are registered in the Montreux Record. The Montreux Record was established based on Recommendation 4.8 of the Conference of Parties in 1990 and is duly maintained as part of the Ramsar List. The Ramsar Advisory Mission, a technical assistance mechanism adopted by the Contracting Parties in 1990, has its role to provide assistance to the developed and developing countries in solving the problems or threats that make inclusion in the Montreux Record necessary (Matthews 1993; Ramsar Convention Secretariat 2011, 2016).
2.7.5 Ramsar Strategic Plan
The Ramsar Convention has set up mechanisms for developing and adopting innovative strategic plans of the treaty. The first strategic plan was adopted in the year 1997 for a period of three years. So far, there have been four strategic plans and the one under implementation is the fourth strategic plan which was adopted during the twelfth meeting of the Conference of Parties in Uruguay (2015). It shall be implemented over a span of eight years from 2016 to 2024. The fourth strategic plan lays out a new vision under the Convention’s mission; four overall goals and 19 specific targets which are designed to support the wetland conservation efforts of the Contracting Parties, their partners, and other stakeholders. It envisions preventing, stopping, and reversing the global decline of wetlands. Overall, the Ramsar Strategic Plans have been a successful initiative and other conventions have borrowed from their success (Matthews 1993; Ramsar Convention Secretariat 2011, 2016).
2.7.6 Three Pillars of Ramsar Convention
The idea of “three pillars” holds great significance for the strategic plans of the Ramsar Convention as the majority of the convention’s work is organized around these pillars (Figure 2.5). The idea of three pillars was introduced during the first strategic plan in 1997 and further recognized in the third Strategic Plan (2009–2015). The three pillars of the Ramsar Convention are:
Figure 2.5 Three pillars of the Ramsar Convention.
1 The “Wise‐use of Wetlands” has been identified as the first pillar of the Ramsar Strategic Plan. Its aim is to promote the conservation of wetlands through sustainable use of their services through actions like establishing national wetland policies; harmonizing the framework of laws and financial instruments affecting wetlands; undertaking inventory and assessment; ensuring public participation in wetland management and the maintenance of cultural values by local communities and indigenous people; promoting communication, education, participation, and awareness; and increasing private sector involvement (Matthews 1993; Ramsar Convention Secretariat 2011, 2016).
2 The second pillar is the identification of wetlands for their inclusion in the “List of Wetlands of International Importance.” This helps in the identification, designation, and management of a comprehensive global network of Wetlands of International Importance (the Ramsar List) and ensures their effective conservation and management (Matthews 1993; Ramsar Convention Secretariat 2011, 2016).
3 “International Cooperation” for conservation and wise‐use of wetlands has been identified as the third pillar of the strategic plan. This is particularly useful in the case of conservation and management of transboundary wetlands and the species harbored by them. This highlights the need for collaboration between different member nations, conventions as well as international organizations for easy flow of information and expertise, and sharing of financial resources, etc. (Matthews 1993; Ramsar Convention Secretariat 2011, 2016).
2.7.7 The Convention Budget
The convention budget is agreed upon for the applicable triennium. The decisions related to the financial regulations and the core budget are taken during the ordinary meetings of the Conference of Parties. The COP reviews the budget for the next triennium at each of its ordinary meetings. The Swiss Franc has been agreed upon as the official currency of the convention. The budget is prepared by the Ramsar Secretariat and is submitted to the standing committee for its endorsement. The standing committee further reviews the budget and submits it before the COP during ordinary meetings.
For the formal approval, there has to be an agreement among the contracting parties regarding the triennial budget. The final decision is taken by way of voting among the contracting parties which are present at the ordinary meeting. As per Article 6.5 of the Convention, if a formal vote is required, a two‐thirds majority is needed for approval and adoption of the budget. Every contracting party has to contribute to the core budget of the Convention. The contribution is primarily made to the budget of the United Nations and the UN takes a decision on the percentage of the contribution which would be provided to the Ramsar budget and this is decided based on a scale approved by the UN. In addition to the contributions made by the member countries to the core budget, the Ramsar Secretariat also receives voluntary contributions from the contracting parties, NGOs, and other donors for special projects or other contractual agreements (Matthews 1993; Ramsar Convention Secretariat 2011, 2016).
2.8 External Partnerships and Synergies
Cooperation with other organizations: The Ramsar Convention, through the Secretariat and its other bodies, maintains close working links with other international, intergovernmental, and nongovernmental organizations to achieve a strategic alliance for wetland conservation. There are collaborations at multiples levels between the Ramsar Convention and various other organizations such as the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Health Organization, the World Tourism Organization, and the Organization of American States (OAS). The Ramsar Convention also serves as an advisor on wetland‐related project proposals submitted to the Global Environment Facility. The Secretariat participates regularly as an observer at meetings of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development and has been involved in collaborative work with UN‐Habitat (Matthews 1993; Ramsar Convention Secretariat 2011, 2016).
International Organization Partners (IOPs): The Convention has close working relations with a group of five global nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Out of the five, four NGOs have been associated with the Ramsar Convention since its origin and have been recognized as International Organization Partners (Resolution VII.3 1999). The International Water Management Institute was accorded the status of an IOP in 2005 (Resolution IX.16 2005), thereby taking the total number of IOPs to five (Ramsar Convention Secretariat 2011, 2016). The five IOPs of the Ramsar Convention (Figure 2.6) are:
1 BirdLife International (formerly ICBP)
2 International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
3 International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
4 Wetlands International
5 WWF International
Figure 2.6 Ramsar Convention and International Organization Partners.
The IOPs are important conservation partners for the Ramsar Convention at global, regional, national, and local levels. They provide technical advice, help in field‐level implementation and also provide financial support. The IOPs also participate regularly as observers in all meetings of the Conference of the Parties and the Standing Committee, and as full members of the Scientific