The Ramsar Convention58. The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971 (and therefore commonly known as the Ramsar Convention), is an intergovernmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international co-operation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources, especially as a habitat for waterbirds. It is the only global environmental convention which specifically aims to conserve one type of ecosystem. There are presently 155 Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention, with over 1,600 wetland sites included in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance. The Ramsar Convention urges its Contracting Parties to conserve wetlands and their species, and to use them sustainably (“wise use”). Naturally, this might also include hunting regulation (and bans) for certain areas. In this context, the Convention acknowledges the necessity to secure the livelihoods of people whose income depend on wetlands. For specific conservation areas in a country, states are urged to introduce a special legal status that allows for the control of hunting in these regions.
The Ramsar Convention58. The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971 (and therefore commonly known as the Ramsar Convention), is an intergovernmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international co-operation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources, especially as a habitat for waterbirds. It is the only global environmental convention which specifically aims to conserve one type of ecosystem. There are presently 155 Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention, with over 1,600 wetland sites included in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance. The Ramsar Convention urges its Contracting Parties to conserve wetlands and their species, and to use them sustainably (“wise use”). Naturally, this might also include hunting regulation (and bans) for certain areas. In this context, the Convention acknowledges the necessity to secure the livelihoods of people whose income depend on wetlands. For specific conservation areas in a country, states are urged to introduce a special legal status that allows for the control of hunting in these regions. 56 xxxx://xxx.xxx.xxx/xxxxxxx.xxxxx 57 Adopted by the 7th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in 2004. 58 xxxx://xxx.xxxxxx.xxx/ Recommendation 9 (Promotion of Hunting Research and Education) addresses the conditions of hunting in internationally important wetlands. Firstly, this recommendation urges research organisations to obtain data on the breeding success, productivity and general mortality of the main species involved, and to carry out special studies on the effect of hunting on wildfowl populations. Secondly, it urges international and national hunters’ organisations to encourage sportsmanlike methods in hunting, and stop actions which obviously lead to mass destruction or loss of waterfowl; intensify educational measures to improve hunters’ knowledge of different species of waterfowl; and make hunters aware of their responsibilities for conservation and wise use of waterfowl resources through proper hunting practices. To achieve these aims, wetlands management plans are supposed to be developed. The Ramsar Convention also encourages international cooperation in the regulation of trade in species derived from wetlands. It promotes monitoring of international trade in order to track back trade objects’ origins, thus verifying their legal and sustainable harvesting (especially concernin...
