Međunarodne konvencije
Convention
on Wetlands of International Importance
especially as Waterfowl Habitat
Ramsar, Iran, 2.2.1971.
as amended by the Protocol of 3.12.1982
and the Amendments of 28.5.1987
Paris,
13 July 1994
Director, Office of International Standards and Legal Affairs
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO)
The Contracting Parties,
RECOGNIZING the interdependence of Man and his environment;
CONSIDERING the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands as regulators of water regimes and as habitats supporting a characteristic flora and fauna, especially waterfowl;
BEING CONVINCED that wetlands constitute a resource of great economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value, the loss of which would be irreparable;
DESIRING to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future;
RECOGNIZING that waterfowl in their seasonal migrations may transcend frontiers and so should be regarded as an international resource;
BEING CONFIDENT that the conservation of wetlands and their flora and fauna can be ensured by combining far-sighted national policies with co-ordinated international action;
Have agreed as follows:
Article
1
For the purpose of this Convention wetlands are areas of marsh,
fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent
or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh,
brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth
of which at low tide does not exceed six metres.
For the purpose of this Convention waterfowl are birds ecologically
dependent on wetlands.
Article
2
Each Contracting Party shall designate suitable wetlands within
its territory for inclusion in a List of Wetlands of International
Importance, hereinafter referred to as "the List"
which is maintained by the bureau established under Article
8. The boundaries of each wetland shall be precisely described
and also delimited on a map and they may incorporate riparian
and coastal zones adjacent to the wetlands, and islands or
bodies of marine water deeper than six metres at low tide
lying within the wetlands, especially where these have importance
as waterfowl habitat.
Wetlands should be selected for the List on account of their
international significance in terms of ecology, botany, zoology,
limnology or hydrology. In the first instance wetlands of
international importance to waterfowl at any season should
be included.
The inclusion of a wetland in the List does not prejudice
the exclusive sovereign rights of the Contracting Party in
whose territory the wetland is situated.
Each Contracting Party shall designate at least one wetland
to be included in the List when signing this Convention or
when depositing its instrument of ratification or accession,
as provided in Article 9.
Any Contracting Party shall have the right to add to the List
further wetlands situated within its territory, to extend
the boundaries of those wetlands already included by it in
the List, or, because of its urgent national interests, to
delete or restrict the boundaries of wetlands already included
by it in the List and shall, at the earliest possible time,
inform the organization or government responsible for the
continuing bureau duties specified in Article 8 of any such
changes.
Each Contracting Party shall consider its international responsibilities
for the conservation, management and wise use of migratory
stocks of waterfowl, both when designating entries for the
List and when exercising its right to change entries in the
List relating to wetlands within its territory.
Article
3
The Contracting Parties shall formulate and implement their
planning so as to promote the conservation of the wetlands
included in the List, and as far as possible the wise use
of wetlands in their territory.
Each Contracting Party shall arrange to be informed at the
earliest possible time if the ecological character of any
wetland in its territory and included in the List has changed,
is changing or is likely to change as the result of technological
developments, pollution or other human interference. Information
on such changes shall be passed without delay to the organization
or government responsible for the continuing bureau duties
specified in Article 8.
Article
4
Each Contracting Party shall promote the conservation of wetlands
and waterfowl by establishing nature reserves on wetlands,
whether they are included in the List or not, and provide
adequately for their wardening.
Where a Contracting Party in its urgent national interest,
deletes or restricts the boundaries of a wetland included
in the List, it should as far as possible compensate for any
loss of wetland resources, and in particular it should create
additional nature reserves for waterfowl and for the protection,
either in the same area or elsewhere, of an adequate portion
of the original habitat.
The Contracting Parties shall encourage research and the exchange
of data and publications regarding wetlands and their flora
and fauna.
The Contracting Parties shall endeavour through management
to increase waterfowl populations on appropriate wetlands.
The Contracting Parties shall promote the training of personnel
competent in the fields of wetland research, management and
wardening.
Article
5
The Contracting Parties shall consult with each other about
implementing obligations arising from the Convention especially
in the case of a wetland extending over the territories of
more than one Contracting Party or where a water system is
shared by Contracting Parties. They shall at the same time
endeavour to coordinate and support present and future policies
and regulations concerning the conservation of wetlands and
their flora and fauna.
Article
6
There shall be established a Conference of the Contracting
Parties to review and promote the implementation of this Convention.
The Bureau referred to in Article 8, paragraph 1, shall convene
ordinary meetings of the Conference of the Contracting Parties
at intervals of not more than three years, unless the Conference
decides otherwise, and extraordinary meetings at the written
requests of at least one third of the Contracting Parties.
Each ordinary meeting of the Conference of the Contracting
Parties shall determine the time and venue of the next ordinary
meeting.
The Conference of the Contracting Parties shall be competent:
to discuss the implementation of this Convention;
to discuss additions to and changes in the List;
to consider information regarding changes in the ecological
character of wetlands included in the List provided in accordance
with paragraph 2 of Article 3;
to make general or specific recommendations to the Contracting
Parties regarding the conservation, management and wise use
of wetlands and their flora and fauna;
to request relevant international bodies to prepare reports
and statistics on matters which are essentially international
in character affecting wetlands;
to adopt other recommendations, or resolutions, to promote
the functioning of this Convention.
The Contracting Parties shall ensure that those responsible
at all levels for wetlands management shall be informed of,
and take into consideration, recommendations of such Conferences
concerning the conservation, management and wise use of wetlands
and their flora and fauna.
The Conference of the Contracting Parties shall adopt rules
of procedure for each of its meetings.
The Conference of the Contracting Parties shall establish
and keep under review the financial regulations of this Convention.
At each of its ordinary meetings, it shall adopt the budget
for the next financial period by a two-third majority of Contracting
Parties present and voting.
Each Contracting Party shall contribute to the budget according
to a scale of contributions adopted by unanimity of the Contracting
Parties present and voting at a meeting of the ordinary Conference
of the Contracting Parties.
Article
7
The representatives of the Contracting Parties at such Conferences
should include persons who are experts on wetlands or waterfowl
by reason of knowledge and experience gained in scientific,
administrative or other appropriate capacities.
Each of the Contracting Parties represented at a Conference
shall have one vote, recommendations, resolutions and decisions
being adopted by a simple majority of the Contracting Parties
present and voting, unless otherwise provided for in this
Convention.
Article
8
The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural
Resources shall perform the continuing bureau duties under
this Convention until such time as another organization or
government is appointed by a majority of two-thirds of all
Contracting Parties.
The continuing bureau duties shall be, inter alia:
to assist in the convening and organizing of Conferences specified
in Article 6;
to maintain the List of Wetlands of International Importance
and to be informed by the Contracting Parties of any additions,
extensions, deletions or restrictions concerning wetlands
included in the List provided in accordance with paragraph
5 of Article 2;
to be informed by the Contracting Parties of any changes in
the ecological character of wetlands included in the List
provided in accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 3;
to forward notification of any alterations to the List, or
changes in character of wetlands included therein, to all
Contracting Parties and to arrange for these matters to be
discussed at the next Conference;
to make known to the Contracting Party concerned, the recommendations
of the Conferences in respect of such alterations to the List
or of changes in the character of wetlands included therein.
Article
9
This Convention shall remain open for signature indefinitely.
Any member of the United Nations or of one of the Specialized
Agencies or of the International Atomic Energy Agency or Party
to the Statute of the International Court of Justice may become
a Party to this Convention by:
signature without reservation as to ratification;
signature subject to ratification followed by ratification;
accession.
Ratification or accession shall be effected by the deposit
of an instrument of ratification or accession with the Director-General
of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (hereinafter referred to as "the Depositary").
Article
10
This Convention shall enter into force four months after seven
States have become Parties to this Convention in accordance
with paragraph 2 of Article 9.
Thereafter this Convention shall enter into force for each
Contracting Party four months after the day of its signature
without reservation as to ratification, or its deposit of
an instrument of ratification or accession.
Article
10 bis
This Convention may be amended at a meeting of the Contracting
Parties convened for that purpose in accordance with this
article.
Proposals for amendment may be made by any Contracting Party.
The text of any proposed amendment and the reasons for it
shall be communicated to the organization or government performing
the continuing bureau duties under the Convention (hereinafter
referred to as "the Bureau") and shall promptly
be communicated by the Bureau to all Contracting Parties.
Any comments on the text by the Contracting Parties shall
be communicated to the Bureau within three months of the date
on which the amendments were communicated to the Contracting
Parties by the Bureau. The Bureau shall, immediately after
the last day for submission of comments, communicate to the
Contracting Parties all comments submitted by that day.
A meeting of Contracting Parties to consider an amendment
communicated in accordance with paragraph 3 shall be convened
by the Bureau upon the written request of one third of the
Contracting Parties. The Bureau shall consult the Parties
concerning the time and venue of the meeting.
Amendments shall be adopted by a two-thirds majority of the
Contracting Parties present and voting.
An amendment adopted shall enter into force for the Contracting
Parties which have accepted it on the first day of the fourth
month following the date on which two thirds of the Contracting
Parties have deposited an instrument of acceptance with the
Depositary. For each Contracting Party which deposits an instrument
of acceptance after the date on which two thirds of the Contracting
Parties have deposited an instrument of acceptance, the amendment
shall enter into force on the first day of the fourth month
following the date of the deposit of its instrument of acceptance.
Article
11
This Convention shall continue in force for an indefinite
period.
Any Contracting Party may denounce this Convention after a
period of five years from the date on which it entered into
force for that party by giving written notice thereof to the
Depositary. Denunciation shall take effect four months after
the day on which notice thereof is received by the Depositary.
Article
12
The Depositary shall inform all States that have signed and
acceded to this Convention as soon as possible of:
signatures to the Convention;
deposits of instruments of ratification of this Convention;
deposits of instruments of accession to this Convention;
the date of entry into force of this Convention;
notifications of denunciation of this Convention.
When this Convention has entered into force, the Depositary
shall have it registered with the Secretariat of the United
Nations in accordance with Article 102 of the Charter.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being duly authorized to that effect, have signed this Convention.
DONE at Ramsar this 2nd day of February 1971, in a single original in the English, French, German and Russian languages, all texts being equally authentic* which shall be deposited with the Depositary which shall send true copies thereof to all Contracting Parties.
* Pursuant to the Final Act of the Conference to conclude the Protocol, the Depositary provided the second Conference of the Contracting Parties with official versions of the Convention in the Arabic, Chinese and Spanish languages, prepared in consultation with interested Governments and with the assistance of the Bureau.