Editorial note

The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat, adopted under the auspices of UNESCO, requires Parties to promote the conservation of listed wetlands and the ‘wise use’ of wetlands in their territory (Article 3(1)).When becoming a Party, each State must nominate at least one suitable wetland to the List of Wetlands of International Importance on the basis of their ecology, botany, zoology, limnology or hydrology, without prejudicing its exclusive sovereign rights over these wetlands (Article 2). Conservation of all wetlands is to be promoted by establishing natural reserves on them with adequate wardening (Article 4(1)). If a Party changes the boundary of a listed wetland in its ‘urgent national interest’, it should compensate for the loss of wetland resources by creating additional reserves for the protection of an ‘adequate’ portion of the habitat (Article 4(2)).

Parties are required to consult each other on implementing the Convention with a view to co-ordinating and supporting present and future policies concerning conservation of wetlands and their flora and fauna (Article 5). The Convention also encourages research, exchange of data, training of personnel, and consultation between parties about implementing their obligations (Articles 4(3)). An extraordinary Conference of the Parties held in 1987 amended Articles 6 and 7 (Regina Amendments) establishing a Conference of the Parties which meets regularly to review the implementation of the Convention. The amendments entered into force on 1 May 1994, but have not been ratified by all Parties to the Convention. Bureau duties for the Convention are performed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (Article 8).