Fact Sheet

Convention
on Wetlands

Wetlands: wise use
basics on site
A wetland site can be less than a single hectare,as much as 6 million hectares, or anything in between.
These are dynamic areas open to natural and human
influences. Wetland managers and decision-makers
all grapple with one fundamental question : How
can we keep a resilient wetland ecosystem thatprovides for human well-being and still sustains
biodiversity and many other wetland services ?
There isn’t any one-size-fits-all
solution, but experience shows arange of practices that seem
to work.

Good practices
in wetlands planningand management
Integrate local stakeholders
from the start
People who occupy, own, govern,or rely on the wetlands have anatural interest in them. Involve
them directly and take theirneeds into account.
Do a wetlands inventory andimpact assessment
Note the extent and types of
wetlands, the biodiversity present( what species, how abundant,
how are they threatened ),the other services they provide,
and who relies on them.
Evaluate the likely impact
for a range of possible uses andactivities for the site.

www.ramsar.org
Fact Sheet 2 .1

Create a wise use planfor the site
Map out how the site will be used
in a way that ensures its viability
for the long term. The plan might :Define what activities canhappen in which zones of the site
and at which times.
Enable hunting and fishing at
natural replenishment levels.
Outline a water management
approach for how the site’swater is sourced and for how
groundwater is affected, taking
a wider, basin-oriented view.
Include knowledge and capacitybuilding for the community.
Consider eco-tourism potential
and how a visitor centre might
support this.

2Name or create an authority
to implement the plan
Specify who has the power toimplement the plan, and make sure
all stakeholders are clear on this.
Monitor the site for changes
Carry out regular observation andmonitoring as laid out in the plan.

Interesting
examples of wise
managementin action

Mauritania
Diawling National Park
Ramsar Site
The lower delta of the Senegal Riverwas extraordinarily rich in biodiversity
until the construction of two dams in1986 and 1990. Mangroves and fisheriesnearly disappeared.
Ten years later, the Diawling National
Park was established. An IUCN-facilitatedstakeholder study recommended
re-establishing the pre-dam flood cycle.
Sluicegates and embankments for
re-flooding were placed using theknowledge of local fisherman. The timing
and level of the re-flooding is now agreed
to meet both their needs and thoseof women who collect grass stems forweaving.

FijiCakaulevu reef system
The Great Sea Reef, locally known
as Cakaulevu, is the world’s third longest
continuous barrier reef system.

Apply for Ramsar Site
designation
If your site is not yet a designatedWetland of International Importance,
consider the visibility, fundraisingand tourism benefits that Ramsar
Site designation can bring. Discuss
the possibilities of designation withyour government.

Ten years later, the area’s conditionis greatly improved, and the local
community is requesting WWF’s help indesignating Cakaulevu as a Ramsar Site.

Lao PDR
Xe Champhone Ramsar Site

This Ramsar site is a mix of marshes,
swamps, and woodland forest that flood
during the rainy season, when it becomes
an important fish spawning area andhome to the critically endangered Siamese
crocodile (Crocodylussiamensis).
omic Field Survey Report: A Rights-based Approach t

Appendix 2: Socio-Econ
Conservation in the Xe Champhone Ramsar Site, Lao PDR

Local people have adapted their traditional
rice farming and fishing practices tothe annual rise and fall in water level. They
also consider some parts of the site tobe sacred.
Socio-Economic Field Survey Report
In 2011 the Ministry of Natural Resources
A Rights-based Approach to Conservation in theand Environment and the local IUCN
Xe Champhone Ramsar Site, Lao PDRCountry Office initiated a project to studyMay 2012
the local community’s laws and customs
and to integrate them into the official
management plan for the site.

In 2004, a biodiversity survey conductedby WWF South Pacific confirmed
the site’s international importance. Theorganization began working with thelocal communities and other stakeholders.
The resulting broad-based management
plan promotes the sustainable harvestingof fish while restoring areas of coastal
wetland and the reef itself.

Need more detail ?
Try the Ramsar Wise
Use Handbooks !

This Fact Sheet is made available by theRamsar Convention on Wetlands. Statistics
are drawn from a variety of publications andwebsites which are listed in the Reference
Sources sheet, available for download
separately. While we strive to provide
accurate and carefully researched
information, this publication is provided
with no warranty of any kind.
Fact Sheet 2.2

A series of Wise Use Handbooks,
authored by Ramsar experts,
explains all of the good practices
touched on here in much greater
detail. The handbooks can be
downloaded free of charge fromwww.ramsar.org/wise-use-wetlands.

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The Ramsar Convention
The Convention on Wetlandsof International Importance,
commonly known as theRamsar Convention, is a
global intergovernmental treaty thatprovides the framework for nationalaction and international cooperation
for the conservation and wise useof wetlands and their resources.
It is the only global treaty to focus
on one single ecosystem.