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1. Home
2. Ecosystems
3. Celebrating 50 Years of Internationally Important Wetlands

Celebrating 50 Years of Internationally Important Wetlands




2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of
            International Importance, a treaty focused on the conservation and wise use of important wetlands. To
          receive the honor of being designated a Ramsar wetland, candidate sites must fulfill at least one of nine
          specific criteria. Of the 2,400 sites around the world, 41 are found in the U.S. and three are within the NOAA
          family — each of which are major stopover points for migratory birds along the Pacific Flyway in California.  1. Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve  The Tijuana River National Estuarine
            Research Reserve, designated as a Ramsar site in 2005, is unique because of its shared watershed between
          the U.S. and Mexico, which poses both challenges and opportunities for management strategies. This estuary
          boasts several sensitive habitats, including sand dunes, beaches, vernal pools, tidal channels, mudflats, and
          coastal sage scrub. It provides critical habitat and nursery grounds for many nationally endangered species
          and commercially important fish.  a view of Tijuana River grassland and estuary*Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve encompasses beach, dune, mudflat, salt marsh,
                riparian, coastal sage scrub, and upland habitats surrounded by the growing cities of Tijuana, Imperial
                Beach, and San Diego, California.* 2. Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve  Further north along the California coast, Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research
            Reserve, designated in 1979, protects the second largest salt marsh in California, as well as mudflats,
          freshwater wetlands, coast live oak woodlands, and more. This estuary is part of Monterey Bay National Marine
          Sanctuary and provides habitat for a huge diversity of wildlife species, including more than 340 species of
          birds, including 20,000 waterbirds, 500 species of invertebrates, 100 species of fish, and the region’s
          iconic southern sea otter.  a view of Elkhorn Slough from a hill full of flowers overlooking the wetlands with winding creek below*Elkhorn Slough meanders seven miles inland from Monterey Bay, California, harboring
                the largest tract of tidal salt marsh in California outside of San Francisco Bay.* 3. Tomales Bay, Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary  Just north of San Francisco Bay one finds Tomales Bay,
          which is part of Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. Designated in 2002, Tomales Bay fulfills
          eight of the nine criteria needed to be a Ramsar wetland. Because the watershed is lacking industrial activity
          and has a low population density, this bay remains relatively pristine and provides habitat for many
          endangered or threatened species of plants and birds.  Egrets gathered on the shoreline on the coast of Tomales Bay, US Geological Survey*Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary protects the waters off the California
                coast of Marin, Sonoma, and southern Mendocino Counties, including Tomales Bay (shown here).* The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance serves a critical role in conservation worldwide. NOAA is proud to play a part in this effort.
 What is Ramsar? The Convention on Wetlands is the intergovernmental treaty that
              provides the framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. It was adopted
              in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971 and came into force in 1975. The Convention’s mission is "the
              conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international
              cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world."  More **Information** Ramsar Wetlands Convention Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve Tomales Bay, Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary   **Search** Our Stories    Get **Social** Social
  **Last updated:** 04/01/22 **Author:** NOAA How to cite this article Contact Us


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