Ramsar Convention

Ramsar Convention, agreement adopted in the eponymous city of Ramsar, Iran, on February 2, 1971, with the goal of protecting wetlands as both complex ecosystems and habitats for migratory birds. It is the first modern international environmental agreement signed for the conservation of natural resources. Although the original text of the convention was primarily drafted by and intended for European, Asian, and African nations, countries outside those regions have since become parties to the agreement. In 2026 the convention had 172 contracting parties. Participating countries have designated more than 2,500 wetlands as protected wetlands of international importance, also called Ramsar sites, with areas ranging from a mere 0.01 square km (0.0039 square mile) to more than 120,000 square km (46,332 square miles).

History

After World War II international bodies such as the United Nations and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) inspired scientists and governments to use diplomatic cooperation to protect the environment. Wetlands started receiving international attention as areas of conservation in the 1960s and ’70s. During this time, bogs, marshes, and other wetlands, historically seen as disease-ridden and deleterious to human health, were reevaluated by scientists and conservationists as valuable wildlife habitats. Project MAR—its name derived from the first three letters of the word marsh in English, French (marécages), and Spanish (marismas)—was founded in 1961 as a collaboration between the IUCN’s Commission on Ecology, the International Wildfowl Research Bureau, and the International Council for Bird Preservation to conserve temperate marshes. These areas were under significant threat because of drainage and development, a threat that the project intended to address through scientific research, public education, and conservation initiatives. A Project MAR-affiliated conference was held in 1962 to discuss these goals, followed by further meetings leading up to the Ramsar conference in 1971.

The geographic scope of the Ramsar talks was gradually widened from a European focus, as the parties considered the impact of wetlands conservation on dwindling populations of migratory birds. Because these birds crossed international borders, certain parties at the Ramsar conference argued that these species were of inherently international interest. Whereas earlier bilateral agreements had addressed protections for migratory birds on a regional level, such as the 1916 Canada–United States Migratory Bird Treaty, the Ramsar Convention was the first agreement to consider the issue on a more global scale. The participation of as many countries as possible was therefore considered desirable for the planned Ramsar Convention, a point particularly emphasized by participants from the Soviet Union (U.S.S.R.) at a conference preceding the Ramsar meeting.

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At the Ramsar conference in 1971, most of the participants were from Europe, Africa, and Asia, with the United States and Canada notably absent, possibly because of the prominent role played by the U.S.S.R. in the negotiations. The original text of the Ramsar Convention was adopted on February 2, 1971, with 18 signatories. It went into effect four years later, on December 21, 1975. However, as described in the text of the convention, it remains “open for signature indefinitely.” Since its founding, it has been adopted by the vast majority (nearly 90 percent) of United Nations member states. Russia withdrew from the convention in 2025 following denunciations by other Ramsar members of the war in Ukraine and its destructive effects on wetlands in that country. Russia has the world’s largest expanse of wetlands, making the possible impact of its nonparticipation considerable. 

Text of the Convention

The Ramsar Convention covers a capaciously defined range of wetland habitats. As outlined in Article 1, paragraph 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.” Article 2 stipulates that “Each Contracting Party shall designate suitable wetlands within its territory for inclusion in a List of Wetlands of International Importance.…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.”

Key provisions, implementation, and governance

Each member state must identify at least one wetland of international importance within its region when it becomes a signatory of the convention. These wetlands have become known as Ramsar sites. The convention does not prevent member states from exercising their sovereign power to modify or damage these sites, limiting the protections offered by this designation. However, the convention does encourage member states to offset any damage to Ramsar list wetlands through the creation of other protected areas, a practice that has since become controversial in the conservation sphere. The convention additionally calls on members to make provisions to train people to care for and protect wetlands. It likewise aims to promote research and academic exchange related to wetlands and migratory birds.

The text of the convention has been amended twice, in 1982 and 1987. A conference of the parties (COP) to the convention is held every three years to discuss member obligations and new initiatives for wetland protection.

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The Ramsar Convention is currently hosted by the IUCN, unlike many other international environmental treaties, which fall under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), a body founded after the adoption of Ramsar. The convention is, however, registered with the United Nations. It works in close collaboration with six international organizations—Birdlife International, International Water Management Institute, IUCN, Wetlands International, Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, and World Wide Fund for Nature—relying on them for technical expertise, implementation assistance, and funding support.

Evolving mission

Member countries have further recognized wetlands for their role in carbon capture and climate change mitigation. Water conservation has likewise taken on increased importance in the contemporary political climate, shifting the focus of COP discussions from their original concentration on migratory birds.