What is Ramsar Convention?

The Ramsar Convention, also known as the Convention on Wetlands, is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands. It is named after the city of Ramsar in Iran, where the convention was signed in 1971.

Here are the steps to explain it:

1. Origin: The Ramsar Convention was signed in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971, hence its name. It was established due to growing concerns about the loss and degradation of wetland habitats.

2. Purpose: The main aim of the Ramsar Convention is to promote the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local, regional and national actions and international cooperation.

3. Implementation: Each country that is a party to the convention must designate at least one wetland site to be included in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance.

4. Scope: The convention covers all aspects of wetland conservation and wise use, recognizing wetlands as ecosystems that are extremely important for biodiversity conservation in general and for the well-being of human communities.

5. Impact: Today, the convention has 170 contracting parties and protects over 2,400 wetland sites, covering over 2.5 million square kilometers.