Wetlands Conservation. Группа авторов

with other international and regional conventions/treaties: There are a host of benefits of collaboration amongst international conventions with overlapping missions. The Ramsar Secretariat has put commendable efforts to develop synergies with other conventions. It strives to ensure close working relationships with different conventions at various levels. Within the United Nations system, the Ramsar Secretariat takes part in coordinating meetings of some conventions. It participates as an observer in the Joint Liaison Group (JLG) of the “Rio Conventions,” UNFCCC (the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change), the CBD, and UNCCD (the UN Convention to Combat Desertification). It also participates as a full member of the Biodiversity Liaison Group (BLG), which comprises the five biodiversity‐related conventions – the CBD, CITES (the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species), CMS, Ramsar, and World Heritage (Matthews 1993; Ramsar Convention Secretariat 2011, 2016).

      Brief details of the Ramsar Convention’s cooperation with some of the major international conventions have been discussed below:

      1 The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD): The Ramsar Convention signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the CBD in the year 1996 and followed by this, Ramsar participated in the COP‐3 of the CBD as a “lead partner.” Later, an innovative Joint Work Plan was put in place for the year 1998–1999. The relationship between these two has evolved further leading to a series of Joint Work Plans (Ramsar Convention Secretariat 2011, 2016).

      2 The Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS): Just like the Memorandum of Cooperation between Ramsar and CBD, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ramsar and CMS Secretariats in the year 1997. The MoU seeks to strengthen the joint promotion of the two conventions; joint conservation action; data collection, storage and analysis; and new agreements on migratory species, including endangered migratory species and species with an unfavorable conservation status (Ramsar Convention Secretariat 2011, 2016).

      3 UNESCO World Heritage Convention and Man and Biosphere Programme: A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ramsar Secretariat and the UNESCO World Heritage Convention in the year 1999. The MoU focused on having a partnership with regard to the issues which were common to both conventions. This included promoting the nominations of wetland sites; coordinating the reporting about common wetland sites; collaboration on advisory missions to certain selected sites. Apart from this, the Ramsar Secretariat also works closely with the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme (UNESCO‐MAB) under the terms of a joint programme of work (Ramsar Convention Secretariat 2011, 2016).

      4 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP): An official collaboration has also been going on between Ramsar and UNEP. A collaboration was developed with the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP‐WCMC) in 2010 with regard to harmonizing reporting requirements under the different instruments and on developing indicators of effectiveness, among other projects. Ramsar Secretariat also participates in UNEP’s Environmental Management Group (EMG). An agreement was also signed between Ramsar and UNEP’s Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land‐based Activities (UNEP‐GPA) in 2006. The Ramsar Secretariat has also signed the Memorandum of Cooperation with UNEP’s Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region (Cartagena Convention) (Ramsar Convention Secretariat 2011, 2016).

      5 UNECE “Water Convention”: The Ramsar Convention also works closely with UNECE “Water Convention” (the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes) at the pan‐European level (Ramsar Convention Secretariat 2011, 2016).

      6 European Environment Agency: The Ramsar convention signed an agreement with the European Environment Agency in 2006 and for a collaborative project named the GlobWetland project. The project works on monitoring and management tools based on earth observation data related to different Ramsar Sites around the world (Ramsar Convention Secretariat 2011, 2016).

2.9 Education and Outreach

      2.9.1 Communication, Education, Participation, and Awareness (CEPA)

      The Communication, Education, Participation, and Awareness popularly known by the acronym CEPA is a collective term for the set of different activities meant for sensitizing the wide range of stakeholders. The Ramsar Convention’s vision of the CEPA Programme is to “prevent, stop, and reverse the degradation of wetlands and use them wisely” with the overarching goal as “People taking action for the wise‐use of wetlands.”

      The first programme of actions for CEPA was adopted by the Conference of Contracting Parties under Resolution VII.9 during the seventh meeting. Each contracting party has to name governmental and nongovernmental focal points for CEPA who become a part of a global network of experts to share information, promote the dissemination of resource material, and support the development or expansion of programmes. The CEPA’s national focal person has to reach out to the relevant authorities and ensure practical implementation of CEPA at the national level. The activities under CEPA play a very vital role in the dissemination of information related to wetland wise‐use and conservation (Ramsar Convention Secretariat 2011, 2016).

      2.9.2 World Wetlands Day

      The World Wetlands Day, celebrated every year on 2 February, marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on 2 February 1971. For the first time, it was celebrated in the year 1997 and since then, it has come a long way in popularizing the wetlands and highlighting the need for their wise‐use and conservation. A host of governmental and nongovernmental organizations bring together a diverse group of stakeholders to celebrate the wetlands and appreciate the services provided by them. World Wetlands Day provides an excellent opportunity for conservationists to shift focus on wetlands and spread awareness about these immensely important ecosystems. Every year since 1997, the convention’s website has been posting the resource materials and yearly themes for the World Wetlands Day. The resource materials largely include decorative and instructional posters, stickers, brochures and leaflets, bookmarks, pocket calendars, screen savers, quotable background papers, flash animations, and videos, etc. These resource materials are also available in their design files so that they can be customized to local languages and priorities. The WWD page on the Ramsar website leads to a listing of what promotional materials are available at any point in time and reports on WWD activities around the world (Ramsar Convention Secretariat 2011, 2016).

2.10 Legal Status

      In the international context, the term “soft law” is applied to declarations, recommendations, and resolutions, etc., which are not legally binding for the signatories but often considered as sources of moral as well as political forces to help the application of allied, country‐specific laws when the need arises. Such soft laws might be nonjusticiable but they certainly can help in invoking the applicable hard laws or the legal instruments available within the legal framework of the signatory nations against the actions that are in violation of the convention (Verschuuren 2008).

      The Ramsar convention, despite being a soft law, is supported at the national and local levels, by the legal framework meant for the protection and conservation of the environment, wildlife, and water resources, etc. In India, the Ramsar Convention draws strength from a host of laws that can be invoked in case of violations of the Ramsar Convention. Although India lacks a comprehensive National Wetland Policy, it does have Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 (amended in 2017) which empower the country’s legal system against wetland conversion and degradation. Some of the laws which strengthen the implementation of the Ramsar Convention in the India include Indian Forest Act, 1927; Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972; Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974; Forest (Conservation Act), 1980; Coastal Zone Regulation Notification, 1991; Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 1991; Biodiversity Act, 2002; and National Environment Policy, 2006 (Pritchard 2009).

Similarly, various other countries have enacted laws the enable the conservation and wise‐use of wetlands as mandated under the Ramsar Convention. Although