Full text of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, Especially as Waterfowl Habitat

Wetlands, along with forests and oceans, are the three major ecosystems in the world, and they are also the most valuable ecosystems. According to the Convention on Wetlands, wetlands include swamps, peatlands, wet meadows, lakes, rivers, flood detention areas, estuarine deltas, tidal flats, reservoirs, ponds, paddy fields, and marine areas with a shallow water depth of less than 6 m at low tide.

Wetlands have extremely important ecological functions such as water conservation, water purification, flood control, soil erosion control, groundwater replenishment, environmental beautification, climate regulation, carbon cycle maintenance and coastal protection, and are one of the important birthplaces of biodiversity, so they are also known as "the kidney of the earth", "natural reservoir" and "natural species bank". According to an authoritative study by the United Nations Environment Programme in 2002, one hectare of wetland ecosystem creates a value of up to US$10,000 per year, seven times that of tropical rainforests and 160 times that of farmland ecosystems. Wetlands are also the basis for the survival of many rare wild animals and plants, and are of special significance for maintaining ecological balance and protecting biodiversity.

Over the years, the world's wetlands have been destroyed as globalization accelerates. Therefore, the protection of wetlands has become a worldwide issue.

On 2 February 1971, representatives from 18 countries signed the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar), a convention aimed at the conservation and rational use of wetlands around the world, in the coastal town of Ramsar in southern Iran. The Convention entered into force on 21 December 1975 and currently has 158 Contracting Parties. China acceded to the Convention in 1992.

The Convention advocates the sustainable use of wetlands within the scope of damage to wetland ecosystems, based on the principles of wetland conservation and "wise use". At present, the number of wetlands of international importance has reached 1,886.

The purpose of the Convention on Wetlands is to strengthen the conservation and rational use of the world's wetland resources through cooperation among member countries to achieve sustainable development of ecosystems. At present, the Convention on Wetlands has become one of the important international nature conservation conventions, and 1,832 wetlands of unique significance in ecology, botany, zoology, limnology or hydrology have been included in the list of wetlands of international importance, with a total area of about 100 million hectares.

The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, Especially as Waterfowl Habitat (the Convention on Wetlands) was established in 1971 and is one of the most influential multilateral environmental conventions in the world. As of April 2016, there are 169 States parties to the Convention. China acceded to the Convention on Wetlands in 1992.

The Standing Committee of the Convention on Wetlands decided in 1996 that starting from 1997, 2 February will be celebrated as World Wetlands Day every year, and various activities will be held on this day to promote the concept of scientific conservation and rational use of wetlands.

Themes for World Wetlands Day over the years:

1997: The value of wetlands and human use of wetlands.

1998: Water and Wetlands.

2000: Cherish our shared wetlands of international importance.

2001: Wetlands – a world waiting to be discovered.

2002: Wetlands: Water, Life and Culture.

2003: No wetlands, no water.

2004: From the mountains to the sea, wetlands are at our service 2005: Wetlands Cultural Diversity and Biodiversity.

2006: Wetlands and Poverty Alleviation.

2007: Wetlands and fisheries.

2008: Healthy Wetlands, Healthy People.