Ramsar list

At the time of joining the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention), each contracting party undertakes to designate at least one site for inclusion in the list of wetlands of international importance (the 'Ramsar list'). The inclusion of a site in the Ramsar list confers upon it the prestige of international recognition and obliges the government to take all steps necessary to ensure the maintenance of the ecological character of the site. At any time, contracting parties may designate additional wetlands for the list or extend the boundaries of those already included. They select wetlands within their territories on the basis of their international significance in terms of ecology, botany, zoology, limnology or hydrology, as measured by reference to the convention's criteria for identifying wetlands of international importance.