Outcomes from the Ramsar Forum on the Wise Use of Wetlands in Australia
The forum was held on Wednesday 12 November 2014 as a Parallel Event to the World Parks Congress, Sydney - November 12-19 2014
#ramsarforumsydney
On November 12 2014 Australia welcomed heads of state, ministers, heads of International Organizations alongside social entrepreneurs, businesses executives, indigenous leaders, park rangers and renowned conservationists at the IUCN World Parks Congress. The Ramsar Convention took this opportunity to engage with the world’s environmental leaders to work towards its overall mission to reverse the loss of wetlands.
On 12 November, alongside the Congress, the Forum on the Wise Use of Wetlands in Australia featured presentations from scientists, policy-makers and practitioners on key issues and conservation strategies to manage wetlands.
You can download these presentations through the links below
Ramsar’s Secretary General Dr Christopher Briggs underlined the essential role of wetlands and the importance of their wise use. “I see this Forum as a platform to explore new approaches to sustainable use of wetlands and wetland management, as well as try to find a way to address gaps in the international conservation and sustainable development agenda” he said.
Hosted by WetlandCare Australia in their capacity as Secretariat of the Australian Wetland Network, and the Sydney Olympic Park Authority, the Forum facilitated exchanges between stakeholders for the conservation and wise use of wetlands in Australia. Participants discussed the outcomes of the Oceania Wetland Futures workshop, along with case studies that focussed the debate on priorities for knowledge capture and wise use.
The Forum brought together scientists, land managers, community conservation campaigners, government decision makers and the Ramsar Secretary-General for an open dialogue seeking a way forward to protect Australian wetlands under threat. There was a case studies on best practise management, and reviews of Ramsar implementation by the Convention Secretariat and the Australian Government.
Louise Duff, Secretary of the Australian Wetland Network, said “the Forum brought together government and non-government representatives, scientists and land managers to discuss wetland management at international, national and regional scales. It was a great opportunity to share success stories and concerns about wetland conservation."
Australia currently has 65 Ramsar Sites across the continent, with an area of 8.3 million hectares, covering coral reefs, coastal lagoons, mangroves, inland rivers, mountain peat bogs and underground caves. The Ramsar “wise use concept” applies to all wetlands and water resources in a Contracting Party’s territory - not only to Ramsar Sites. Wise use, or sustainable use, is crucial to ensuring that wetlands can continue to fully deliver their vital role in supporting biological diversity and human well-being.
Download the Forum presentations below - they are identified by their presenter's name:
Cassie Price, Regional Manager WetlandCare Australia
Dr Christopher Briggs, Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention
David Papps, Head of Australia's Administrative Authority, Department of Environment
Max Finlayson, Ramsar Chair for the Wise Use of Wetlands
Louise Duff, Regional Manager WetlandCare Australia
Professor Jenny Davis, Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra
Swapan Paul and Mike Bartlett, Sydney Olympic Park Authority
For more information on the IUCN World Park Congress, visit http://worldparkscongress.org/
For more details on the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, contact:
Camilla Chalmers, Head of Communications, E: chalmers@ramsar.org
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (www.ramsar.org)