Ramsar Forum
The Ramsar Convention for wise use of wetlands
Australian Perspectives
A World Park Congress Parallel Event
8.45 am – 1 pm Wednesday 12 November 2014
Aquatic Centre, Olympic Boulevard, Sydney Olympic Park
Event Details
The purpose of this Forum is to:
• promote better understanding about implementation of the Ramsar Convention at global, national and regional levels
• understand key issues and conservation strategies to manage wetlands
• facilitate communication between stakeholders for the conservation and wise use of wetlands in Australia
The forum will feature presentations from scientists, government and non-government representatives. The outcomes of the Oceania Wetland Futures workshop will be presented, along with case-studies. There will be a moderated discussion regarding key issues facing wetlands in Australia.
Who should attend?
Wetland managers, scientists, community & non-government representatives, strategic planners and governance, field workers.
Key Note Speaker
Christopher Briggs
Secretary General, Ramsar Convention
Christopher Briggs was appointed Secretary General to the Ramsar Convention in April 2013. His involvement in wetlands began while he was working for county wildlife trusts in England, after completing his doctorate in Marine Biology and a BSc degree in Zoology.
Christopher has had a long career in sustainable development with a focus on water and land management, climate change, biosecurity, biodiversity and ecosystem services. He joined the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 1999 as Coordinator of the Eastern Europe and Central Asia environment team to manage projects in Biodiversity and International Waters. In 2001, he joined the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to help build capacity in developing countries on genetically modified organisms.
Program
8:45 Registration
9:00 Welcome and introduction Christine Prietto, Vice Chair, Ramsar Secretariat Scientific Technical Review panel
9:05 MC opening commentsLew Young, Senior Regional Advisor for Asia – Oceania, Ramsar Convention Secretariat
9:10 Global Implementation of the Ramsar Convention Christopher Briggs, Secretary General, Ramsar Convention Secretariat
9:45 National Implementation of the Ramsar Convention The Australian Government Department of Environment
10:05 Civil Society and NGO contributions and perspectives Louise Duff, Secretariat, Australian Wetland Network
10:20 Oceania Wetland Futures – strategic foresight for wetland conservation Society of Wetland Scientists
10:45 Morning Tea
11:15 Managing Ramsar Sites in New South Wales NSW Office of Environment and Heritage
11:30 A whole-of-catchment approach to managing Ramsar wetlandsCassie Price, WetlandCare Australia
11:45 Wetland Education and Training – best practice in action Swapan Paul, Sydney Olympic Park Authority
12:00 Open Discussion
12:45 Closing remarks – Christopher Briggs
13:00 Close
Free but registrations essential by Friday 7 November
T: Louise Duff, +61 2 49511425 E: louiseduff@wetlandcare.com.au
