Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat Document type Multilateral Field of application Global Date Feb 2, 1971 Source IUCN (ID: TRE-000531) Title abbreviation Ramsar Title (French) Convention relative aux zones humides d'importance internationale particulièrement comme habitats des oiseaux d'eau Title (Spanish) Convención sobre las Humedales de Importancia Internacional especialmente como Hábitat de Aves Acuáticas Title (Other) Übereinkommen über Feuchtgebiete, insbesondere als Lebensraum für Wasser- und Wattvögel, von internationaler Bedeutung Place of adoption Ramsar Depository UNESCO UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Org. Language English, French, German, Russian Entry into force Dec 21, 1975 Subject Wild species & ecosystems, Land & soil Keyword Biodiversity Ecosystem preservation Birds Protection of habitats Wetlands Monitoring Management/conservation Migratory species Coastal zone management Protected area Land-use planning Geographical area Arctic Abstract Objectives: To stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands. Summary of provisions: The Convention covers 'wetlands', a term which is defined in article 1. Each Contracting Party agrees to designate at least one national wetland for inclusion in a List of Wetlands of International Importance (art.2.1), and to consider its international responsibility for the conservation, management, wise use of migratory stocks of wildfowl when modifying the content of the List (art.2.6). Contracting Parties undertake to establish nature reserves in order to conserve wetland resources and to increase waterfowl populations through management. Parties further agree to co-operate in the exchange of information as well as in the implementation of the Convention, especially in the case of wetland extending over the territories of more than one Contracting Party, and to train personnel competent in the fields of wetland management and research (art. 4 and 5). Institutional mechanism: A Conference of Parties is established (art.6). The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources is designated to perform the bureau duties under the Convention (art.8) Full text English French Website www.ramsar.org www.unesco.org Online course Introductory Course to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands Country/Territory/Participant See Expanded View Show Map Countries Entry into force Ratification * Simple signature Albania Feb 29, 1996 Oct 31, 1995 [2] - Algeria Mar 4, 1984 Nov 4, 1983 [2] - Andorra Nov 23, 2012 Jul 23, 2012 [1] Feb 23, 2012 Antigua and Barbuda Oct 2, 2005 Jun 2, 2005 [2] - Argentina Sep 4, 1992 May 4, 1992 [1] May 4, 1992 Armenia Nov 6, 1993 Jul 6, 1993 [2] - Australia Dec 21, 1975 May 8, 1974 [6] - Austria Apr 16, 1983 Dec 16, 1982 [2] - Azerbaijan Sep 21, 2001 May 21, 2001 [2] - Bahamas Jun 7, 1997 Feb 7, 1997 [2] - Bahrain Feb 27, 1998 Oct 27, 1997 [1] - Bangladesh Sep 21, 1992 May 21, 1992 [2] - Barbados Apr 12, 2006 Dec 12, 2005 [2] - Belarus Aug 25, 1991 Apr 25, 1991 [2] - Belgium Jul 4, 1986 Mar 4, 1986 [1] Mar 19, 1975 Belize Aug 22, 1998 Apr 22, 1998 [1] - Benin May 24, 2000 Jan 24, 2000 [2] - Bhutan Sep 7, 2012 May 7, 2012 [2] - Bolivia (Plurinational State of) Oct 27, 1990 Jun 27, 1990 [2] - Bosnia and Herzegovina Mar 1, 1992 Nov 1, 1991 [2] - Botswana Apr 9, 1997 Dec 9, 1996 [2] - Brazil Sep 24, 1993 May 24, 1993 [2] - Bulgaria Jan 24, 1976 Sep 24, 1975 [6] - Burkina Faso Oct 27, 1990 Jun 27, 1990 [2] - Burundi Oct 5, 2002 Jun 5, 2002 [1] - Cabo Verde Nov 18, 2005 Jul 18, 2005 [2] - Cambodia Oct 23, 1999 Jun 23, 1999 [2] - Cameroon Jul 20, 2006 Mar 20, 2006 [2] - Canada May 15, 1981 Jan 15, 1981 [2] - Central African Republic Apr 5, 2006 Dec 5, 2005 [2] - Chad Oct 13, 1990 Jun 13, 1990 [2] - Chile Nov 27, 1981 Jul 27, 1981 [2] - China Jul 31, 1992 Mar 31, 1992 [2] - Colombia Oct 18, 1998 Jun 18, 1998 [1] - Comoros Jun 9, 1995 Feb 9, 1995 [2] - Congo Oct 18, 1998 Jun 18, 1998 [1] - Congo, Dem. Rep. of May 18, 1996 Jan 18, 1996 [2] - Costa Rica Apr 27, 1992 Dec 27, 1991 [1] Sep 28, 1984 Croatia Jun 25, 1991 Nov 19, 1992 [4] - Cuba Aug 12, 2001 Apr 12, 2001 [2] - Cyprus Nov 11, 2001 Jul 11, 2001 [2] - Czech Republic Jan 1, 1993 Jul 1, 1992 [2] - Côte d'Ivoire Jun 27, 1996 Feb 27, 1996 [2] - Denmark Jan 2, 1978 Sep 2, 1977 [2] - Djibouti Mar 22, 2003 Nov 22, 2002 [2] - Dominican Republic Sep 15, 2002 May 15, 2002 [2] - Ecuador Jan 7, 1991 Sep 7, 1990 [2] - Egypt Jan 9, 1989 Sep 9, 1988 [1] - El Salvador May 22, 1999 Jan 22, 1999 [1] May 14, 1998 Equatorial Guinea Oct 2, 2003 Jun 2, 2003 [2] - Estonia Jul 29, 1994 Mar 29, 1994 [1] Mar 29, 1994 Eswatini, Kingdom of Jun 15, 2013 Feb 15, 2013 [2] - Fiji Aug 11, 2006 Apr 11, 2006 [2] - Finland Dec 21, 1975 May 28, 1974 [1] Apr 19, 1973 France Dec 1, 1986 Dec 1, 1986 [1] Dec 3, 1982 Gabon Apr 30, 1987 Dec 30, 1986 [6] - Gambia Jan 16, 1997 Sep 16, 1996 [2] - Georgia Jun 7, 1997 Feb 7, 1997 [2] - Germany Jun 26, 1976 Feb 26, 1976 [1] Nov 28, 1974 Ghana Jun 22, 1988 Feb 22, 1988 [2] - Greece Dec 21, 1975 Aug 21, 1975 [2] - Grenada Sep 22, 2012 May 22, 2012 [2] - Guatemala Oct 26, 1990 Jun 26, 1990 [2] - Guinea Mar 18, 1993 Nov 18, 1992 [2] - Guinea-Bissau May 14, 1990 May 14, 1990 [2] - Honduras Oct 23, 1993 Jun 23, 1993 [2] - Hungary Aug 11, 1979 Apr 11, 1979 [2] - Iceland Apr 2, 1978 Dec 2, 1977 [2] - India Feb 1, 1982 Oct 1, 1981 [2] - Indonesia Aug 8, 1992 Apr 8, 1992 [2] - Iran, Islamic Republic of Dec 21, 1975 Jun 23, 1975 [1] Aug 25, 1972 Iraq Feb 17, 2008 Oct 17, 2007 [2] - Ireland Mar 15, 1985 Nov 15, 1984 [1] Feb 14, 1975 Israel Mar 12, 1997 Nov 12, 1996 [2] Jun 14, 1993 Italy Apr 14, 1977 Dec 14, 1976 [1] Jan 10, 1975 Jamaica Feb 7, 1998 Oct 7, 1997 [1] - Japan Oct 17, 1980 Jun 17, 1980 [2] - Jordan May 10, 1977 Jan 10, 1977 [2] - Kazakhstan May 2, 2007 Jan 2, 2007 [2] - Kenya Oct 5, 1990 Jun 5, 1990 [2] - Kiribati Aug 3, 2013 Apr 3, 2013 [2] - Korea, Dem. People's Rep. May 16, 2018 Jan 16, 2018 [2] - Korea, Republic of Jul 28, 1997 Mar 28, 1997 [2] - Kuwait Sep 5, 2015 May 5, 2015 [2] - Kyrgyzstan Mar 12, 2003 Nov 12, 2002 [2] - Lao, People's Dem. Rep. Sep 28, 2010 May 28, 2010 [2] - Latvia Nov 25, 1995 Jul 25, 1995 [2] - Lebanon Aug 16, 1999 Apr 16, 1999 [2] - Lesotho Nov 1, 2004 Jul 1, 2004 [2] - Liberia Nov 2, 2003 Jul 2, 2003 [2] - Libya Aug 5, 2000 Apr 5, 2000 [2] - Liechtenstein Dec 6, 1991 Aug 6, 1991 [2] - Lithuania Dec 20, 1993 Aug 20, 1993 [2] - Luxembourg Aug 15, 1998 Apr 15, 1998 [1] Aug 31, 1989 Madagascar Jan 25, 1999 Sep 25, 1998 [1] - Malawi Mar 14, 1997 Nov 14, 1996 [2] - Malaysia Mar 10, 1995 Nov 10, 1994 [1] Sep 7, 1994 Mali Sep 25, 1987 May 25, 1987 [2] - Malta Jan 30, 1989 Sep 30, 1988 [2] - Marshall Islands Nov 13, 2004 Jul 13, 2004 [2] - Mauritania Feb 22, 1983 Oct 22, 1982 [2] - Mauritius Sep 30, 2001 May 30, 2001 [2] - Mexico Nov 4, 1986 Jul 4, 1986 [2] - Moldova, Republic of Oct 20, 2000 Jun 20, 2000 [2] - Monaco Dec 20, 1997 Aug 20, 1997 [2] - Mongolia Apr 8, 1998 Dec 8, 1998 [2] - Montenegro Jun 3, 2006 Feb 3, 2006 [2] - Morocco Oct 20, 1980 Jun 20, 1980 [6] - Mozambique Dec 3, 2004 Aug 3, 2004 [2] - Myanmar Mar 17, 2005 Nov 17, 2004 [2] - Namibia Dec 23, 1995 Aug 23, 1995 [2] - Nepal Apr 17, 1988 Dec 17, 1987 [2] - Netherlands Sep 23, 1980 May 23, 1980 [2] Jul 7, 1975 New Zealand Dec 13, 1976 Aug 13, 1976 [6] - Nicaragua Nov 30, 1997 Jul 30, 1997 [1] - Niger Aug 30, 1987 Apr 30, 1987 [6] - Nigeria Feb 2, 2001 Oct 2, 2000 [2] - North Macedonia Sep 8, 1991 May 8, 1991 [2] - Norway Dec 21, 1975 Jul 9, 1974 [6] - Oman Aug 19, 2013 Apr 19, 2013 [2] - Pakistan Nov 23, 1976 Jul 23, 1976 [1] Nov 17, 1975 Palau Feb 18, 2003 Oct 18, 2002 [2] - Panama Nov 26, 1990 Nov 26, 1990 [2] - Papua New Guinea Jul 16, 1993 Mar 16, 1993 [2] - Paraguay Oct 7, 1995 Jun 7, 1995 [1] Sep 15, 1992 Peru Mar 30, 1992 Mar 30, 1992 [1] Aug 28, 1986 Philippines Nov 8, 1994 Jul 8, 1994 [2] - Poland Mar 22, 1978 Nov 22, 1977 [2] - Portugal Mar 24, 1981 Nov 24, 1980 [1] Jul 15, 1976 Romania Sep 21, 1991 May 21, 1991 [2] - Russian Federation Feb 11, 1977 Oct 11, 1976 [1] Feb 13, 1974 Rwanda Apr 1, 2006 Dec 1, 2005 [2] - Saint Lucia Jun 19, 2002 Feb 19, 2002 [2] - Samoa Feb 6, 2005 Oct 6, 2004 [2] - Sao Tome and Principe Dec 21, 2006 Aug 21, 2006 [2] - Senegal Nov 11, 1977 Jul 11, 1977 [2] - Serbia Apr 27, 1992 Jul 3, 2001 [4] - Seychelles Mar 22, 2005 Nov 22, 2004 [2] - Sierra Leone Apr 13, 2000 Dec 13, 1999 [2] - Slovakia Jan 1, 1993 Mar 31, 1993 [4] - Slovenia Jun 25, 1991 Nov 5, 1992 [4] - South Africa Dec 21, 1975 Mar 12, 1975 [6] - South Sudan Oct 10, 2013 Jun 10, 2013 [2] - Spain Sep 4, 1982 May 4, 1982 [2] - Sri Lanka Oct 15, 1990 Jun 15, 1990 [2] - Sudan May 7, 2005 Jan 7, 2005 [2] - Suriname Nov 22, 1985 Jul 22, 1985 [2] - Sweden Dec 21, 1975 Dec 5, 1974 [6] - Switzerland May 16, 1976 Jan 16, 1976 [1] Feb 21, 1974 Syrian Arab Republic Jul 5, 1998 Mar 5, 1998 [1] - Tajikistan Nov 18, 2001 Jul 18, 2001 [2] - Tanzania, Un. Rep. of Aug 13, 2000 Apr 13, 2000 [2] - Thailand Sep 13, 1998 May 13, 1998 [6] - Togo Nov 4, 1995 Jul 4, 1995 [2] - Trinidad and Tobago Apr 21, 1993 Dec 21, 1992 [2] - Tunisia Mar 24, 1981 Nov 24, 1980 [2] - Turkey Nov 13, 1994 Jul 13, 1994 [2] - Turkmenistan Jul 3, 2009 Mar 3, 2009 [2] - Uganda Jul 4, 1988 Mar 4, 1988 [2] - Ukraine Dec 1, 1991 Aug 1, 1991 [2] - United Arab Emirates Dec 29, 2007 Aug 29, 2007 [2] - United Kingdom May 5, 1976 Jan 5, 1976 [1] Sep 6, 1973 United States of America Apr 18, 1987 Dec 18, 1986 [1] Sep 13, 1985 Uruguay Sep 22, 1984 May 22, 1984 [2] - Uzbekistan Feb 8, 2002 Oct 8, 2001 [2] - Vanuatu Nov 4, 2019 Jul 4, 2019 [2] - Venezuela, Boliv. Rep. of Nov 23, 1988 Nov 23, 1988 [2] - Viet Nam Jan 20, 1989 Sep 20, 1988 [2] - Yemen Feb 8, 2008 Oct 8, 2007 [2] - Zambia Dec 28, 1991 Aug 28, 1991 [2] - Zimbabwe May 3, 2013 Jan 3, 2013 [2] - * [1] Ratification [2] Accession/approbation [3] Acceptance/approval [4] Succession [5] Consent to be bound [6] Definite signature reset zoom out zoom in References - Treaties Amended by Amendments to Articles 6 and 7 of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat Treaty | Multilateral | Regina | May 28, 1987 Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-001099) Protocol to amend the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat Treaty | Multilateral | Paris | Dec 3, 1982 Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-000759) Cited by La Charte de l'Eau du Bassin du Niger Treaty | Multilateral | Niamey | Apr 30, 2008 Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-146761) Protocol on Sustainable Transport to the Framework Convention on the Protection and Sustainable Development of the Carpathians Treaty | Multilateral | Mikulov | Sep 26, 2014 Keyword: Air quality/air pollution, Ecosystem preservation, Emissions, Mountain area, Education, Aircraft noise, Vehicle noise, Public health, Air pollution (non-stationary sources), Transport/storage, Noise emission Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-160036) Treaty between the Government of the Republic of Moldova and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on Cooperation in the Field of Protection and Sustainable Development of the Dniester River Basin Treaty | Bilateral | Rome | Nov 29, 2012 Keyword: Transboundary effects, Alien species, Erosion, EIA, Public participation, Migratory species, Early warning system/emergency intervention system, Groundwater, Sustainable use, Waterworks, Public health, Polluter pays principle, Precautionary principle, Basin/catchment/watershed, Surface water, Ecosystem preservation, Aquatic animal products, Effluent waste water/discharge, Emissions Source: FAO, FAOLEX; IUCN (ID: TRE-160050) Other references Treaty decisions 376 decisions related to this treaty. View decisions Literature 192 records related to this treaty. View literature Jurisprudence 3 jurisprudence related to this treaty. View jurisprudence