Proceedings of the Southern African Sub-regional Ramsar meeting

Proceedings of the Southern African Sub-regional Ramsar meeting, held at the Farm Inn, Pretoria, South Africa, 2-6 February 1998

MM van der Walt & GI Cowan (eds). 1998
Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. Pretoria
ISBN 0-621-28054-2
Recommendations adopted by the meeting

On the Convention's name
Recognizing the importance of wetlands in terms of the full range of ecological, hydrological and sociological values, especially to the southern African Sub-region; and
That the importance of wetlands as waterfowl habitat is relatively insignificant in comparison to these values in the Sub-region; and
Noting that the term "especially as Waterfowl Habitat" has caused confusion and delay in the recognition of the advantages of countries ratifying the convention; and
Emphasizing that all wetlands have a value and are therefore important:
THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN SUB-REGIONAL RAMSAR WORKSHOP
Recommends that the Bureau includes the following as an item on the agenda of both the Pan African Ramsar meeting and of COP7:

A process to amend the Convention be adopted at the next Conference of Parties, so as to formally drop the term "of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat" from the official name and henceforth be called "The Convention on Wetlands";

On participation in the STRP
Recognizing the pivotal role the STRP plays in the development of the convention; and
Concerned at the lack of participation of Contracting Parties in the STRP's activities;
THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN SUB-REGIONAL RAMSAR WORKSHOP
Recommends that the Bureau bring the following proposal Standing Committee to the consideration of:

Each Contracting Party nominate a scientific and technical contact person of recognized stature who will be responsible for coordinating contributions from national experts on the STRP programme;
The programme, and working documents of the STRP be circulated to these contact points timeously, requesting contributions, opinions or comments;
The contact points ensure that national contributions are forwarded to the STRP six weeks prior to its meetings so that these contributions can be worked into the meeting documents;
In order not to limit the costs involved, it is recommended that the working language of the STRP continues to be English

On the valuation of wetland systems
Recognizing the low profile that wetlands enjoy in both national and regional planning processes; and
That most of the major catchments in the Sub-region are shared systems;
THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN SUB-REGIONAL RAMSAR WORKSHOP
Recommends that the Bureau considers the development of the following proposal:

A project to establish the valuation of wetlands in the SADC be initiated; and
The results of this project be used to promote the wise use of wetlands in both national and regional planning in the Sub-region;
The Ramsar Bureau consider the possibility of providing seed funding for immediately starting the implementation of this proposal.

On wetland policies
Recognizing the importance of wetlands to the Sub-region;
Noting that there are no national wetland policies in place; and
That there are numerous other policy development processes taking place throughout the Sub-region;
THE SOUTBERN AFRICAN SUB-REGIONAL RAMSAR WORKSHOP
Recommends that:

All SADC countries develop wetland policies and strategies to implement such policies, in the most appropriate and effective manner; and
These wetland policies link directly with other important and relevant national policies such as those on the conservation and sustainable use of biological resources, water resources, forest resources, fisheries, etc.

On raising awareness
Recognizing that there is much valuable information material on wetlands from the Ramsar Bureau and a number of other international organizations; and
Noting that this material by its nature has to be very general;
THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN SUB-REGIONAL RAMSAR WORKSHOP
Recommends that:

The Ramsar Bureau, with assistance from the Contracting Parties in the Sub-region, develop and distribute an information package on wetlands, their conservation and wise use relevant to the Sub-region.
Funding be sought for this project.

On universal membership
Noting that only five of the 12 SADC countries are Contracting Parties to the Convention and that a sixth country has ratified the Convention; and
Recognizing the pivotal role that the Convention has in the conservation of biological diversity,and of water, and
Recognizing that there should be advantages to the Sub-region and to the Convention if more SADC countries joined the convention;
THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN SUB-REGIONAL RAMSAR WORKSHOP
Recommends that:

South Africa, as host to this meeting, writes to the non-contracting parties in the Community, encouraging them to consider ratifying the Convention as soon as possible.

On capacity building
Recognizing the need for capacity building at all levels in the Sub-region;
Noting the IUCN/SADC workshop on training need held in Harare in 1997;
THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN SUB-REGIONAL RAMSAR WORKSHOP
Recommends that:

The programme recommended by the Harare workshop be supported in full by SADC members;
Institutional capacity building be supported initially by holding national seminars presenting the results of the valuation of wetland systems and to discuss the establishment of institutional structures for the coordination of wetland conservation issues

On Listed sites
Recognizing the number of wetlands of international importance in the Sub-region which are not on the List of Wetlands of International Importance;
THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN SUB-REGIONAL RAMSAR WORKSHOP
Recommends that:

Contracting Parties in the Sub-region expedite the designation of further wetlands to the List of Wetlands of International Importance, with special emphasis being placed on crossborder sites and coastal sites.
Invite the Pan African Ramsar meeting to include in its agenda the analysis of the STRP proposals on the Ramsar criteria for identification of Wetlands of International Importance, with a view of making recommendations as appropriate on this matter

On wetland inventories
Noting the recommendations of the COP's regarding the need for wetland inventories; and
That Wetlands International is responsible for the African chapter of the Global Review of Wetland Resources on behalf of the Ramsar Convention; and
That a number of inventories in the Sub-region are in progress or preparation;
THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN SUB-REGIONAL RAMSAR WORKSHOP
Recommends that:

All wetland inventories in the Sub-region be tailored so that they can be converted to database format;
Any national classifications be used in concert with the Ramsar classification system so that international comparisons can be made;
The Ramsar Information Sheet (RIS) be used as the basic information needed in any such inventory;
Any expertise developed in inventory work be exchanged through the Sub-region;
The SADC survey be converted into a data-base and be further developed nationally;
Information and support be given to Wetlands International to ensure the information in the Sub-region in as comprehensive as possible

On management plans
Recognizing the need to revise the procedure for the development of management plans for wetlands:
THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN SUB-REGIONAL RAMSAR WORKSHOP
Recommends that the Bureau brings the following to the attention of the STRP and includes it as an item on the agenda of the Pan African Ramsar Meeting:

That the Ramsar management plan procedure be reviewed to incorporate a step-by-step process to effect the management of the whole system
That various tenure systems be considered
That the protocol for the definition of the desired state of riverine systems in South Africa be considered as a useful model

On a protocol regarding water and wetlands
Recognizing the importance water plays in the maintenance of wetlands ecosystems and their resources;
Acknowledging the ground breaking work in the South African water policy entrenching the environmental reserve
Noting the SADC has already determined a water protocol
TIHE SOUTHERN AFRICAN SUB-REGIONAL RAMSAR WORKSHOP
Recommends that:

The Ramsar Bureau with the assistance of the STRP and the support of the Standing Committee explore the development of a protocol which will ensure an environmental reserve to maintain wetlands throughout the globe.

On COP8
Recognizing Afiica has some 25% of all Contracting Parties, and
Is a region; and
Has yet to host a COP:
THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN SUB-REGIONAL RAMSAR WORKSHOP
Recommends that:

Contracting Parties in Africa consider offering to host COP8 which is to be held in 2002; and
Agreement on who best should host COP8 and support for such an offer be sought at the Pan African Ramsar meeting to be held in Uganda during July 1998

On thanks to the supporting agency and host
Recognizing the value of this Sub-regional meeting; and
Acknowledging the role of financial support in bringing the meeting about;
THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN SUB-REGIONAL RAMSAR WORKSHOP
Recommends that:

South Africa conveys the meeting's thanks to the US Fish and Wildlife Service which supplied the support; and
South Africa be thanked for hosting the meeting.

If you have any comments on this page, or need more information, please contact John Dini at nat_jd@ozone.pwv.gov.za.

This page is maintained by the South African Wetlands Conservation Programme and was last updated on 12 January 1999.

	If you have any comments on this page, or need more information, please contact John Dini at nat_jd@ozone.pwv.gov.za.
	This page is maintained by the South African Wetlands Conservation Programme and was last updated on 12 January 1999.