It all started on February 2, 1971, in the city of Ramsar on the Caspian Sea coast of Iran. was created there Agreement wetlandsIt is a world-first intergovernmental agreement on the conservation and rational use of natural resources, with the aim of “contributing to the achievement of sustainable development worldwide”. Every February 2 to commemorate this success since 1997 World Wetlands Day.
This year, hundreds of actions have been called for across Spain next Friday in defense of these areas. vital for human survivalBecause they retain and store water essential for human consumption, production and wildlife maintenance.
Among the events planned for World Wetlands Day 2024, there are more than 100 events organized by SEO/BirdLife under the slogan ”.Water and wetlands in danger (after 70 years)‘ is educational, informative and instructive. The events, which will take place on February 2, 3 and 4, will be free for all spectators and will be designed to get to know wetlands and waterfowl. Eurasian bittern, ‘Bird of the Year 2024’.
SEO/BirdLife values The global conservation status of these habitats is designated as “poor” or “very poor” in 54% (40 wetlands) and only “good” in 12% (9 wetlands).. “Our Ramsar wetlands show global pressure rated ‘high’ or ‘very high’, affecting the extent and quality of habitat required by waterbird populations,” the NGO said.
seriously endangered birds
“22% of wintering and migrating waterbird populations pose significant conservation problems, Figures up to 63% in the case of breeding populations. Of the 104 species for which information about their conservation status is available, 29 are classified in some threat category; which means: Nearly 3 in 10 water-dependent bird species are seriously threatened“, highlights SEO/BirdLife.
HE Ramsar ConventionIt is a convention whose official name is ‘Convention on Wetlands of International Importance as Waterfowl Habitat’ and has been supported by more than 170 states, including Spain, since 1982. UNESCO is the depositary of the Convention and its secretariat is headquartered in France. Diaper (Switzerland).
Although initially its main aim was, as its name suggests, concerned with the conservation of wetland waterfowl, it now seeks recognition of their importance. Ecosystems are the foundation of global conservationsustainable use of biodiversity and the health of the planet.
Wetlands are one of the most productive environments on Earth and cradle of biodiversity and the water resources and primary productivity necessary for the survival of countless plant and animal species.
When a country joins the Ramsar Convention, it has an obligation to designate at least one wetland for inclusion on the ‘List of Wetlands of International Importance’. Currently, the list includes approximately 2,500 wetlands from every region of the world, for a total of 2,500 wetlands. 256 million hectares (this figure is constantly changing), which is equivalent to five times the area of Spain.
78 Spanish wetlands on the ‘Ramsar List’
How many Spanish wetlands are on the ‘Ramsar List’? Currently, it is 78th, according to the website of the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Issues (Miteco), the officially designated national administrative authority of the Convention.
Initially, Spain included two symbolic areas in the ‘List of Wetlands of International Importance’: to the equipment And Daimiel Tables. More were later added “as a fair representation of the richness of our moist heritage and its uniqueness on the world stage,” according to Miteco.
Procedure for inclusion of new wetlands in the ‘Ramsar List’, official proposal of the relevant autonomous community, made available to the public, technical analysis by the Wetlands Committee and review by the State Natural Heritage and Biodiversity Commission; Ultimately, the Council of Ministers will be the party that agrees to give permission to each new establishment. Once all these steps are completed, the Ramsar Secretariat moves on to effective inclusion in the ‘Ramsar List’.
The distribution of wetlands among autonomous communities is unequal. The country with the highest number is Andalusia: 25. The Valencian Community and Castilla-La Mancha follow with 7 each. There are some wetlands shared by several autonomous communities, and even one, Txingudi, includes land from France and Spain.
Criteria for entering the list
Between nine criteria used to identify wetlands of international importance. representative, rare or unique example of a natural or near-natural wetland type “located in the appropriate biogeographical region.”
“If it is welcomed, it will also be included in the ‘Ramsar List’.”vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered species or threatened ecological communities“. Another criterion: contain”Populations of plant and/or animal species that are important for maintaining biodiversity of a particular biogeographic region”.
On a regular basis Waterfowl population of 20,000 or more“or regularly ongoing”1% of individuals in a population of a species or subspecies of waterfowl“.
Regarding fishA wetland should be considered of international importance if it supports “a significant proportion of native fish subspecies, species or families, life cycle stages, species interactions and/or populations that represent the benefits and/or values of wetlands” and thus contribute to the world’s biodiversity .
Likewise, if “a important food source for fishOne spawning groundA. development and growth area and/or a migratory route on which fish stocks depend inside or outside the wetland”.
Finally, relative to other taxa, a wetland should be considered to be of international importance if it routinely supports “1% of individuals in the population of a wetland-dependent species or subspecies that is a non-avian animal species.”
‘Ramsar Wetlands in Spain: on alert’ report: https://seo.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/HUMEDALES-Ramsar-en-Espan%cc%83a_En-Alerta-2022.pdf
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