Latest news with #RamsarConvention
The Hindu
10 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Kerala HC directs State government and SWAK to constitute Ashtamudi Wetland Management Unit
The Kerala High Court has directed the State government and the State Wetland Authority Kerala (SWAK) to constitute an Ashtamudi Wetland Management Unit for the conservation of the wetland within two months of a notification being issued for this. In addition, an integrated management plan for the wetland must be finalised within six months. The direction by a Bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji came when the court considered a public interest litigation (PIL)recently against rampant waste dumping and encroachments in the Ashtamudi wetland, which in turn was causing water pollution and the destruction of mangrove forests. The second biggest wetland in Kerala, the Ashtamudi lake was designated a Ramsar site in 2002. The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands, considering their role in biodiversity, flood control, water purification, and livelihood support. In the PIL, Boris Paul, lawyer, and Kollam-based Help Foundation had sought a court directive to remove the encroachers and to form an independent monitoring committee to continuously monitor the lake's conservation measures. A sanitation survey done by the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) around the lake in 2020-2022 revealed serious health risks due to poor waste management. Open defecation around Ashtamudi was contributing to the spread of waterborne diseases, while 18% of households discharged toilet waste directly into the waterbody. Heavy pollution A report of the Committee on Environment of the Kerala Legislative Assembly submitted on 17, March, 2023 stated that the Ashtamudi wetland faced heavy pollution, encroachments, and siltation. Its area reduced from 61.40 sq. kms. to 34 sq. kms, while its depth reduced to less than half a metre in many areas. Mangroves and crucial fish-breeding grounds have almost disappeared and fishers dependent on this wetland were on the verge of losing their livelihoods. Human waste, chemicals and untreated hospital and commercial waste entered the wetland through the Kollam canal. Tourism-related waste and plastic accumulation in the Kollam and Neendakara backwaters, sand mining, unregulated housing and rampant pesticide use were too were issues. In 2023, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had imposed a penalty of ₹10 crore on the State government for its failure to protect the Ashtamudi lake and other wetlands. Since no concrete measures were taken, the petitioners filed the PIL. Two requirements The court said cited two requirements as essential for the conservation of the Ashtamudi wetland – a dedicated authority consisting of various stakeholders and experts and a site-specific, scientific, and comprehensive management plan. Both are not in place for the wetland so far. The Ramsar Convention emphasises the need to have a dedicated authority for each of the wetlands of international importance and a site-specific management plan for it. Disposing off the PIL, the court also directed that a standard operating procedure must be formulated by the Ashtamudi Wetland Management Unit to govern its functioning while specifying modalities like the venue, frequency of its meetings and the mechanism for co-ordination among stakeholders. In addition, the unit must have its own website or a dedicated web page hosted on the official website of SWAK with a feedback mechanism for the public. SWAK must develop a digital feedback mechanism (web/social media) for the general public to upload/share audio-visual materials.
Observer
3 days ago
- General
- Observer
Oman gains Ramsar accreditation for Al Wusta Wetlands Reserve
MUSCAT, JULY 27 In a new environmental achievement, the Sultanate of Oman has received official accreditation from the Ramsar Convention for the inclusion of the Wetland Reserve in Al Wusta Governorate on the list of Wetlands of International importance. This marks the third Omani site to be included in this prestigious list, following the Al Qurm Nature Reserve (2013) and Al Ansab Wetlands (2020). This achievement was announced on the sidelines of the 15th Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention (COP15), held under the theme 'Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future' in Zimbabwe, which continues until July 31. This official international recognition represents a culmination of Oman's efforts in biodiversity conservation and its commitment to implementing international environmental standards for protecting fragile ecosystems. It also highlights the reserve's status as one of the most important ecological sites at both regional and global levels. Ramsar Sites and the List of Wetlands of International Importance come under the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, 1971), where each contracting party undertakes to designate at least one wetland site for inclusion in the List of Wetlands of International Importance. There are over 2,000 'Ramsar Sites' on the territories of over 160 Contracting Parties across the world. The Ramsar describes this environmentally significant place: 'The site lies within Al Wusta Wetlands Reserve and covers about 80 per cent of the reserve's area. It features coastal waters with rare marine vegetation, alkaline lakes and marshes, coral and bivalve reefs, mangroves, and 'sabkha', which are intertidal flats with mineral deposits formed by seawater evaporation.' Located in the Wilayat of Mahout, the wetlands were declared a reserve by a Royal Decree in 2014. According to the report, the Barr Al Hikman peninsula occupies the largest area of the site and has a coastline of about 160 km. It consists of coastal and inland plains of salt, mud flats, and some saltwater lakes of unique natural and geological importance overlooking the west coast of Masirah Island.
Muscat Daily
3 days ago
- Muscat Daily
Al Wusta Wetlands Reserve gets Ramsar certification
Muscat – Environment Authority has announced an achievement in environmental conservation. Oman has obtained the official Ramsar Convention accreditation certificate listing Al Wusta Wetlands Reserve in Mahout as a Wetland of International Importance. Prior to this, Qurm Nature Reserve and Al Ansab Wetland were designated as Ramsar Sites in 2013 and 2020 respectively. The new listing came within the framework of activities of the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Ramsar Convention (COP15), currently being held in Zimbabwe till July 31, under the slogan 'Protecting Wetlands for Our Shared Future'. 'This international recognition crowns the efforts of the sultanate in preserving biodiversity and reflects its commitment to implementing international environmental standards to protect fragile ecosystems,' EA stated. The reserve is a vibrant mosaic of ecosystems, boasting rare biological diversity both regionally and globally. This makes it a unique site for biodiversity studies and sustainable wetland utilisation, especially in the intertidal zone. Spread over an area of about 214mn hectares, the reserve houses a plethora of ecosystems exhibiting high environmental sensitivity. From natural marine islands, bays, creeks and coastal dunes to expansive landfills, salt flats, gravel plains and wild grasses, the reserve is a repository of ecological riches. The marine life too is diverse, inclusive of rare entities like the Arabian Sea humpback whale, along with other whales and dolphins. Additionally, the area along the coast of Mahout Island in Ghubbat Hashish showcases the largest undisturbed concentration of mangrove trees in Oman, covering about 162 hectares. The reserve's natural allure has the potential to draw nature enthusiasts, bird watchers and wildlife admirers, which can directly boost eco-tourism – a conduit to bolster the national economy through environmentally sustainable projects and investment opportunities, abiding by local and international laws to ensure the preservation and efficient utilisation of natural resources.
Times of Oman
4 days ago
- Times of Oman
Oman gains Ramsar accreditation for Al Wusta Wetlands Reserve
Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman has received official accreditation from the Ramsar Convention for the inclusion of the Al Wusta Wetlands Reserve on the List of Wetlands of International Importance. This marks the third Omani site to be included in this prestigious list, following the Al Qurm Nature Reserve (2013) and Al Ansab Wetlands (2020). This achievement was announced on the sidelines of the 15th Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention (COP15), held under the theme "Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future" in Zimbabwe, which continues until 31 July. This official international recognition represents a culmination of Oman's efforts in biodiversity conservation and its commitment to implementing international environmental standards for protecting fragile ecosystems. It also highlights the reserve's status as one of the most important ecological sites at both regional and global levels. The Al Wusta Wetlands Reserve is distinguished by its rare ecosystems, including mangrove forests (Oman's largest pristine gathering, covering 162 hectares), salt flats, coral reefs, and seagrass beds. It also provides nesting habitats for endangered sea turtles such as the Olive Ridley and Green Turtle. The site accredited under the Ramsar Convention covers approximately 81% of the total area of the Al Wusta Wetlands Reserve, which spans 714,213 hectares, forming a unique ecosystem that combines sensitive natural habitats and rare species. The reserve is classified as the best site in the Middle East for hosting birds during winter, annually receiving over half a million waterbirds. This includes 23 species whose numbers exceed 1% of the total migratory birds between Asia and East Africa, such as flamingos, plovers, and gulls. The reserve also harbors rare and endangered marine species like the Arabian Humpback Whale and dolphins, and supports 80 species of global importance. The reserve has met all nine criteria of the Ramsar Convention. Prominently, it contains rare ecological systems (such as mudflats and salt pans), supports endangered species (like whales and turtles), and serves as a primary source for fish food and reproduction. The reserve is also an eco-tourism destination attracting birdwatching and wildlife enthusiasts, thereby promoting sustainable tourism. It further supports the national economy through environmentally friendly investment projects that adhere to international standards to ensure resource sustainability. The reserve began its role as a center for waterbird studies in the 1980s and was officially declared a Ramsar site by the Environment Agency in November 2023.
The Star
5 days ago
- General
- The Star
Interview: China leading in wetland preservation, says Wetlands International CEO
VICTORIA FALLS, Zimbabwe, July 25 (Xinhua) -- China is playing a leading role in the global wetland preservation agenda, Wetlands International Chief Executive Officer Coenraad Krijger said Friday. In an interview with Xinhua on the sidelines of the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (COP15) underway in the resort city of Victoria Falls in the Matabeleland North Province of Zimbabwe, Krijger acknowledged China's efforts in wetland preservation, following the accreditation of nine more Chinese cities as wetland cities at COP15 on Thursday. "Indeed, if you look across the world, China has taken a leadership position in doing the right thing for wetlands," he said. "The biggest number of wetland cities in the world is in China, and leading the COP, having these mangrove centers, and having strong policies already in place, and big restoration actions, so I think China is leading." China is home to a significant portion of the world's important wetlands, which highlights the importance of the country's efforts in investing in wetland preservation. "Through the trade relations that China has, and the investments that China has all over the world, (China) is also connected to (other) very important wetlands worldwide," Krijger said. COP15, which officially opened on Thursday, is running under the theme of "Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future," bringing together representatives of governments to strengthen international commitments for wetland conservation and to highlight the vital role of wetlands in sustaining ecological health, biodiversity, and climate resilience. Krijger said platforms such as the Ramsar Convention must continue to amplify the need to preserve wetlands and enhance mutual learning. The Ramsar Convention, named after the Iranian city of Ramsar where the convention was signed in 1971, is an intergovernmental agreement dedicated to the conservation and rational use of wetland ecosystems. Krijger said that Wetland International, a global not-for-profit organization dedicated to the conservation and restoration of wetlands, has worked with China in supporting wetland preservation efforts for many years. "It is really important that any country steps up and takes their wetlands seriously. Wetlands are easy targets for all kinds of developments, such as real estate and harbors. So strong legislation and strong policies are very much needed to counteract the attractiveness of wetlands," he said. "I think we can learn a lot from the Chinese efforts and bring that to the rest of the world. And also, we could perhaps be facilitating exchange and joint learning across our network," Krijger said. While development is welcome, he said, there is a need to maintain a balance between development and the health of wetlands. "This is a key challenge because, on the one hand, people want to live near or in wetlands because of the water and all the benefits it brings. At the same time, if the development is not done in the right way, that will diminish, at least in the long run, but sometimes even in the short run." Krijger said he is eager to visit Chinese wetland cities in the future to learn how they achieve urban development while reaping the benefits of preserving the wetlands.
