High level segment to be part of Wetlands Conference

Ramsar COP 11 closing plenary

13 July 2012, Bucharest, Romania - The 12^th Conference of the Parties to the Ramsar Conventions in Uruguay could have a high level segment.   ‘Draft Resolution One – Institutional hosting of the Ramsar Secretariat,” which was adopted during the final day of negotiations in Romania, will form a working group under the Standing Committee to look at ways to enhance the visibility of the Ramsar Convention.

This resolution notes the desire of some Parties to incorporate a high level political segment to improve the visibility of the Convention.  It also instructs the working group to explore the -

“Elevation of Ramsar visibility and stature, including inter alia enhancing high level political engagement in the work on the convention at national, regional and global level. The working group will among other possibilities look into a ministerial segment at the COP including topics to be addressed at this level.”

Fiji was one of the Contracting Parties at the Ramsar COP11 that had a cabinet minister as their Head of Delegation, Honourable Col. Timoci Natuva, the Acting Minister of Local Government, Urban Development, Housing and Environment of Fiji.

As the incoming representative to the Standing Committee of the Ramsar Convention on behalf of the Oceania region, Fiji will strive to help raise the visibility of wetlands conservation and wise use at the high level.

Fiji delegation at COP11

“We thought we could arrange a regular meeting in the next three years to brief our leaders, with the plan that this raised awareness would bring more commitment to the Ramsar initiative – a regional type of approach which may help widen our group,” said Ms Taina Tagicakabau, the Permanent Secretary  of  the Fiji Ministry of Local Government, Urban Development, Housing and Environment.

Multi-lateral environment agreements such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Framework to the Convention on Climate Change often hold a high level segment to their Conferences of the Parties.  The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) holds a high level segment to their annual meetings every two years.

“I think that building high level support for the work of the Convention is a way of increasing its visibility and profile at the national level and at the global level, amongst the other major Multi-lateral Environment Agreements.   A ministerial segment at the next COP may reap benefits for the Convention in the long term,” said Vainuupo Jungblut, Ramsar Officer Oceania.

Fiji has now taken the reigns from the Marshall Islands as the country to represent the Oceania group for the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.  Selection of representing countries from the region is on a rotational basis, among other things, the role of the representing country on the Ramsar Standing Committee is to voice concerns from the Oceania region. 

Mr Vainuupo Jungblut, SPREP

“I look forward to working with Fiji as the incoming regional representative for Oceania for the next three years on the Ramsar Standing Committee and also commend the Marshall Islands for their hard work and service over the last triennium,” said Jungblut.   

The Oceania Contracting Parties consist of Australia, Fiji, Marshall Islands, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea and Samoa.

“I think it’s a really positive grouping and I think that we are getting, the region is getting more and more of a profile at this Conference, but in particular, the Pacific Island countries are working together more and more effectively and having more of a profile at the meeting itself, so it’s all positive,” said Nicola Scott, New Zealand’s Head of Delegation.

The 11^th Conference of the Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in Romania was held from 6 – 13 July.

Uruguay, home of Ramsar COP12

13 July 2012, Bucharest, Romania - Uruguay will be hosting the next Conference of the Parties to the Ramsar Convention on wetlands in 2015.  Announced at the closing ceremony of Ramsar COP11 in Romania, the event will be held at the Conrad Resort and Casino in Punta del Este.

“It will be a major challenge for Uruguay and thus we call upon the parties to work with us during the organization and actual holding of the COP to ensure success,” presented the delegate from Uruguay at the Closing.

“I would like to join with those who have expressed their congratulations to Romania, out host country and thank them for the excellent organization and efforts taken during COP 11.  We express gratitude to the people and government of Romania.”

“See you in Uruguay in 2015.”

Uruguay is located between Brazil and Argentina, and became the thirty-fifth Ramsar Contracting Party in 1984.  

There are three proposed Wetlands of International Importance for Uruguay – Humedales de Stana Lucia, Laguna de Rocha and Islas del Rio Negro y Humedales de Villa Soriano.  


Uruguay has two and their Wetlands of International Importance Banados del Este y Franja Costera and Eseros de Farrapos e islas del Rio Uruguay.  Both sites have a combined total surface area of  424,904 hectares.

The date for the 12^th Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention is yet to be confirmed.

"Wetlands: home and destination"

5 July 2012, Bucharest, Romania - That’s the theme of the 11th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Wetlands hosted by Romania from 6 – 13 July.
Four Pacific islands are attending the global conference on Wetlands to raise local issues to strengthen the conservation of our regions wetlands.
Fiji, Marshall Islands, Palau and Samoa are at the 11th Conference of the Parties to the Ramsar Convention, they join Australia and New Zealand to make up the Oceania group at this event.
These, along with Papua New Guinea, are Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention, named after the small town in Iran where the Convention was signed in 1971.

Vainuupo Jungblut, SPREP (middle)

“Our key issues are those such as the impacts of climate change on wetlands, the recognition of wetlands and their role in mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change, along with the role of promoting sustainable tourism in wetland areas,” said Vainuupo Jungblut the Oceania Ramsar Officer based at the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is one international environment agreement of many that Pacific Island countries are party to.  

For each Convention there are different reporting requirements and conditions to be implemented as part of protecting and conserving our environment at the global level.  

The capacity, resources and time required to fulfill each of the different Conventions can pose a challenge and it’s at the Ramsar COP11 that the Pacific region hopes this issue can be addressed.
“We’re also looking at strengthening synergies between the multilateral environment agreements (MEA)  at the global level which is also important at the national level as there is a lot of administrative work to meet MEA requirements and obligations, and this usually stretches environmental services in-country who typically have one or two people dedicated to such issues .”

Registration of conference participants at Ramsar COP11

The Ramsar COP11 will bring together over thousands of delegates, ranging from country representatives to international partners to donor agencies, to discuss issues relating to strengthening wetlands conservation and wise use in each of the six Ramsar regions.  This fora provides a timely opportunity for Pacific delegates to form and strengthen relations with potential partners and donors.

Read more information on the agenda and discussions at the 11th Conference ofthe Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

The Ramsar COP 11 is held at the Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest, Romania.