World Wetlands Day - February the 2 nd 2004 “From the Mountains to the Sea” Wetlands at Work for Us Febr.2 nd 2004, Central European University Central.

World Wetlands Day - February the 2nd 2004

“From the Mountains to the Sea”Wetlands at Work for Us

Febr.2nd 2004, Central European University

Central European University

and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

have the honour to present

2

Organizing Committee

• Brandon Holland• Fiona Borthwick • Sattor Jabbor• Stanislava Boshnakova

• Oana Boingeanu

• Marina Olshanskaya

• Mojca Langerholc

Febr.2nd 2004, Central European University

• Svetoslav Apostolov• Iordan Hristov

3

Acknowledgements

• The Ramsar Convention Bureau

• The Student Activity Committee at CEU

• The Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy at CEU

• The Center for Academic Writing at CEU

Febr.2nd 2004, Central European University

4

What is it all about?

1. What is Ramsar Convention?2. What is World Wetlands Day?3. What is Wetland?4. Types of Wetlands.5. Functions and services of Wetlands.6. Threats to Wetlands.7. How to improve the status of the

Wetlands?

Febr.2nd 2004, Central European University

5

What is Ramsar Convention?

• Intergovernmental treaty (with 138 contracting parties)

• framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources;

• The main instrument through which the Convention works is the List of Wetlands of International Importance - Ramsar sites (recently there are 1328 sites with total area 1.11 mill. km2).

Febr.2nd 2004, Central European University

6

What is World Wetlands Day?

• The “birthday” of the Convention on Wetlands Conservation signed on the 2nd of February 1971;

• Aims to explain the importance of wetlands for the people;

• To clarify the multiple values and services that wetlands provide;

• Aims to promote the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands within the multinational community of CEU;

Febr.2nd 2004, Central European University

7

What is Wetland?

- static water body - like a lake, or fast flowing water -like a river;

- on the coast or inland;- in the mountains or in the plains;- natural or human made; - freshwater or marine;- 6% of the surface of the Earth

Febr.2nd 2004, Central European University

8

Types of Wetlands(according to the Convention on

Wetlands)

Inland Wetlands

Marine/Coastal Wetlands

Human-made wetlands

Febr.2nd 2004, Central European University

9

Inland Wetlands

- deltas; - rivers/streams/creeks;- freshwater lakes;- marshes;- pools;- peatlands;- freshwater springs; - geothermal wetlands.

Febr.2nd 2004, Central European University

10

Marine/Coastal Wetlands

- Permanent shallow marine waters; - Coral reefs; - Rocky marine shores;- Sand, shingle or pebble shores;- Estuarine waters;- Coastal saline and freshwater lagoons.

Febr.2nd 2004, Central European University

11

Human-made wetlands– Aquaculture ponds (e.g., fish/shrimp); – Irrigated land (rice fields);– Seasonally flooded agricultural land (pastures); – Salt exploitation sites;– Water storage areas; – Excavations (gravel/brick/ clay pits);– Canals and drainage channels;

– Wastewater treatment areas;

Febr.2nd 2004, Central European University

photographer: prof. Bellinger

12

Functions and Services of Wetlands

• Water storage and purification• Biodiversity protection • Sediment retention • Groundwater replenishment• Climate change mitigation• Recreation/tourism• Cultural value

Febr.2nd 2004, Central European University

Rice fields in India (source: Ramsar Convention ).

13

Threats to Wetlands

• building of dams • channelization of

riverbeds • overexploitation of

wetlands resources• introduction of invasive

species

Febr.2nd 2004, Central European University

Source: www.bspb.org

• drainage and filling

• water pollution

14

Ways to Improve the Wetlands Status

• public awareness campaigns

• policy measures

• field actions

• financial mechanisms

Febr.2nd 2004, Central European University

15

Main messages

Wetlands should be conserved because:

• they provide source of food;

• they are important reservoirs for water;

• they are natural waster water treatment facilities;

• they mitigate the climate change effects.

Febr.2nd 2004, Central European University

16

Who wants to ask a question?

Febr.2nd 2004, Central European University

For more information:http://www.personal.ceu.hu/students/03/nature_conservation

17

Febr.2nd 2004, Central European University

Thank you for your attention!