Q . What Should Countries Do When They Join The Ramsar Convention?

A . When countries join the Ramsar Convention, they have to designate at least one wetland as a designated wetland under the Convention, and to do their best to conserve not only their designated wetlands but also other wetlands in their own countries. What the Ramsar Convention aims for in order to conserve wetlands is "living with wetlands". Because wetlands are essential for all life which lives there, we have to think how to use them so that all life including plants, animals, and human beings can equally keep receiving benefits from wetlands forever. This idea is called "Wise Use" in the Ramsar Convention. The countries joining the convention must make a report every three years. The report should be written about the present conditions of designated wetlands in their own countries and the activities for conservation of those wetlands. The countries joining the convention must do their best to conserve foreign wetlands in cooperation with other countries as well as their own wetlands. For example, there are many rivers flowing through many countries or wetlands extending across two countries in the world. All countries which are concerned with the wetlands must work together to conserve them. It is important that countries with sufficient knowledge or advanced technology for conservation of wetlands give their help voluntarily to other countries.

It is important to make an agreement, but it is more important to keep the agreement.