ENB Vol. 17 No. 26 - Tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands - Issue #1

The tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands opened on Tuesday, 28 October, at the Changwon Exhibition Convention Center in Changwon, Republic of Korea, and will continue until 4 November. The theme of the conference is: “Healthy Wetlands, Healthy People.” The meeting will consider more than 30 agenda items, including the Convention’s Strategic Plan 2009-2014 and its budget for the triennium 2009-2011, as well as reports and recommendations submitted by parties and by the Convention’s Standing Committee.
The meeting will also address issues relating to the Convention’s implementation, including: communication,
education, participation and awareness; future implementation of scientific and technical aspects of the Convention; partnerships and synergies with multilateral environmental agreements and other institutions; and principles for partnerships with the business sector. Regarding monitoring and assessment, agenda items include: a framework for data and information needs; a framework for detecting, reporting and responding to change
in wetland ecological character; and updated guidance on environmental impact assessments and strategic environmental assessments. The COP will also address the role of wetlands in sustainable development issues, such as human health and well being, climate change, biofuels,