Maria
del Carmen Martorell Pallás, Ramsar COP8 President |
Delmar
Blasco, Ramsar Secretary General |
Franck
Riboud, Danone Group President |
Philippe
Roch, Swiss Secretary of State, Agency for Environment,
Forests and Landscape |
Rita
Barberá, Mayor of Valencia |
José
Luis Olivas Martínez, President of the Region
of Valencia |
Peter
Bridgewater, Global Biodiversity Forum |
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MONDAY, 18 NOVEMBER 2002
The Eighth Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties
(COP8) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands began on Monday morning,
18 November, in Valencia, Spain. Following the opening ceremony
and addresses, delegates considered the appointment of committees
and contact groups, and the admission of observers. Parties were
then briefed on the work of the Ramsar Standing Committee and
the Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP).
OPENING PLENARY
Ramsar Standing Committee Chair Stephen Hunter
opened COP8, inviting delegates to consider the provisional agenda
(COP8 DOC.1, Rev.3) and rules of procedure (COP8 DOC.2). These
were adopted without amendment. Parties then elected Maria
del Carmen Martorell Pallás, Secretary General
of Spain's Environment Ministry, as COP8 President. Hector Condé
(Cuba) and Javad Amin Mansour (Iran) were appointed Vice-Presidents.
COP8 President Martorell said she would make every effort to be
available to hear all delegates' views and concerns and pay close
attention to comments and interventions from observers, particularly
NGOs.
AWARD CEREMONY:
Ramsar Secretary General Delmar Blasco presented
three Ramsar Wetland Conservation Awards, in recognition of the
work of those who have made a significant contribution to wetlands
conservation and sustainable use. These awards are presented every
three years, and are complemented by the Evian Special Prize,
a cash award of US$10,000 donated by the Danone Group. The awards
for 2002 were presented to the Chilika Development Authority of
India, the NGO Trinational Initiative for the Morava-Dyje Floodplains
operating in Austria, the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic,
and . In addition, Monique Coulet of France and Max Finlayson
of Australia were honored for their efforts on wetland conservation
and wise use in a "Recognition of Excellence" ceremony.
Delegates then witnessed the signing of the "Danone-Evian
Fund for Water, in Support of the Ramsar Convention Programme
2003-2006," an agreement between the Ramsar Convention and
the Danone Group Corporation. Danone Group President Franck
Riboud highlighted the arrangement as an excellent example
of public-private sector partnerships. He outlined his company's
support for water management and conservation initiatives, inviting
participants to present their ideas for projects that might be
funded or supported by his company.
Hear about:
- The
Chilika Development Authority of India
- Morava-Dyje
Floodplains in Austria
- Banrock
Station Wines in Australia
Listen to Franck Riboud
OPENING ADDRESSES:
Philippe Roch, Swiss Secretary of State, Agency
for Environment, Forests and Landscape, spoke on "Sustainable
Management of Water: the Need for a Holistic Ecosystem Approach."
He stated that the relationship between poverty, development and
environmental protection, underscored at WSSD, had been recognized
earlier by the Ramsar Convention's wise use concept. He highlighted
Ramsar's visionary aspect, indicating its conceptual and practical
role in promoting an ecosystem approach to providing a sustainable
supply of water. He called for strengthening cooperation between
Ramsar and other institutions, including UNEP and GEF. He also
supported a multidisciplinary approach to wetlands management
at all levels, involving all stakeholders.
Listen
to Philippe Roch
COP8 President Martorell transmitted the address of Prince
Felipe of Spain, who was unable to attend the conference.
The statement highlighted the importance of the COP in formulating
a strategic plan for Ramsar and for its technical sessions, particularly
those on sustainable use and management of wetlands and cultural
linkages. He called for a new viewpoint on cultural democratization,
describing culture as a shared civic responsibility among human
communities and between the human community and the environment.
Rita Barberá, Mayor of Valencia, underscored
Valencia's commitment to preservation, conservation and public
awareness. She expressed hope that UNESCO would soon declare the
city's Albufera area a world heritage site.
- Listen
to President Martorell present Prince Felipe's speech
- Listen
to Rita Barberá
Ramsar Secretary General Delmar Blasco stated
that, with 1200 registered participants, COP8 is the largest Ramsar
COP to date, and expressed a desire to involve in the discussions
all present and future Parties, other international multilateral
environmental organizations, and governmental and non-governmental
institutions, including community-based organizations, indigenous
peoples, scientists, and the private sector.
Listen
to Delmar Blasco
José Luis Olivas Martínez, President
of the Region of Valencia, noted the importance of traditional
and sustainable use for preserving wetlands for future generations.
He stressed the need for citizens' and scientists' involvement
in the definition and implementation of wise use and sustainable
projects, and highlighted the establishment of a wetlands catalogue
covering 45,000 hectares in the Valencia Region and the creation
of a National Wetlands Centre. He commended the Convention as
a dynamic tool for integrated water and watershed management,
environmental impact assessment, and the involvement of local
communities.
Listen
to José Luis Olivas Martínez
Claude Martin, WWF, outlined the Convention's
key challenges, including: implementing commitments; increasing
the Convention's voice in international conservation fora; and
influencing national and international policy and legislation,
including in the areas of water and agriculture. He commended
the implementation efforts of Algeria, Bolivia and the UK; expressed
concern at the absence of a strategic approach to the wise use
of wetlands and about the Spanish National Hydrological Plan;
and urged financial support for the Convention. Noting lack of
reference to the Convention in the freshwater section of the WSSD
Plan of Implementation, he recommended that COP8 ensure the Convention's
meaningful role in poverty eradication and water management, and
proactively plan the next triennium.
Listen
to Claude Martin
Peter Bridgewater, Global Biodiversity Forum
(GBF), reported on the Forum's 17th Session, held from 15-17 November
2002 in Valencia. He highlighted the GBF's call for bridging the
gap between global policy and practice and its recommendations
for enhancing the Convention's role in sustainable development,
including: increasing resources and capacity for effective and
transparent implementation adapted to the local context; improving
efficiency evaluation mechanisms; promoting a paradigm shift in
communication, education and public awareness; addressing emerging
issues (agriculture, wetlands restoration, climate change and
sound environmental governance); engaging with underrepresented
sectors; and securing the financial means to facilitate involvement
of indigenous peoples and local communities. The GBF also proposed
specific amendments to the relevant draft resolutions and recommended
considering the guidelines for mitigation and the ecosystem approach.
Listen
to Peter Bridgewater
Reporting on results of the World Congress of NGOs and Local Communities
on Wetlands held in Valencia from 15-16 November, Theo Oberhuber,
Ecologistas en Accion, lamented the failure of Parties to abide
by provisions and resolutions adopted. She said the Congress supported,
inter alia: the development of mechanisms to ensure compliance
with provisions of the Convention and imposition of sanctions
on countries that fail to meet obligations under the Convention;
awareness raising programmes focusing on wise use; greater grassroots
involvement of indigenous peoples in managing and monitoring their
natural environment; respect for indigenous rights; a moratorium
on building large dams; environmental impact assessments of projects
that might affect wetlands; public sector programmes to provide
safe drinking water for all; and a cessation of public sector
support for intensive aquaculture programmes and use of wetlands
as waste dump sites.
Reporting on outcomes of the Latin American Seminar for International
Cooperation for Wetlands, held from 13-14 November in Toledo,
Spain, Seminar Spokesperson Maite Martin Crespo called for strengthening
funding mechanisms, rapprochement with the private sector, and
enhancing effectiveness of donors and recipients. She recommended
that COP8 address several priority issues, including regional
processes for wetland management, training, planning, environmental
management and updating national inventories.
APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES AND CONTACT GROUPS
During the afternoon Plenary, the COP established a Credentials
Committee comprised of delegates from The Gambia, Nepal, Latvia,
Colombia, Mexico and Papua New Guinea. It also established a Committee
on Strategic Plan and Work Plan. The Standing Committee's subgroup
and delegates from Benin, Zambia, China, Lebanon, the Netherlands,
Czech Republic, Switzerland, Costa Rica and Venezuela were designated
members to ensure representation of all six regions, although
the Committee is open to all Parties and observers. Secretary
General Blasco introduced the revised draft Strategic Plan 2003-2008
(COP8 DR 25 rev.1), highlighting that it incorporated input from
Governments and observers, as well as implications of the WSSD
Plan of Implementation.
The COP established a Finance Committee to address the new budget
and draft resolutions that have financial impacts and designated
as members the Standing Committee's subgroup on Finance and also
Kenya, Nigeria, India, Malaysia, Austria, Spain, Switzerland,
Chile, Jamaica and Australia. This Committee is also open to all
delegations and observers. Parties also agreed to set up a Committee
chaired by the US to consider the content and duration of future
COPs.
The COP then established a number of contact groups to consider
draft resolutions (DRs) expected to require substantial deliberations.
Contact groups were established with lead Parties as follows:
DRs 1 and 2 (water allocation, World Dams Commission) - South
Africa and Indonesia; DR 18 (invasive species) - Senegal; DR 3
(climate change) - Norway and China; DRs 14 and 15 (Management
Planning and San José Record) - France and Morocco; DR
28 and 28bis (STRP modus operandi) - Canada and Austria; DR 10
(strategic framework for Ramsar list) - Guatemala; DR 19 (culture
and wetlands) - Spain and Suriname; DR 32 (mangroves) -Colombia,
Ecuador and Pakistan; DR 34 (agriculture and wetlands) - Slovenia
and India; and DR 39 (high-Andian wetlands) - Ecuador and Chile.
Secretary General Blasco emphasized that in determining the schedule
for committee and contact group meetings, every effort had been
made to avoid simultaneous meetings of any Committee and Contact
Group, and to have no more than two concurrent contact groups
meetings. However, only the Strategic Plan Committee will have
simultaneous interpretation.
ADMISSION OF OBSERVERS
President Martorell presented the list of registered
observers (COP8 Doc.36). ARGENTINA expressed its reservation over
registering the "UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum"
as UK-based, as this NGO relates to the South Georgia and Falklands/
Malvinas Islands. The UK reiterated its position on the sovereignty
of the islands. SAMOA announced that it had approved the instrument
of accession to Ramsar on 12 November. The list of observers was
approved by the COP.
REPORT OF THE CHAIR OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE
Standing Committee Chair Stephen Hunter introduced
his report (COP8 DOC.3) on the work of the Committee during the
1999-2002 triennium, highlighted key activities and trends in
the Committee's work, including: the spirit of cooperation; increasing
cooperation with other MEAs; the effectiveness of the Strategic
Plan as guidance for actions; and enlargement of the wetlands
policy context.
Listen
to Stephen Hunter
Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP) Chair Jorge
Jiménez Ramón presented his report (COP8
DOC.4) and underscored factors limiting the STRP capabilities,
including: the large number of tasks on its agenda; membership
turnover; and insufficient expertise. He urged COP8 to establish
priorities for the STRP's work and address the need to: review
STRP's modus operandi; increase its resources and expertise; and
ensure access to global experts and set out a global expert network.
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