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Ramsar COP9 9th Conference of the Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
Kampala, Uganda | 8-15 November 2005
Ramsar Convention
 
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Ramsar COP-9 Completes Negotiations in Kampala

On Tuesday, the 9th Conference of Parties to the Convention on Wetlands resolved numerous Draft Resolutions and other matters, concluding at 7:20 PM at the Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala, Uganda. Above: Secretary-General Peter Bridgewater and Deputy Secretary-General Nick Davidson of the Ramsar Convention, and Minister of State Jeje Odongo of Uganda.


Tuesday, 15 November
Plenary

On Draft Revolution 3 Rev.1 on engagement in ongoing multilateral processes, Wetlands International proposed to add a reference to "an ecosystem approach" in integrated water resources management.

Nick Davidson, Deputy Secretary General, provided an overview of changes in Draft Resolution 4 Rev.1 on conservation, production and sustainable use of fisheries resources.

Paula Warren, New Zealand, suggested replacing a paragraph referencing "areas" with revised language from the Annex referencing "marine wetlands."

On Draft Resolution 8 Rev.2, regional initiatives, Maria Rivera, Colombia, said the America regional group prepared a budget for the regional initiative on High Andean Wetlands for the COP's consideration.

India welcomed greater regional initiatives, but stressed that any type regional infinitive should include all countries concerned in the region and subject to their acceptance.

On Draft Resolution 10 Rev.1, natural disaster prevention, mitigation and adaptation, Karen Jenderedjian, Armenia, proposed a clause specifying the human activity of drainage as exacerbating natural phenomena.

David Stroud, United Kingdom, reported on the outcomes of the contact group on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).

Robert Hepworth, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Migratory Species, praised the work done at this COP on avian flu.

Lillian Carillo, Peru, suggested a new title for the avian flu resolution, "HPAI and its consequences on wetlands and waterbirds and management and conservation of them for the benefit of human wellbeing."

On Draft Resolution 22, Rev.2, Gunn Mari Paulsen, Norway, reported on the outcomes of the contact group on cultural values of wetlands, which she co-chaired.

Claudine Sakimin, Suriname, noted that it has two tribal groups, one indigenous and the other not, and asked that references to "indigenous people" in resolutions on cultural values be modified to refer to both groups.

Fiji, on behalf of Samoa, thanked the plenary for agreeing to the resolution on cultural values, noting that it originated from the small island developing states.

Environment Minister Lee Jaeyong, Korea, extended its invitation to host Ramsar COP10 in the city of Changwon, Gyeongnam Province, in 2008.

Tae Ho Kim, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, Korea, gave a presentation on its plans for hosting Ramsar COP10.

Noriko Moriwake, Japan, welcomed the Republic of Korea's bid to host Ramsar COP10, noting that this would help raise awareness among the 17 Asian countries are not yet signatories to the Convention.

Romania expressed its intention to be the host country of Ramsar COP11, to be held in 2011.

Hassan Janabi, Iraq, expressed its happiness at being able to attend Ramsar COP9 on an observer basis, and stated that as part of reintegrating into the international community, it would ratify the Convention prior to COP10.

Bernard Yaw Ofori-Frimpong, Ghana, urged African nations to follow Uganda's example in conservation of wetlands, and looked forward to the day when Africa would once again host a Ramsar COP.

An NGO representative urged Parties to engage NGOs at the national level in order to achieve the shared objective of ensuring the conservation and wise use of wetlands.

A representative for indigenous people expressed concern about low participation level by indigenous people at this COP, highlighting indigenous peoples' important role in conserving wetlands.

Birdlife International, on behalf of the Convention's International Organization Partners, commended attention given to tackling poverty, Convention governance, and rapid responses to avian flu and natural phenomena, but lamented lack of political impact and called for raising awareness about the Convention.

Kahinda Otafiire, Minister of Lands, Water and Environment, Uganda; Peter Bridgewater, Secretary-General, Ramsar Convention; and Jeje Odongo, Minister of State for Environment, Uganda, at the close of the session.
Standing Committee

During the lunch recess, outgoing Standing Committee Chair Gordana Beltram (Slovenia) and Deputy Secretary General Nick Davidson met informally with new members of the Standing Committee, to plan their first meeting, which was held in the evening after the close of the COP.
COP10 MOU Signing Ceremony

As the closing session of COP9 drew to an end, Environment Minister Lee Jaeyong, Korea, and Tae Ho Kim, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, Korea, signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the city of Changwon to host COP10.



Around COP9

Korean environmentalists welcomed Ramsar COP10 to their country, and at the same time called for improved care and management of its wetlands.

Prof. Eckhart Kuijken, Belgium, was at Ramsar, Iran in 1971, and is still working in the field!

Ramsar Convention Secretary-General Peter Bridgewater models the official COP9 baseball cap.

Mayumi Suzuki, Japan, and Hassan Janabi, Iraq.

Jeje Odongo, Minister of State for Environment, Uganda (right), shares a smile with the Honorable Ruth Kavuma, Member of the Ugandan Parliament and its Natural Resources Committee, and her assistant Vivien Kobusingye (left).

Your Earth Negotiations Bulletin team at Ramsar COP9: Xenya Cherny, Dan Birchall, Robynne Boyd, Francis Ndolo, Leila Mead, Changbo Bai and Leonie Gordon.

Related Links

Ramsar Convention
Convention on Biological Diversity
Convention to Combat Desertification
Convention on Migratory Species
IUCN - The World Conservation Union
Wetlands International
WWF International
BirdLife International

Related ENB/Sustainable Developments Coverage

Linkages Water, Wetlands, Oceans and Coasts page
ENB Coverage of Ramsar COP-8
ENB Coverage of Ramsar COP-7
Sustainable Developments coverage of the 3rd World Water Forum
Sustainable Developments coverage of the Stakeholder Dialogue on Sustainable Water Management Sustainable Developments coverage of the International Conference on Freshwater

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