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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
 
Earth Negotiations Bulletin - ENB
Daily Web
Coverage
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Curtain
Raiser
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15 Nov &
Summary
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Ramsar COP9 Delegates Discuss the Future

Delegates met in a morning Plenary session to consider administration and implementation matters, including the Convention's Strategic Plan 2003-2008 and its Work Plan 2006-2008, finance and budget issues as well as draft resolutions and recommendations. In the afternoon, Parties convened in regional meetings to prepare and caucus views for the upcoming sessions on administration, implementation and technical issues. The Finance Committee also met to address budget issues. Above: Delegates confer before the morning session.


Thursday, 10 November
Plenary


Commenting on the Strategic Plan, Egypt called for a clearer indication of the Convention's direction.

Andrea Repetti, Argentina, questioned the need to include defense and the military in priorities for action in implementing scientific and technical aspects of the Convention.

Mayumi Suzuki, Japan, requested a zero increase in the budget, but said it would be flexible if this went against consensus.

Subgroup on Finance of the Standing Committee Chair Trevor Swerdfager, Canada, introduced the Convention's financial report and proposed budget for the 2006-2008 triennium.

El Salvador noted that costs associated with COP10 are not reflected in the budget.

Austria emphasized the need for two-way communications between the STRP and its focal points.
Regional Groups

Asia Regional Group

Americas Regional Group

Europe Regional Group

Oceania Regional Group
Regional groups discussed topics from Draft Resolutions including water rights, designation and management of transboundary/transnational Ramsar sites, coordination between guidelines and national laws, the Convention's role in natural disaster prevention, and management of wetlands and waterbirds in response to avian flu.
Africa Regional Group
Side Event

A lunchtime side event, hosted by the Ramsar Convention's four International Organization Partners: BirdLife International, Wetlands International, IUCN and WWF, as well as the International Water Management Institute, discussed the role of wetlands management in poverty reduction, and financial mechanisms to encourage community efforts to protect and restore wetlands in developing countries.
Around COP9

Tony Slatyer, Australia, served as President in the absence of Ministers Otafiire and Jeje.

Japanese delegates posed with the Ramsar site certificate for Kabukuru-numa and the surrounding rice paddies, one of twenty Japanese wetlands added to the Ramsar list this week.

Happy Birthday to writer Changbo Bai of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin team at Ramsar COP9!

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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