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Ramsar COP9 9th Conference of the Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
Kampala, Uganda | 8-15 November 2005
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President of Uganda Addresses Ramsar COP9

Delegates to Ramsar COP9 met in the Plenary to further consider and adopt draft resolutions, and hear reports of the Credentials and Finance Committees, and technical sessions. In the afternoon, Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni, above, addressed the COP. The Finance Committee convened twice, in the morning and afternoon, and contact groups on cultural values and avian flu continued deliberations throughout the day.


Monday, 14 November
Plenary

Turkey reiterated its concerns voiced at Ramsar COP7 and COP8 with regard to river basin management, which it considers being outside of Ramsar's scope.

Trevor Swerdfager, Canada, introduced its proposed COP9 DR26, noting that it seeks to establish a Management Working Group to review the Convention's decision-making mechanisms.

Tony Slatyer, Australia, welcomed the Canadian proposed resolution on the Management Working Group provided the review is kept small-scale, self-financing and non-permanent.

On behalf of the EU, Jolyon Thomson, United Kingdom, suggested the Management Working Group: include an external expert; be given the Ad hoc status; report regularly on progress made to the Steering Committee before COP10; and undertake a review of regional meetings.

Sergio Lasso, Ecuador, called for equitable regional representation and a clear timeframe for the cessation of the Management Working Group's activities.

'Mamphono Khaketla, Lesotho, expressed concern about simply forwarding the draft resolution on [translational] [transboundary] sites to COP10 while activities in this area are being carried out.

Credentials Committee Chair Ken Brock, Canada, introduced Annex I to COP9 report, noting 116 contracting Parties have supplied valid credentials.

Kemi Awoyinka, Wetlands International, presented the outcomes of the technical session on applying the wise use principle in integrated water management.

Tobias Salathé, Secretariat, presented the outcomes of the technical session on culture and knowledge in wetland management.
Presidential Address

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni addressed COP9 in the afternoon, highlighting threats to wetland ecosystems, which cover 13 percent of the country's land area and include the headwaters of the River Nile, and outlining possible solutions for addressed these threats. He identified as threats: deforestation and silting of wetland ecosystems; conversion of wetlands into agricultural lands, including pastures, farms and rice paddies; international environmental NGOs for their opposition to energy plans, which he said leads to over-reliance on firewood; and predominance of rural population in Uganda. He noted as solutions: universal education; reafforestation programmes which generate income for local communities; electrification through hydro, geothermal, and solar energy projects; and industrialization.

The Police Band played "Oh Uganda, Land of Beauty" to welcome President Museveni.

Kahinda Otafiire, Minister of Lands, Water and Environment, gave a brief speech introducing the President.

President Museveni made a point during his address.

Kahinda Otafiire, Minister of Lands, Water and Environment, Uganda; Fatemah Vaez Javadi, Vice President and Head of the Department of Environment, Iran; Yoweri Museveni, President, Uganda; Peter Bridgewater, Secretary-General, Ramsar Convention; Ernesto Enkerlin-Hoeflich, Mexico.
Contact Group

After hours of contact group discussions on the revised Strategic Framework and guidelines for the future development of the list of Wetlands of International Importance (COP9 DR1 Annex B, Rev. 1), delegates reached a compromise text concerning guidance on artificial wetlands and the wording of "near-natural" wetland type for Criterion 1, and deleting the table of ecosystem benefits. Delegates agreed to, inter alia, language on measures being consistent with rights and obligations under other international agreements in the resolution on cultural values (COP9 DR22).
Korean Reception

Lee Jaeyong, Minister of Environment, Republic of Korea and Kahinda Otafiire, Minister of Lands, Water and Environment, Uganda.

The Korean delegation presented Minister Otafiire with framed artwork of swans flying over a wetland.

A Ugandan children's choir entertained delegates with songs about wetlands.

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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