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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.
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Monday, 14 November
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Plenary
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Sergio Lasso, Ecuador, called for equitable regional representation and
a clear timeframe for the cessation of the Management Working Group's
activities.
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'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.
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Credentials Committee Chair Ken Brock, Canada, introduced Annex I to
COP9 report, noting 116 contracting Parties have supplied valid credentials.
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Kemi Awoyinka, Wetlands International, presented the outcomes of the
technical session on applying the wise use principle in integrated water
management.
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Tobias Salathé, Secretariat, presented the outcomes of the technical
session on culture and knowledge in wetland management.
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Presidential Address
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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.
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The Police Band played "Oh Uganda, Land of Beauty" to welcome President
Museveni.
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Kahinda Otafiire, Minister of Lands, Water and Environment, gave a brief
speech introducing the President.
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President Museveni made a point during his address.
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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.
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Contact Group
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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).
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Korean Reception
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Lee Jaeyong, Minister of Environment, Republic of Korea and Kahinda
Otafiire, Minister of Lands, Water and Environment, Uganda.
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The Korean delegation presented Minister Otafiire with framed artwork
of swans flying over a wetland.
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A Ugandan children's choir entertained delegates with songs about
wetlands.
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