The World Wetland City accreditation aims to create a network of World Wetland Cities around the globe, and provides the opportunity for cities and local governments to demonstrate leadership in wetland conservation and management. It is anticipated that the World Wetland City accreditation will encourage cities to wisely use their natural wetland resources and reward their efforts in the implementation of the Ramsar Convention at the local level. The World Wetland City accreditation scheme will now be developed and implemented by the parties, in a pioneering move to boost local action for wetland conservation.

“64% of the world’s wetlands have disappeared since 1900 and the trends point to continued decline of the world’s wetlands. There is a link between declining wetlands and reduced water availability and the resulting impacts on the economy and stability of the world.”

– Dr. Christopher Briggs, Secretary General Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

Also adopted at the meeting were resolutions on the Strategic Plan 2016-2021, which focuses on four strategic priorities that intend to enhance implementation of the Ramsar Convention, and a resolution on wetland as natural resources for reducing disaster risk. With the connection between wetlands and disaster risk reduction well-known, this resolution requires parties to integrate wetland-based disaster risk management into climate adaptation plans and development policies, which is particularly pertinent at the local government level.

Further information: http://www.ramsar.org/