關於特別是作為水禽棲息地的國際重要濕地公約

濕地與森林、海洋並稱全球三大生態系統，也是價值最高的生態系統。根據《濕地公約》的定義，濕地包括沼澤、泥炭地、濕草甸、湖泊、河流、滯蓄洪區、河口三角洲、灘塗、水庫、池塘、水稻田以及低潮時水深淺於6米的海域地帶等。

濕地具有涵養水源、凈化水質、調蓄洪水、控制土壤侵蝕、補充地下水、美化環境、調節氣候、維持碳循環和保護海岸等極為重要的生態功能，是生物多樣性的重要發源地之一，因此也被譽為“地球之腎”、“天然水庫”和“天然物種庫”。據聯合國環境署2002年的權威研究數據顯示，1公頃濕地生態系統每年創造的價值高達1.4萬美元，是熱帶雨林的7倍，是農田生態系統的160倍。濕地還是許多珍稀野生動植物賴以生存的基礎，對維護生態平衡、保護生物多樣性具有特殊的意義。

多年來，全球濕地伴隨著全球化進程的加快而不斷遭到破壞。因此，保護濕地成為一個世界性的問題。

1971年2月2日，來自18個國家的代表在伊朗南部海濱小城拉姆薩爾簽署了一個旨在保護和合理利用全球濕地的公約——《關於特別是作為水禽棲息地的國際重要濕地公約》（Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat ，簡稱《濕地公約》）。該公約於1975年12月21日正式生效，目前，有158個締約方。

《濕地公約》的宗旨是通過各成員國之間的合作加強對世界濕地資源的保護及合理利用，以實現生態系統的持續發展。目前，《濕地公約》已成為國際重要的自然保護公約之一，1828塊在生態學、植物學、動物學、湖沼學或水文學方面具有獨特意義的濕地被列入國際重要濕地名錄，總面積約1.69億公頃。

關於特別是作為水禽棲息地的國際重要濕地公約

（1971年2月2日定於拉姆薩，經1982年3月12日議定書修正）

各締約國，承認人類同其環境的相互依存關係；

考慮到濕地的調節水份循環和維持濕地特有的動植物特別是水禽棲息地的基本生態功能；相信濕地為具有巨大的經濟、文化、科學及娛樂價值的資源，其損失將不可彌補；

期望現在及將來阻止濕地的被逐步侵蝕及喪失；

承認季節性遷徙中的水禽可能超越國界，因此應被視為國際性資源；

確信遠見卓識的國內政策與協調一致的國際行動相結合能夠確保對濕地及其動物的保護；

茲協議如下：

第一條

1.為本公約的目的。濕地系指不問其為天然或人工、長久或暫時之沼澤地、濕原、泥炭地或水域地帶，帶有或靜止或流動、或為淡水、半鹹水或鹹水體者，包括低潮時水深不超過六米的水域。

2.為本公約的目的，水禽系指生態學上依賴於濕地的鳥類。

第二條

1.各締約國應指定其領域內的適當濕地列入由依第八條所設管局保管的國際重要濕地名冊，下稱""名冊"".每一濕地的界線應精確記述並標記在地圖上，並可包括鄰接濕地的河湖沿岸、沿海區域以及濕地範圍的島域或低潮時不超過六米的水域，特別是當其具有水禽棲息地意義時.

2.選入名冊的濕地應根據其在生態學上、植物學上、湖沼學上和水文上的國際意義。首先應選入在所有季節對水禽具有國際重要性的濕地。

3.選入名冊的濕地不妨礙濕地所在地締約國的專屬主權權力。

4.各締約國按第九條規定簽署本公約或交存批准書或加入書時，應至少指定一處濕地列入名冊。

5.任何締約國應有權將其境內的濕地增列入名冊，擴大已列入名冊的濕地的界線或由於緊急的國家利益已列入名冊的濕地撤消或縮小其範圍，並應儘早將任何上述變更通知第八條規定的負責執行局職責的有關組織或政府。

6.各締約國在指定列入名冊的濕地時或行使變更名冊中與其領土內濕地有關的記錄時，應考慮其對水禽遷移種群所養護、管理和合理的國際責任。

第三條

1.締約國應指定並實施其計劃以促進已列入名冊的濕地的養護並儘可能地促進其境內濕地的合理利用。

2.如其境內的及已列入名冊的任何濕地的生態特徵由於技術發展、污染和其他人類干擾而已經改變，各締約國應儘早相互通報。有關這些變化的情況，應不延遲地轉告按第八條所規定的負責執行局職責的組織或政府。

第四條

1.應設置濕地自然保護區，無論該濕地是否已列入名冊，以促進濕地和水禽的養護並應對其進行充分的監護。

2.締約國因其緊急的國家利益需對已列入名冊的濕地撤消或縮小其範圍時，應儘可能補償濕地資源的任何喪失，特別是應為水禽及保護原棲息地適當部分而在同一地區或在其他地方設立另外的自然保護區。

3.締約國應鼓勵關於濕地及其動植物的研究及數據和出版物的交換。

4.締約國應努力通過管理增加適當濕地上水禽的數量。

5.締約國應促進能勝任濕地研究、管理及監護人員的訓練。

第五條

締約國應就履行本公約的義務相互協商，特別是當一片濕地跨越一個以上締約國領土或多個締約國共處同一水系時。同時，他們應儘力協調和支持有關養護濕地及其動植物的現行和未來政策與規定。

第六條

1.締約國應在必要時召開關於養護濕地和水禽的會議。

2.這種會議應是諮詢性的，併除其他外，有權：

A.討論本公約的實施情況；

B.討論名冊之增加和變更事項；

C.審議關於依第三條第2款所規定的列入名冊濕地生態學特別變化的情況；

D.向締約國提出關於濕地及其動植物的養護、管理和合理利用的一般性或具體建議；

E.要求有關國際機構就影響地、本質上屬於國際性的事項編製報告和統計資料。

3.締約國應確保對濕地管理負有責任的各級機構知曉並考慮上述會議關於濕地及其動植物的養護、管和合理利用的建議。

第七條

1.締約國出席這種會議的代表，應包括以其科學、行政或其他適當職務所獲得知識和經驗而成為濕地或水禽方面專家的人士。

2.出席會議的每一締約國應有一票表決權，建議以所投票數的簡單多數通過，但須不少於半數的締約國參加投票。

第八條

1.保護自然和自然資源國際聯盟應履行本公約執行局的職責，直至全體締約國三分之二多數委派其他組織或政府時止。

2.執行局職責除其他外，應為：

A.協助召集和組織第六條規定的會議；

B.保管國際重要濕地名冊並接受締約國根據第二條第五款的規定對已列入名冊的濕地增加、擴大、撤消或縮小的通知；

C.接受締約國根據第三條第二款規定對已列入名冊的濕地的生態特徵發生任何變化的通知；

D.將名冊的任何改變或名冊內濕地特徵的變化通知所有的締約國，並安排這些事宜在下次會上討論；

E.將會議關於名冊變更或名冊內濕地變化特徵的建議告知各有關締約國。

第九條

1.本公約將無限期開放供簽署。

2.聯合國或某一專門機構、國際原子能機構的任一成員國或國際法院的規約當事國均可以下述方式成為本公約的締約方：

A.簽署無須批准；

B.簽署有待批准，隨後再予批准；

C.加入。

3.批准或加入應以向聯合國教育科學及文化組織的總幹事（以下簡稱“保存機關”）交存批准書或加文書為生效。

交存

第十條

1.本公約自七個國家根據第九條第二款成為本公約締約國四個月後生效。

2.此後，本公約應在其簽署無須批准或交存批准書或加入書之後四個月對各締約國生效。

第十條　之二

1.公約可按照本條在為此目的召開的締約國會議上予以修正。

2.修正建議可疑由任何締約國提出。

3.所提修正案文及其理由應提交給履行執行局職責的組織或政府（以下稱為執行局）並立即由執行局轉送所有締約國。締約國對案文的任何評論應在執行局修正案轉交締約國之日三個月內交給執行局。執行局應於提交評論最後一日立即將至該日所提交的所有評論轉交締約國。

4.審議按照第3款所轉交的修正案的締約國會議應由執行局根據三分一締約國的書面請求召集。執行局就會議的時間和地點同締約國協商。

5.修正案以出席參加的締約國三分之二多數通過。

6.通過的修正案應於三分之二締約國向保存機關交存接受書之日後第四個月第一天對接受的締約國生效。對在三分之二的締約國交存接受書之後交存接受書的締約國，修正案應於其交存接受書之日後第四個月第一天生效。

第十一條

1.本公約將無限期有效。

2.任何締約國可於公約對其生效之日起五年後以書面通知保存機關退出本公約，退出應於保存機收到通知之後四個月生效。

第十二條

1.保存機應儘快將以下事項通知簽署和加入本公約的所有國家：

A.公約的簽署；

B.公約批准書的交存；

C.公約加入書的交存；

D.公約的生效日期；

E.退出公約的日期。

2.一俟本公約開始生效，保存入應按照聯合國憲章第一百零二條將本公約向聯合國秘書處登記。

下列簽字者經正式授權，謹簽字於本公約，以資證明。

一九七一年二月二日訂於拉姆薩，正本一份，以英文、法文、德文和俄文寫成，所有文本具有同等效力，保存於保存機，保存機關應將核證無誤副本個送所有的締約國。

Article 1

For the purpose of this Convention wetlands are areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres.

For the purpose of this Convention waterfowl are birds ecologically dependent on wetlands.

Article 2

Each Contracting Party shall designate suitable wetlands within its territory for inclusion in a List of Wetlands of International Importance, hereinafter referred to as "the List" which is maintained by the bureau established under Article 8. The boundaries of each wetland shall be precisely described and also delimited on a map and they may incorporateriparian and coastal zones adjacent to the wetlands, and islands or bodies of marine water deeper than six metres at low tide lying within the wetlands, especially where these have importance as waterfowl habitat.

Wetlands should be selected for the List on account of their international significance in terms of ecology, botany, zoology, limnology or hydrology. In the first instance wetlands of international importance to waterfowl at any season should be included.

The inclusion of a wetland in the List does not prejudice the exclusive sovereign rights of the Contracting Party in whose territory the wetland is situated.

Each Contracting Party shall designate at least one wetland to be included in the List when signing this Convention or when depositing its instrument of ratification or accession, as provided in Article 9.

Any Contracting Party shall have the right to add to the List further wetlands situated within its territory, to extend the boundaries of those wetlands already included by it in the List, or, because of its urgent national interests, to delete or restrict the boundaries of wetlands already included by it in the List and shall, at the earliest possible time, inform the organization or government responsible for the continuing bureau duties specified in Article 8 of any such changes.

Each Contracting Party shall consider its international responsibilities for the conservation, management and wise use of migratory stocks of waterfowl, both when designating entries for the List and when exercising its right to change entries in the List relating to wetlands within its territory.

Article 3

The Contracting Parties shall formulate and implement their planning so as to promote the conservation of the wetlands included in the List, and as far as possible the wise use of wetlands in their territory.

Each Contracting Party shall arrange to be informed at the earliest possible time if the ecological character of any wetland in its territory and included in the List has changed, is changing or is likely to change as the result of technological developments, pollution or other human interference. Information on such changes shall be passed without delay to the organization or government responsible for the continuing bureau duties specified in Article 8.

Article 4

Each Contracting Party shall promote the conservation of wetlands and waterfowl by establishing nature reserves on wetlands, whether they are included in the List or not, and provide adequately for their wardening.

Where a Contracting Party in its urgent national interest, deletes or restricts the boundaries of a wetland included in the List, it should as far as possible compensate for any loss of wetland resources, and in particular it should create additional nature reserves for waterfowl and for the protection, either in the same area or elsewhere, of an adequate portion of the original habitat.

The Contracting Parties shall encourage research and the exchange of data and publications regarding wetlands and their flora and fauna.

The Contracting Parties shall endeavour through management to increase waterfowl populations on appropriate wetlands.

The Contracting Parties shall promote the training of personnel competent in the fields of wetland research, management and wardening.

Article 5

The Contracting Parties shall consult with each other about implementing obligations arising from the Convention especially in the case of a wetland extending over the territories of more than one Contracting Party or where a water system is shared by Contracting Parties. They shall at the same time endeavour to coordinate and support present and future policies and regulations concerning the conservation of wetlands and their flora and fauna.

Article 6

There shall be established a Conference of the Contracting Parties to review and promote the implementation of this Convention. The Bureau referred to in Article 8, paragraph 1, shall convene ordinary meetings of the Conference of the Contracting Parties at intervals of not more than three years, unless the Conference decides otherwise, and extraordinary meetings at the written requests of at least one third of the Contracting Parties. Each ordinary meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties shall determine the time and venue of the next ordinary meeting.

The Conference of the Contracting Parties shall be competent:

to discuss the implementation of this Convention;

to discuss additions to and changes in the List;

to consider information regarding changes in the ecological character of wetlands included in the List provided in accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 3;

to make general or specific recommendations to the Contracting Parties regarding the conservation, management and wise use of wetlands and their flora and fauna;

to request relevant international bodies to prepare reports and statistics on matters which are essentially international in character affecting wetlands;

to adopt other recommendations, or resolutions, to promote the functioning of this Convention.

The Contracting Parties shall ensure that those responsible at all levels for wetlands management shall be informed of, and take into consideration, recommendations of such Conferences concerning the conservation, management and wise use of wetlands and their flora and fauna.

The Conference of the Contracting Parties shall adopt rules of procedure for each of its meetings.

The Conference of the Contracting Parties shall establish and keep under review the financial regulations of this Convention. At each of its ordinary meetings, it shall adopt the budget for the next financial period by a two-third majority of Contracting Parties present and voting.

Each Contracting Party shall contribute to the budget according to a scale of contributions adopted by unanimity of the Contracting Parties present and voting at a meeting of the ordinary Conference of the Contracting Parties.

Article 7

The representatives of the Contracting Parties at such Conferences should include persons who are experts on wetlands or waterfowl by reason of knowledge and experience gained in scientific, administrative or other appropriate capacities.

Each of the Contracting Parties represented at a Conference shall have one vote, recommendations, resolutions and decisions being adopted by a simple majority of the Contracting Parties present and voting, unless otherwise provided for in this Convention.

Article 8

The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources shall perform the continuing bureau duties under this Convention until such time as another organization or government is appointed by a majority of two-thirds of all Contracting Parties.

The continuing bureau duties shall be, inter alia:

to assist in the convening and organizing of Conferences specified in Article 6;

to maintain the List of Wetlands of International Importance and to be informed by the Contracting Parties of any additions, extensions, deletions or restrictions concerning wetlands included in the List provided in accordance with paragraph 5 of Article 2;

to be informed by the Contracting Parties of any changes in the ecological character of wetlands included in the List provided in accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 3;

to forward notification of any alterations to the List, or changes in character of wetlands included therein, to all Contracting Parties and to arrange for these matters to be discussed at the next Conference;

to make known to the Contracting Party concerned, the recommendations of the Conferences in respect of such alterations to the List or of changes in the character of wetlands included therein.

Article 9

This Convention shall remain open for signature indefinitely.

Any member of the United Nations or of one of the Specialized Agencies or of the International Atomic Energy Agency or Party to the statute of the International Court of Justice may become a Party to this Convention by:

signature without reservation as to ratification;

signature subject to ratification followed by ratification;

accession.

Ratification or accession shall be effected by the deposit of an instrument of ratification or accession with the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (hereinafter referred to as "the Depositary").

Article 10

This Convention shall enter into force four months after seven States have become Parties to this Convention in accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 9.

thereafterthis Convention shall enter into force for each Contracting Party four months after the day of its signature without reservation as to ratification, or its deposit of an instrument of ratification or accession.

Article 10 bis

This Convention may be amended at a meeting of the Contracting Parties convened for that purpose in accordance with this article.

Proposals for amendment may be made by any Contracting Party.

The text of any proposed amendment and the reasons for it shall be communicated to the organization or government performing the continuing bureau duties under the Convention (hereinafter referred to as "the Bureau") and shall promptly be communicated by the Bureau to all Contracting Parties. Any comments on the text by the Contracting Parties shall be communicated to the Bureau within three months of the date on which the amendments were communicated to the Contracting Parties by the Bureau. The Bureau shall, immediately after the last day for submission of comments, communicate to the Contracting Parties all comments submitted by that day.

A meeting of Contracting Parties to consider an amendment communicated in accordance with paragraph 3 shall be convened by the Bureau upon the written request of one third of the Contracting Parties. The Bureau shall consult the Parties concerning the time and venue of the meeting.

Amendments shall be adopted by a two-thirds majority of the Contracting Parties present and voting.

An amendment adopted shall enter into force for the Contracting Parties which have accepted it on the first day of the fourth month following the date on which two thirds of the Contracting Parties have deposited an instrument of acceptance with the Depositary. For each Contracting Party which deposits an instrument of acceptance after the date on which two thirds of the Contracting Parties have deposited an instrument of acceptance, the amendment shall enter into force on the first day of the fourth month following the date of the deposit of its instrument of acceptance.

Article 11

This Convention shall continue in force for an indefinite period.

Any Contracting Party may denounce this Convention after a period of five years from the date on which it entered into force for that party by giving written notice thereof to the Depositary. denunciation shall take effect four months after the day on which notice thereof is received by the Depositary.

Article 12

1. The Depositary shall inform all States that have signed and acceded to this Convention as soon as possible of:

a.signatures to the Convention;

b.deposits of instruments of ratification of this Convention;

c.deposits of instruments of accession to this Convention;

d.the date of entry into force of this Convention;

e.notifications of denunciation of this Convention.

2. When this Convention has entered into force, the Depositary shall have it registered with the Secretariat of the United Nations in accordance with Article 102 of the Charter.

1996年10月濕地公約第19次常委會決定將每年2月2日定為世界濕地日，每年確定一個主題。利用這一天，政府機構、組織和公民可以採取大大小小的行動來提高公眾對濕地價值和效益的認識。

1998年：公約常委會通過新的《濕地公約》標誌(Ramsar 拉姆薩爾文字配以由藍變綠的背景，兩條白線代表波浪)。該標誌顯示公約內涵的擴展，從單純的水鳥棲息地到以水為主體的變化。

1999年5月在哥斯大黎加召開的第7屆締約方大會上，決定編纂一套工具書，正式確認國際鳥類組織、世界保護聯盟、濕地國際和世界自然基金會為公約的夥伴組織。

第10屆濕地公約締約方大會於2008年10月8日至11月4日在韓國釜山召開。

中國自1992年加入《濕地公約》后，採取了一系列重要措施保護濕地，並於當年通過申請將首批7個濕地保護區（黑龍江省扎龍、吉林省向海、江西省鄱陽湖、湖南省東洞庭湖、海南省東寨港和青海省鳥島等）列入《國際重要濕地名錄》。國家林業局還專門成立了《濕地公約》履約辦公室，通過廣泛的國內外合作提高中國濕地保護的履約能力。到2006年底，我國已經建立了各種級別的濕地保護區473個，已有45%的天然濕地納入保護區範圍得到了較好保護。截至2008年，中國共有36塊濕地加入《國際重要濕地名錄》，（可參看“中國國際重要濕地名錄”）達賚湖等4個濕地類型保護區還加入了國際人與生物圈網路。2007年9月，國務院批准成立中國履行《濕地公約》國家委員會，協調和指導國內相關部門開展履行《濕地公約》相關工作。

全球濕地面積達5.73億公頃。中國首次濕地資源調查顯示，我國現有濕地面積約3848萬公頃，居亞洲第一位，世界第四位。據全國濕地資源調查統計，我國現有100公頃以上的各類濕地3848.55萬公頃（不包括水稻田），現存自然或半自然濕地佔國土總面積的3.77%（2005年）。