Tehran – The new Standing Committee of the Convention on Wetlands has elected Iran as vice-chairman of the 15th Conference (COP15) of the Ramsar Competition Conference on Wetlands (COP15) to be held from July 23 to 31 in Victoria Falls City, Zimbabwe from July 31.
The meeting is being held under the theme of “Protecting the Wetlands for Our Common Future.” The purpose of this COP is to adopt a new strategic plan in the treaty’s fifth plan of action, 2025-2034.
The Ramsar Treaty on Wetlands was signed in 1971 in Ramsar city, Iran. This intergovernmental treaty provides a framework for international cooperation on wetland conservation. The conference was officially enacted in 1975.
Since then, many countries have become contractual parties to the treaty. Saudi Arabia is the 173rd, Isna reports.
Additionally, three Iranian cities, including Babor in northern Mazandaran, Kiashaal in northern Gilan, and Gandman in southwestern Chaharmahar Baktiari province, received the Wetland City Certification Certificate on the first day of COP15 of the Ramsar Conference of the Wetland Treaty.
The city’s commitment to conservation, recognition, active involvement in sustainable practices and integration into wetland conservation plans is a strong candidate for this recognition.
Candidate cities for accreditation of wetland cities are evaluated and recommended as wetland cities that have been proposed by contract parties (Ramsar National Focus or Head of the Administrative Authority) and then accredited by the Independent Advisory Board.
The list of 31 newly accredited wetland cities was previously announced at the 64th Standing Committee.
The city of Bandar Kamil, near the International Wetlands of Holkhorang in Khormozgan province, was recognized and featured as Iran’s first wetland city by the 2022 Ramsar conference.
In the same year, the city of Valzane, east of Isfahan, and Bandar Kamil, near the Gabni International Wetlands in Isfahan, were also recognized as wetland-certified cities, Ashurafizadeh pointed out.
There are also 25 sites in the country designated as internationally important wetlands (Ramsar sites), covering a surface area of 1,488,624 hectares.
Wetland City Certification Scheme
The 172 contracting parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands have agreed to the conservation and wise use of the wetlands on the territory.
Recognizing the importance of urban and urban wetlands, the treaty introduced a wetland urban recognition scheme (Resolution XII.10).
This voluntary scheme provides opportunities for cities to cherish nature or human wetlands and to gain international recognition and positive publicity for their efforts.
The Wetland City Certification Scheme encourages cities that are proximity to wetlands and particularly rely on wetlands of international importance, highlighting and strengthening the positive relationships with these precious ecosystems, for example by increasing public awareness about wetlands and increasing participation in citizen planning and decision-making.
The accreditation scheme should further promote the conservation and wise use of urban and peri-urban wetlands, as well as the sustainable socioeconomic benefits for local people.
Urban wetlands are valuable land rather than wasteland, and therefore need to be integrated into urban development and management plans.
Urban wetlands can provide multiple economic, social and cultural benefits to cities when preserved and sustainably used. During the storm, urban wetlands absorb excessive rainfall, reduce urban flooding, and prevent disasters and subsequent costs. The abundant vegetation found in urban wetlands serves as filters for household and industrial waste, contributing to improving water quality.
mt/mg