Story | 10 Mar, 2017

Promoting the conservation and wise use of Wetlands

Nadi, Fiji, 8 March 2017 (IUCN) – The Wetlands are under pressure from local and global factors, including coastal development, destructive fishing practices, inappropriate agricultural practices and watershed changes, invasive species, ocean acidification, and climate change.

Photo: IUCN Oceania/Sereana Narayan

The Seventh Oceania Regional Meeting of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands held from 6-7 March at the Tanoa International Hotel in Nadi, Fiji provided a platform for the Contracting Parties of Oceania to review progress with national and regional implementation of the Convention since the 12th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP12) in June 2015, and to discuss and share experiences relating to issues, priorities, successes and challenges they currently face concerning the conservation and wise use of their wetlands.

“Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is an important mechanism to promote national, regional and global actions to protect wetlands and the resources and services they provide,” says Joshua Wycliffe, Fiji’s Permanent Secretary for Local Government, Housing and Environment.

“It is important that the Pacific region has a strong voice on wetlands speaking out about the unique needs and challenges it faces especially in the light of climate change impacts on the region and ensure that decisions and resolutions the Convention adopts are highly relevant and addresses the priorities of the region and promotes collaborative spirit and joint actions among the countries in the region,” Joshua Wycliffe added.

“This is a good time for the Oceania region to reflect on our successes and challenges, and to use this meeting as an opportunity to identify concrete initiatives to step up the needed support to Contracting Parties and to strengthen our partnerships to conserve and use wisely wetlands as a condition to achieve sustainable and equitable development for all,” says Martha Rojas-Urrego, Ramsar Convention Secretary General.

“The Ramsar Convention is well placed to promote a common approach towards the conservation and wise use of coastal wetlands to achieve global and regional goals and targets and we look forward to learning from your work and to hear how we can support you in the Secretariat,” Martha Rojas-Urrego added.

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