The Montreux Record is a register of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of International Importance where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring or are likely to occur as a result of human interference. It is maintained as part of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and serves as an early warning system to identify problems in the management of wetlands and to encourage the international community to help address them before they become more serious.
The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands, which was signed in Ramsar, Iran in 1971. The Convention’s mission is “the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world”.
The Montreux Record was established by the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention in 1990. Wetlands may be added to the Montreux Record if they meet the following criteria:
- Changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring or are likely to occur as a result of human interference
- The ecological changes threaten the ecological character of the wetland
- The situation is not being adequately addressed by existing national or international conservation measures
The inclusion of a wetland on the Montreux Record does not provide any legal protection for the wetland or require any specific action by the country in which it is located. However, it does serve as a warning that action needs to be taken to address the problems facing the wetland. The Ramsar Convention encourages the country to take appropriate measures to address the issues and restore the ecological character of the wetland.
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