Wetlands are among the most diverse and productive ecosystems. They provide essential services and all of our fresh water. However, they continue to be degraded and transformed for other uses.

The Convention adopted a broad definition of wetlands including all lakes and streams, underground aquifers, aquifers, subterranean areas, swamps and marshes, wetlands, oases, estuaries, deltas and intertidal areas, mangroves and intertidal areas, mangroves and other coastal areas, mangroves and other coastal areas, coral reefs and all artificial sites such as fish ponds, rice fields, reservoirs and salt marshes.

In the context of the “three pillars” of the Convention, the Contracting Parties undertake to:

• to work for the rational use of all their wetlands;
• to include appropriate wetlands on the List of Wetlands of International Importance (the “Ramsar List”) and to ensure their proper management;
• to cooperate internationally in transboundary wetlands, shared wetland systems and for shared species.