The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

The Ramsar Wetland Conservation Awards 2008

The Ramsar Wetland Conservation Award
for actions that have significantly contributed to long-term conservation and sustainable use of wetlands

The Ramsar Wetland Conservation Award was established in 1996 by Resolution VI.18 of the 6th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971) in order to recognise and honour the contributions of individuals, organisations, and governments around the world towards promoting the conservation and wise use of wetlands. It was awarded on the occasion of the 7th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (San José, Costa Rica, 1999), at the 8th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties in Valencia, Spain, in 2002, and at the 9th Meeting of the Ramsar COP in Kampala, Uganda, in 2005. Information on these rounds of the Ramsar Award and on the laureates is available on the Convention Web site at www.ramsar.org/award/key_awards_index.htm.

The Ramsar Standing Committee, at its meeting in February 2007, agreed the criteria and procedures for adjudicating the fourth round of the Award and determined to select three winners for presentation at the 10th Conference of the Parties, to be held in Changwon, Republic of Korea, in October-November 2008. The Committee gratefully once again accepted the offer of the Danone Group (France) to complement the Ramsar Award with the Evian Special Prize, a cash prize of US$ 10.000, which will be granted to each of the three laureates who will receive the Award at COP10.

By decision SC 35.3, the Standing Committee decided that the Ramsar Award for COP10 will be given in the categories of management, science, and education.

Nominations are encouraged of persons or government or non-government organisations that have taken initiatives that have contributed significantly to the long-term conservation and sustainable use of wetlands, especially those initiatives which might serve as inspirational and practical examples for others.

Nominations should reach the Secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands by 31 January 2008 at the latest, using the form attached or available upon request from the Ramsar Secretariat, or on the Ramsar Web site (www.ramsar.org/award/award_form_e.htm). The Standing Committee will select the three winning individuals or organisations and the Award will be presented at the opening ceremony of the 10th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (Changwon, Korea), on 28 October 2008.

This is what past winners of the Ramsar Awards say

Ramsar Wetland Conservation Award
Criteria and Procedures

Selection criteria

1. One Ramsar Award shall be awarded for each of the following:

a) The "Ramsar Management Award", supported by Danone Evian, rewarding actions - including legislation, strategies, plans, programmes, projects, investments, and campaigns - that have significantly contributed, or have a clear potential to contribute, to the long-term conservation and sustainable use of wetlands;

b) The "Ramsar Science Award", supported by Danone Evian, rewarding contributions to the advancement of wetland science;

c) The "Ramsar Education Award", supported by Danone Evian, rewarding the best initiative for communication, education and public awareness on a Wetland of International Importance.

Eligibility

2. Institutions and citizens of all nations are invited to nominate individuals or institutions - governmental and non-governmental, including community groups - or private sector enterprises, of any nation.

Nominations Procedure

3. Nominations should be submitted to the Ramsar Convention Secretariat in English, French or Spanish, using the Ramsar Award form available from the Ramsar Secretariat in Gland, Switzerland, or on the Ramsar Web site, accompanied by the necessary supporting documentation.

4. The deadline for this round of the Ramsar Award was fixed at 31 January 2008. This date shall be final.

Selection Procedure

5. The Ramsar Secretariat shall process the nominations received and submit them for the consideration of the Ramsar Standing Committee. The Standing Committee will select the laureates, and its decision will be final.

Announcement and Presentation of the Award

6. The announcement of the laureates on each occasion shall be made through a press release as soon as all of them have confirmed their acceptance of the Award.

7. The Ramsar Award will be presented at the opening ceremony of the 10th meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties and every effort will be made to ensure the presence of all laureates.

How to obtain a nomination form

The nomination forms for the Ramsar Wetland Conservation Award can be downloaded from the Ramsar Web site or can be obtained electronically or in hard copy from

The Ramsar Convention Secretariat
Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland
fax: +41 22 999 01 69
e-mail: ramsar@ramsar.org.

Deadline for receipt of nominations shall be 31 January 2008, preferably by e-mail. Nominations received after this date will not be considered.

Please note that nominations will be acknowledged but that no further communication will take place unless further information is requested, or the nominee has been selected to receive the Award.

Announcement of the laureates will be made on the Ramsar Web site in due course.

 For further information about the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, please contact the Ramsar Convention Secretariat, Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland (tel +41 22 999 0170, fax +41 22 999 0169, e-mail ). Posted 18 October 2007, Dwight Peck, Ramsar.