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The
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
The
Conventions CEPA Programme
Index
Page

Welcome
to the mini-Web site of the
CEPA Programme
Here
we bring together some of the many activities associated with implementing
the CEPA Programme,
as adopted by Resolution X.8
at COP10 in 2008 (following the first CEPA Resolution, VII.9, adopted
at COP7 in 1999, and the second, Res VIII.31, adopted at COP8 in 2002).
For a number of Contracting Parties (CPs), wetland Communication Education
and Public Awareness (CEPA) is already a coordinated and targeted component
of their programme on wetland conservation and wise use. For most CPs,
however, implementing Resolution X.8 is an opportunity to focus on developing
wetland CEPA as a fundamental tool alongside the other more traditional
management tools of the Convention. Its a tool that should be used
at national, regional and local levels, involving all sectors of society
from key decision-makers, to the public at large, wetland users, the media,
as well as teachers and schoolchildren.
The guidelines adopted with the
Resolution commit both the Ramsar Bureau and the Contracting Parties to
a number of activities to promote Wetland CEPA. These pages report on
some of the activities outlined in the guidelines, keeping CPs informed
of what the Bureau is doing now and plans to do in the future.
These CEPA pages also provide an
open forum for the exchange of CEPA ideas and resource materials. This
exchange will be facilitated by the CEPA
e-mail discussion list, which we hope will bring together
not only the CEPA Focal Points, both government and NGO, but also the
many others involved in CEPA activities. Without your input these few
pages dedicated to the CEPA Programme will never fulfill their potential. So
join the CEPA e-mail discussion list and let's hear from you!
Heres how the mini-site is
organized:
Contents
of the CEPA mini-site
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CEPA Web Links
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This
links page connects you with good CEPA web sites. You can help expand
this by sending in your favourite Web sites! |
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News
from the CEPA e-mail list
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The
Secretariat launched 3 unmoderated e-mail lists (in English, French
and Spanish) in April 2001 devoted to the wide range of news, views,
announcements, information requests and replies concerning wetland
CEPA. Since February 2004 all posted messages are recorded here.
Join
the CEPA List here |
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The
nominated Government and NGO Focal Points
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The nomination of
Government and NGO CEPA National Focal Points by every Contracting
Party is regarded as the starting point for an effective review
of CEPA needs within each country, leading ultimately to a CEPA
Action Plan - both principal components of Resolution VIII.31. The
National Focal Points (NFPs) are also the main points of contact
within and between countries for wetland CEPA.
Roles
and responsibilities of the CEPA NFPs
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| CEPA
Oversight Panel |
A CEPA Oversight Panel
was set up following COP9 in 2005. Its function is to monitor
and report on the implementation of the Convention's CEPA Programme
and to examine and set priorities for communication, education
and capacity building in collaboration with the Wetlands International
CEPA Specialist Group and theAdvisory Board on Capacity Building
for the Ramsar Convention.
To reflect
the new direction of capacity building within the Convention towards
regional rather than international training, the Dutch government
has replaced the RIZA Advisory Board with the Advisory Board on
Capacity Building for the Ramsar Convention. Read
more about the new Board and its relationship with the CEPA Oversight
Panel here.
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Implementing
the Ramsar CEPA guidelines: action planning for wetland CEPA
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A consultant
has prepared a guide for Contracting Parties and other CEPA practitioners,
to assist in the CEPA action planning process. It provides
an easy-to-use practical tool that will guide practitioners in organising
well-designed and well-run participatory action planning processes
that employ a range of techniques for facilitating diverse multi-stakeholder
groups. A Guide to Participatory Action Planning and Techniques
for Facilitating Groups is available for download
here.
Further
assistance to CEPA practitioners comes from the CBD which has prepared
a CEPA toolkit for its practitioners that complements the
Ramsar guide. Here you will find tools concerning where, when and
how to use a range of education and communication interventions.
Available on a dedicated website here.
We
hope CPs will share their National and sub-national CEPA Action
Plans on these pages to assist other CPs in their task. Parties
are expected to send their action plans - at whatever level, regional,
national and sub-national - so that they can be made available on
these web pages. These are available here:
Wetland CEPA Action Plans
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Other Wetland CEPA strategies/
Action plans |
We
hope to begin sharing here other CEPA Strategies or Action Plans
that have been developed that may not be directly related to the
Ramsar CEPA guidelines but which may serve as useful models. To
start the ball rolling we have a Public Awareness
Strategy for the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve.
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| Wetland
CEPA resource materials |
CEPA
METHODOLOGIES: Best practice guide for rangers; communication
strategy for a site recovery plan; ESD methods; techniques for working
with stakeholders; and much more.
CAMPAIGNS:
in many countries campaigns are used to bring local residents, school
children and local authorities together in hands-on activities in
their local wetlands.
TEACHING
MATERIALS: the school curriculum presents a highly effective
route for delivering information, raising awareness about wetland
values and functions, and changing behaviour patterns. Here are
some interesting materials for use in the classroom and during visits
to local wetlands.
The
Ramsar Board Game:
Ramsar for 5-14 year olds
WETLAND
INFORMATION: background information on wetlands, different types
of wetland, wetland values and functions, role of wetlands in the
water cycle etc.
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Wetland
Education Centres
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Wetland
Education Centres are prime vehicles for enlightening the public
and school groups about the functions and values of wetlands. Here
are Web links to a few as well as some information about the role
and future development of Wetland Centres in the CEPA Programme.
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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 16 April 2001, updated 23 January 2009, Sandra Hails, Ramsar Secretariat.
 
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