Regional pre-COP meeting 2018: Asia

Chilaw, Sri Lanka

Chilaw, Sri Lanka, is the host city for the Asia preparatory meeting for the 13th Conference of the Parties to be held in October 2018 in Dubai. The meeting is taking place from 26 February to 2 March and is attended by 28 Asian Contracting Parties.

Representing the government of Sri Lanka, Manjula Amararathna, Departmentof Wildlife Conservation, made opening remarks highlighting that today recognition of the importance of wetlands is increasing because of their role for flood prevention, recreation and biodiversity. He also highlighted the conservation and restoration of the urban wetlands in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka.

In his speech, Lew Young, Ramsar Senior Advisor for Asia & Oceania, stressed the need to mainstream wetland conservation and wise use into national policies, such as for sustainable development, climate change, disaster risk reduction and biodiversity conservation.