§ Mr. Ennalsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures are being taken to implement the recommendation of the Cagliari conference that contracting parties should increase the number of wetlands in their territories listed under the Ramsar convention.
46W
§ Mr. MonroConsultations with all interested parties are taking place on 15 United Kingdom wetland sites in addition to the 13 currently designated. My right hon. Friend intends to designate some of these sites for addition to the Ramsar list in the near future. Consultations will be initiated on more sites in due course.
§ Mr. Ennalsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the criteria for the identification of wetlands of international importance for listing under the Ramsar convention, which were prepared at the Cagliari conference held during November 1980.
§ Mr. MonroThe criteria are listed below
1. Quantitative criteria for identifying wetlands of importance to water fowl. A wetland should be considered internationally important if it
- (a) regualarly supports either 10,000 ducks, geese and swans; or 10,000 coots; or 20,000 waders; or
- (b) regularly supports 1 per cent. of the individuals in a population of one species or subspecies of waterfowl; or
- (c) regularly supports 1 per cent. of the breeding pairs in a population of one species or subspecies of waterfowl.
2. General criteria for indentifying wetlands of importance to plants or animals.A wetland should be considered internationally important if it
- (a) supports an appreciable number of a rare, vulnerable or endangered species or subspecies of plant or animal; or
- (b) is of value for maintaining the genetic and ecological diversity of a region because of the quality and peculiarities of its flora and fauna; or
- (c) is of special value as the habitat of plants or animals at a critical stage of their biological cycles; or
- (d) is of special value for its endemic plant or animal species or communities.
3. Criteria for assessing the value of representative or unique wetlands.A wetland should be considered internationally important if it is a particularly good example of a specific type of wetland characteristic of its region.
§ Mr. Ennalsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, as a contracting party to the Ramsar convention, he accepts the recommendation of the Cagliari conference that the revised criteria be used for the identification of wetlands suitable for listing under the convention.
§ Mr. MonroYes. My right hon. Friend accepts the criteria as a suitable basis for identifying those wetlands from which sites should be selected for designation.