HC Deb 17 May 1988 vol 133 cc378-9W
Mr. Stern

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list the criteria and guidelines for the identification of wetlands of international importance for listing under the Ramsar convention which were adopted by the third conference of contracting parties to the convention at Regina, Canada, in June 1987; and what is the extent to which the criteria and guidelines will be adopted in identifying wetlands of international importance in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Moynihan

[pursuant to his reply, 11 May 1988, c. 128] The guidelines, regarding whether a wetland could be considered for selection under criterion 1 are; if

  1. (a) it is an example of a type rare or unusual in the appropriate biogeographical region; or
  2. (b) it is a particularly good representative example of a wetland characteristic of the appropriate region; or
  3. (c) it is a particularly good representative of a common type where the site also qualifies for consideration under criteria 2a, 2b or 2c; or
  4. (d) it is representative of a type by virtue of being part of a complex of high quality wetland habitats. A wetland of national value could be considered of international importance, if it has a substantial hydrological, biological or ecological role in the functioning of an international river basin or coastal system; or
  5. (e) in developing countries, it is a wetland which, because of its outstanding hydrological, biological or ecological role, is of substantial socio-economic and cultural value within the framework of sustainable use and habitat conservation.

Waterfowl indicative of wetland values, productivity or diversity under criterion 3b, include divers (loons), grebes, pelicans, storks, ibises, spoonbills, herons, flamingos, swans, geese, ducks, cranes, rails and coots, waders (shorebirds), gulls and terns.

The NCC has adopted these criteria and guidelines fully when identifying sites for submission either to my Department or to the Scottish Office.

The Regina conference recommended that a working group should be established in order to examine ways in which the criteria and guidelines for identifying wetlands of international importance might be further elaborated, in order to improve the worldwide application of the convention. It is expected that a report and draft recommendations will be issued to contracting parties in time for them to be discussed at the next conference of contracting parties in 1990.