Ramsar sites
Photo: Ckpcb, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Ramsar sites are wetlands designated as of international importance; many are of great interest to birdwatchers. Some are easy to visit while others are destinations for wilderness backpacking.
The Ramsar Convention is the international agreement covering conservation efforts on these sites. It was signed in the town of Ramsar, Iran in 1971. The actual conservation work is done by national, state/province or local governments; there is no international organization for it. As of mid-2023, there are about 2500 designated sites with a total area over . There are some on every continent except Antarctica; Europe has the most with over 1100 sites. See the official site list.
Some important wetland areas are on the list or are UNESCO Biosphere Reserves instead of or as well as being on the Ramsar list. For example, the marshes of southern Iraq are on the heritage list partly because they contain the ruins of several Sumerian cities.
Destinations
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Ramsar sites" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: Ckpcb, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons