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Tuesday, 15 November
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Plenary
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On Draft Revolution 3 Rev.1 on engagement in ongoing multilateral processes,
Wetlands International proposed to add a reference to "an ecosystem
approach" in integrated water resources management.
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Nick Davidson, Deputy Secretary General, provided an overview of changes
in Draft Resolution 4 Rev.1 on conservation, production and sustainable
use of fisheries resources.
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Paula Warren, New Zealand, suggested replacing a paragraph referencing
"areas" with revised language from the Annex referencing "marine wetlands."
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On Draft Resolution 8 Rev.2, regional initiatives, Maria Rivera, Colombia,
said the America regional group prepared a budget for the regional initiative
on High Andean Wetlands for the COP's consideration.
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India welcomed greater regional initiatives, but stressed that any type
regional infinitive should include all countries concerned in the region
and subject to their acceptance.
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On Draft Resolution 10 Rev.1, natural disaster prevention, mitigation
and adaptation, Karen Jenderedjian, Armenia, proposed a clause
specifying the human activity of drainage as exacerbating natural
phenomena.
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David Stroud, United Kingdom, reported on the outcomes of the contact
group on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).
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Robert Hepworth, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Migratory
Species, praised the work done at this COP on avian flu.
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Lillian Carillo, Peru, suggested a new title for the avian flu resolution,
"HPAI and its consequences on wetlands and waterbirds and management and
conservation of them for the benefit of human wellbeing."
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On Draft Resolution 22, Rev.2, Gunn Mari Paulsen, Norway, reported on
the outcomes of the contact group on cultural values of wetlands, which
she co-chaired.
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Claudine Sakimin, Suriname, noted that it has two tribal groups, one
indigenous and the other not, and asked that references to "indigenous
people" in resolutions on cultural values be modified to refer to both
groups.
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Fiji, on behalf of Samoa, thanked the plenary for agreeing to the
resolution on cultural values, noting that it originated from the small
island developing states.
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Environment Minister Lee Jaeyong, Korea, extended its invitation to host
Ramsar COP10 in the city of Changwon, Gyeongnam Province, in 2008.
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Tae Ho Kim, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, Korea, gave a
presentation on its plans for hosting Ramsar COP10.
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Noriko Moriwake, Japan, welcomed the Republic of Korea's bid to host
Ramsar COP10, noting that this would help raise awareness among the
17 Asian countries are not yet signatories to the Convention.
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Romania expressed its intention to be the host country of Ramsar COP11,
to be held in 2011.
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Hassan Janabi, Iraq, expressed its happiness at being able to attend
Ramsar COP9 on an observer basis, and stated that as part of
reintegrating into the international community, it would ratify the
Convention prior to COP10.
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Bernard Yaw Ofori-Frimpong, Ghana, urged African nations to follow
Uganda's example in conservation of wetlands, and looked forward to
the day when Africa would once again host a Ramsar COP.
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An NGO representative urged Parties to engage NGOs at the national level
in order to achieve the shared objective of ensuring the conservation
and wise use of wetlands.
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A representative for indigenous people expressed concern about low
participation level by indigenous people at this COP, highlighting
indigenous peoples' important role in conserving wetlands.
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Birdlife International, on behalf of the Convention's International
Organization Partners, commended attention given to tackling poverty,
Convention governance, and rapid responses to avian flu and natural
phenomena, but lamented lack of political impact and called for
raising awareness about the Convention.
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Kahinda Otafiire, Minister of Lands, Water and Environment, Uganda;
Peter Bridgewater, Secretary-General, Ramsar Convention; and Jeje Odongo,
Minister of State for Environment, Uganda, at the close of the session.
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Standing Committee
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During the lunch recess, outgoing Standing Committee Chair Gordana
Beltram (Slovenia) and Deputy Secretary General Nick Davidson met
informally with new members of the Standing Committee, to plan their
first meeting, which was held in the evening after the close of the
COP.
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COP10 MOU Signing Ceremony
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As the closing session of COP9 drew to an end, Environment Minister
Lee Jaeyong, Korea, and Tae Ho Kim, Governor of Gyeongnam
Province, Korea, signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the city of
Changwon to host COP10.
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Around COP9
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Korean environmentalists welcomed Ramsar COP10 to their country, and at
the same time called for improved care and management of its wetlands.
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Prof. Eckhart Kuijken, Belgium, was at Ramsar, Iran in 1971, and is
still working in the field!
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Ramsar Convention Secretary-General Peter Bridgewater models the official
COP9 baseball cap.
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Mayumi Suzuki, Japan, and Hassan Janabi, Iraq.
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Jeje Odongo, Minister of State for Environment, Uganda (right), shares a smile
with the Honorable Ruth Kavuma, Member of the Ugandan Parliament and its
Natural Resources Committee, and her assistant Vivien Kobusingye (left).
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Your Earth Negotiations Bulletin team at Ramsar COP9: Xenya Cherny,
Dan Birchall, Robynne Boyd, Francis Ndolo, Leila Mead, Changbo Bai and
Leonie Gordon.
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