Changwon Declaration adopted at Ramsar convention on wetlands

CHANGWON, South Korea, Nov. 4 (Yonhap) -- A new declaration was adopted Tuesday
at the close of an international gathering, setting five priority themes in
preserving the world's wetlands.
The Changwon Declaration was adopted at the 10th meeting of the Conference of the
Contracting Parties to the (Ramsar) Convention on Wetlands which ends Tuesday
evening after eight days of conference in this city some 400 kilometers southeast
of Seoul.
Conference officials stressed that the Changwon Declaration was different from
others issued at international environmental meetings, as it offers practical
actions and ways to assure the declaration will have impact.
The Changwon Declaration highlights positive actions for ensuring human
well-being and security in the future under five priority thematic headings
related to wetlands -- water, climate change, people's livelihoods, people's
health, land use change and biodiversity.
It also embodied execution mechanisms, officials said.
Formally titled "The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance,
Especially as Waterfowl Habitat," the convention was developed and adopted by
participating nations at a meeting in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971.
The convention was originally aimed at the conservation and wise use of all
wetlands through local, regional and national actions and international
cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development
throughout the world.
ygkim@yna.co.kr
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