important plant areas in central and eastern europe - Plantlife

Section 7
References:
Ramsar Convention website and database
(www.ramsar.org)
Wetlands International website
(www.wetlands.org)
IPAs and the Ramsar Convention on wetlands
Context
The Ramsar Convention (adopted in 1971) is an intergovernmental treaty, which
provides the framework for national action and international cooperation on the
conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. The term ‘wetland’ includes
marsh, fen, peatland, water, and marine water less than six metres at low tide.To date
141 countries are signatories of the convention, including all of the seven partner
countries in this project.The current guidelines contain four criteria that include plants
and plant communities.
Criterion 1: rare, representative or unique example of natural or near-natural wetland
type within appropriate biogeographic region
Criterion 2: vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered species or threatened
ecological community
Criterion 3: populations of plant and/or animal species important for maintaining
biological diversity of a particular biogeographic region
Criterion 4: supports plants and/or animal species at a critical stage in their life cycles,
or provides refuge during adverse conditions
Full description of criteria at www.ramsar.org
IPAs and Ramsar
In the seven partner countries in this project there are currently 42 RAMSAR sites, 78
IPAs are found within the boundaries of these RAMSAR sites.
224 IPAs (28%) contain threatened mire, bog and fen habitats
197 IPAs (25%) contain threatened inland water habitats
74 IPAs (9%) contain threatened coastal and halophytic habitats
A frog emerges from the leaves of
Spirodella polyrhiza and Salvinia natans.
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