Inspire WMS Service Ramsar Territories Tyrol

The Ramsar Convention is a framework programme for the protection and sustainable use of wetlands of international importance. Protected area identification at national level is to be promoted and supported through international cooperation. In 1971, the Ramsar Agreement was signed in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the Caspian Sea, including Germany. The WWF and the World Conservation Union (IUCN) played a crucial role in shaping the convention from the outset. In 1975, the agreement entered into force. In 1980, the first Member State Conference took place in Italy. Member States meet every three years. In the meantime, 133 countries have signed the agreement. Most of the wetlands protected by the Ramsar Convention have designated Great Britain. Germany ranks 11st with 31 areas. The largest of the Ramsar areas is the Delta area of the mighty Okawango river in Botswana with over 6.8 million hectares — an area the size of Bavaria. The smallest Ramsar areas, on the other hand, are only one hectare in size — such as the Hosnie’s Source on Christmas Island in Australia. 1229 wetlands worldwide are currently protected by the Ramsar Convention. Together they reach an area of about 106 million hectares, which corresponds to the size of Portugal. The RAMSAR areas are assigned to the INSPIRE data topic Protected Areas (Annex I).