Wetlands (INSPIRE Harmonised)

Wetlands are the wet nature reserves in the Netherlands. The Wetland Treaty was signed in Ramsar, Iran on February 2, 1971. The Netherlands was one of the 16 countries that signed the treaty. In 1980, the Netherlands ratified the Convention. The Ramsar Convention is one of the oldest international conventions on nature. In the meantime 138 countries have signed the Wetlands-Convention (State of August 2004). The Ramsar Convention aims to protect Wetlands and the associated plant and animal species. “Wetlands” or “wet country” is officially defined according to the Ramsar Convention as: ‘Watery areas, marshes, fens, peat or peat areas, natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with stagnant or running water, fresh, brackish or salty, including seawater, the depth of which at ebb is not more than six metres’. These include the coastal and coastal areas adjacent to wetlands and islands or seawater areas within these areas. In the Netherlands there are a total of 44 Wetlands. These Wetlands have been placed by the Ramsar Secretariat on “The Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance”. Wetlands International maintains an extensive database on each area on the list. This database and other information about the Ramsar Convention can be found on the website of the Ramsar Secretariat.
Between 1980 and 1995, the Netherlands placed eighteen Wetlands on this Ramsar list. In 2000, 26 Wetlands were added again. Countries that accede to the Wetlands Convention mainly have a moral obligation to implement the Ramsar Treaty. The provisions are less binding and binding than those of European law obligations arising from the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive. The areas selected for these Directives are called Natura 2000 sites. In the Netherlands, all Wetlands (except one) are also Birds Directive Area or Natura 2000 site.
The role and possibilities of Wetlands are often underestimated. First of all, they have important ecological functions: they are indispensable because of its location on international migratory routes of birds. Or as a nursery for fish and marine animals. But humans also benefit from Wetlands: especially in our densely populated delta. They are used for fishing, recreation/tourism, shipping, water storage (against flooding), drinking water supply or as an attractive living environment. Dealing with it carefully and taking advantage of opportunities is therefore important. In total, almost one million hectares in the Netherlands are Wetland, which is 27 % of the total area of our country (including territorial waters).