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50 Years on, w(h)ither the Ramsar convention? A case of institutional drift
Peter Bridgewater1,2, Rakhyun E Kim1
1Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Princetonlaan 8a, 3584 CB Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Biodiversity and Conservation
|September 6, 2021
Summary
The Ramsar Convention, despite 50 years of focus on wetlands, has drifted from its core mission. Realigning with its original mandate is crucial for effective wetland conservation and recovery.
Area of Science:
- Environmental policy
- Conservation science
- International environmental law
Background:
- Wetlands face accelerating decline in area and quality over the past 50 years.
- International attention has been focused on wetlands via the Ramsar Convention during this period.
Purpose of the Study:
- Analyze the evolution of the Ramsar Convention over the last 50 years.
- Identify reasons for the convention's drift from its original mandate and its impact on objectives.
- Propose future directions for effective wetland conservation.
Main Methods:
- Review of the Ramsar Convention's strategic plans.
- Analysis of institutional factors contributing to policy drift.
- Assessment of the convention's role within the broader biodiversity governance landscape.
Main Results:
- The Ramsar Convention has drifted from its original mandate in a maladaptive manner.
- Key factors include its non-UN status (reducing visibility and interactivity) and a competitive institutional landscape with numerous biodiversity conventions.
- This drift has hindered the achievement of its objectives.
Conclusions:
- Reasserting the original mandate, while acknowledging 21st-century environmental pressures, is vital for the convention's future effectiveness.
- A focused reorientation can enable recovery for wetlands and waterfowl.
- Active and focused Contracting Parties are essential for a renewed convention on wetland conservation.
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