TNAG-2297-FCO40-3321-Hong-Kong-International-Rights-and-Obligations-(IRO)-Sub-Gro-1991 — Page 173

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CONFIDENTIAL

нисоза

1.8 APR 1991

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 809

OF 15095OZ MARCH 91

INFO ROUTINE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

جر

167352 MDLIAN 6216

TOP COPY Q DIST?

A.

P.a.

MIPT: IRO SUB-GROUP: MULTILATERAL TREATIES: CONSERVATION.

DRAFT PAPER REFERRED TO IN PARA 1(A) OF TUR-

BEGINS

THE CONVENTION ON WETLANDS OF INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE ESPECIALLY AS WATERFOWL HABITAT (THE 'RAMSAR CONVENTION', TEXT AT ANNEX A) WAS CONCLUDED IN 1971 AND IS BASED UPON A RECOGNITION OF THE ECOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE OF WELTANDS TOGETHER WITH THEIR GREAT ECONOMIC, CULTURAL, SCIENTIFIC AND RECREATIONAL VALUE. ITS AIM IS TO STEM THE PROGRESSIVE LOSS OF WETLAND HABITATS WORLDWIDE. THE CONVENTION PROVIDES FOR THE DESIGNATION OF WETLANDS OF INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE AS A FIRST STEP IN RECOGNITION OF KEY WETLANDS HABITATS. THE PRINCIPAL OBLIGATION IS FOR EACH CONTRACTING PARTY TO DESIGNATE AT LEAST ONE WELTAND WITHIN ITS TERRITORY FOR INCLUSION IN A LIST OF WELTANDS OF INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE (ARTICLE 2.4). WETLANDS SHOULD BE SELECTED ON ACCOUNT OF THEIR INTERNATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE IN TERMS OF ECOLOGY, BOTANY, ZOOLOGY, LIMNOLOGY OR HYDROLOGY CARTICLE 2.2). IF A CONTRACTING PARTY SUBSEQUENTLY DELETES OR RESTRICTS THE BOUNDARIES OF A WETLAND INCLUDED IN THE LIST, IT SHOULD AS FAR AS POSSIBLE COMPENSATE FOR ANY LOSS OF WETLAND RESOURCES AND IN PARTICULAR IT SHOULD CREATE ADDITIONAL NATURE RESERVES FOR WATERFOWL (ARTICLE 4.2). OTHER OBLIGATIONS IMPOSED ON CONTRACTING PARTIES ARE, INTER ALIA, TO -

(A) FORMULATE AND IMPLEMENT PLANNING TO PROMOTE, AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, THE WISE USE OF WETLANDS (ARTICLE 3.1):

(B) ESTABLISH NATURE RESERVES ON WETLANDS FOR THE CONSERVATION OF WETLANDS AND WATERFOWLS AND MAKE ADEQUATE PROVISION FOR THEIR · WARDENING (ARTICLE 4.1):

(C) ENCOURAGE WETLANDS RESEARCH CARTICLE 4.3):

(D) ENDEAVOUR THROUGH MANAGEMENT TO INCREASE WATERFOWL

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