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Ramsar Wetlands
Values, Assessment, Management
- 1st Edition - July 1, 2023
- Editors: Peter Gell, Nick Davidson, Max Finlayson
- Language: English
- Paperback ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 1 2 - 8 1 7 8 0 3 - 4
- eBook ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 1 2 - 8 1 7 8 0 4 - 1
Ramsar Wetlands: Values, Assessment, Management addresses the approaches, successes and limitations of the Ramsar Convention in a changing world, how recent approaches to wetland m… Read more
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Request a sales quoteRamsar Wetlands: Values, Assessment, Management addresses the approaches, successes and limitations of the Ramsar Convention in a changing world, how recent approaches to wetland monitoring and management can contribute to improving wetland state, what the future holds for wetlands and their wise use, and what the Ramsar Convention needs to do to achieve future successes. The book presents a unique outlook on a range of issues, addressing considerable advances in our understanding of wetlands, their great environmental, social, cultural and economic importance, their role in maintaining the global water-cycle, and in mitigating and adapting to changing climates.
No other book has yet taken this broad look at the past, present and future of wetlands and the Ramsar Convention. From aquatic ecologists, environmental scientists and engineers, to water resource managers, conservation agencies, and land management planners, this comprehensive guide is a beneficial tool in understanding wetlands.
- Answers questions on the responsibilities and roles of signatory nations to the Ramsar Convention, including how it may deal with ongoing and emerging causes of wetland change
- Addresses ongoing challenges of reporting and managing wetland change
- Provides a multidisciplinary approach and details the wise use principle that underpins the convention
University researchers/students in the fields of aquatic ecology, geography, general ecology, environmental science/engineering, botany and biology, as well as environmental policy. Water/soil resource managers, land management planners, conservation agencies and environmental management/protection agencies
- Cover
- Title page
- Table of Contents
- Copyright
- Contributors
- Authors’ biography
- Foreword
- Preface
- References
- About the editors
- 1: An introduction to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
- Abstract
- 1.1: The convention
- 1.2: The status of the world’s wetlands
- 1.3: Issues for the future of the convention and the world’s wetlands
- 1.4: Planning for the next 50 years
- 1.5: This volume
- References
- 2: Ramsar Convention governance and processes at the international level
- Abstract
- 2.1: Introduction
- 2.2: Decision-making bodies
- 2.3: Administrative body
- 2.4: Scientific advisory body
- 2.5: International Organisation Partners
- 2.6: Strategic plans
- 2.7: Evaluating the success of implementation
- 2.8: Conclusions
- References
- 3: Ramsar at the national level: Application and incorporation into domestic law
- Abstract
- 3.1: Introduction
- 3.2: The three pillars
- 3.3: Incorporation of Ramsar Convention obligations in national law and policy
- 3.4: The Ramsar Convention as impetus for broader domestic wetland laws and policies
- 3.5: Conclusion
- References
- Further reading
- 4: The extent and distribution of the world’s wetlands
- Abstract
- 4.1: Introduction
- 4.2: The global area of all wetlands
- 4.3: Global areas of inland, marine/coastal, and human-made wetlands
- 4.4: Global areas of different wetland classes
- 4.5: Regional distribution of all wetlands and different wetland classes
- 4.6: Wetland area estimates—Needs, gaps, and issues
- 4.7: Conclusions
- References
- Further reading
- 5: The distribution of the world’s internationally important wetlands and their contribution to global protected area goals and Aichi Biodiversity Target 11
- Abstract
- 5.1: Introduction
- 5.2: Wetland types
- 5.3: Designation criteria
- 5.4: Contribution to Aichi Target 11
- 5.5: Discussion
- Appendix 1. Ramsar wetland types and codes
- Appendix 2. Freshwater Ecoregions Identification (ECO ID) and description and Major Habitat Type Number (MHT No) and description without Ramsar Sites as of 22 September 2020
- References
- Further reading
- 6: Linking wetland ecological processes with the delivery of ecosystem services
- Abstract
- 6.1: Introduction
- 6.2: Hydrological dynamics
- 6.3: Biotic dynamics
- 6.4: Biogeochemical dynamics
- 6.5: Conclusions
- References
- 7: Ecosystem services
- Abstract
- 7.1: What are ecosystem services?
- 7.2: Ecosystem services and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
- 7.3: What value do ecosystem services provide?
- 7.4: Who receives the benefits of wetland ecosystem services?
- 7.5: How to assess ecosystem services—Tools and techniques
- 7.6: The future—How to mainstream ecosystem services
- References
- 8: The response of wetlands to long-term climate change
- Abstract
- 8.1: Introduction
- 8.2: Climate cycles
- 8.3: Present and future climates in the context of the past
- 8.4: Climate variability, natural ecological character, and limits to acceptable change
- 8.5: Conclusion
- References
- 9: What’s happening to the world’s wetlands?
- Abstract
- 9.1: Introduction
- 9.2: Wetland area change—Natural and human-made
- 9.3: Ecological character state and trends of remaining wetlands
- 9.4: Trends in wetland-dependent species and populations
- 9.5: Understanding change in wetland ecological character
- 9.6: Deciding appropriate baseline and reference states for ecological character assessment
- 9.7: Discussion
- References
- Further reading
- 10: Cultural landscapes: Human impacts on wetlands
- Abstract
- Acknowledgements
- 10.1: Introduction
- 10.2: The impact of people on wetlands—The long-term perspective
- 10.3: Identifying wetland condition relative to the past
- 10.4: Summary: Wetlands as cultural landscapes
- References
- 11: What’s driving wetland loss and degradation?
- Abstract
- 11.1: Introduction
- 11.2: Direct drivers of change in wetlands
- 11.3: Indirect drivers of change
- 11.4: Megatrends
- 11.5: Assessment of drivers of change
- 11.6: Discussion and conclusions
- References
- 12: Wetland monitoring: Understanding variability and change in ecological condition
- Abstract
- Acknowledgements
- 12.1: Introduction and definitions
- 12.2: Goals of monitoring of wetland ecological character
- 12.3: Variables and processes to monitor
- 12.4: Challenges and opportunities
- References
- 13: Trajectories in wetland condition: Setting limits of acceptable change
- Abstract
- 13.1: Introduction
- 13.2: Ramsar terms and context
- 13.3: Limits of acceptable change
- 13.4: Incorporating trajectories
- 13.5: Conclusion
- References
- 14: Management effectiveness of wetland-protected areas
- Abstract
- 14.1: Introduction: Policy for managing wetlands
- 14.2: The management process
- 14.3: Wetland protected areas
- 14.4: What is management effectiveness?
- 14.5: Tools for tracking management effectiveness in wetlands
- 14.6: Management effectiveness for Ramsar sites
- 14.7: Lessons learnt from wetland-protected area management effectiveness
- 14.8: Wetland management effectiveness: The big picture
- 14.9: Managing wetlands as socio-ecological systems
- 14.10: Conclusions
- References
- Further reading
- 15: Investing in wetland restoration: Practical guidance and looking ahead
- Abstract
- Acknowledgements
- 15.1: Introduction to wetland restoration
- 15.2: Need for wetland restoration
- 15.3: Practitioner guidance
- 15.4: Looking ahead
- References
- 16: Human culture and its evolving place in the Ramsar Convention
- Abstract
- Acknowledgements
- 16.1: Wetlands in culture and culture in wetlands
- 16.2: Culture in formal Ramsar texts and obligations
- 16.3: The Ramsar Culture Network
- 16.4: Documenting culture in Ramsar’s information systems
- 16.5: Key collaborations
- 16.6: Culture and environmental sustainability
- References
- 17: International governance of water for wetland conservation
- Abstract
- 17.1: Introduction
- 17.2: Wetland and water-related definitions
- 17.3: State of the waters
- 17.4: International governance of wetlands
- 17.5: Discussion and conclusions: International water governance for wetlands
- Annex 1. Case study: Amazon Cooperation Treaty vis-à-vis other water agreements and customary international law
- References
- 18: Climate change and wetlands: Vulnerability, adaptation, mitigation, resolutions, and scientific societies
- Abstract
- 18.1: Introduction
- 18.2: Climate change as a driver of change in wetlands
- 18.3: Impact of climate change on wetlands
- 18.4: Vulnerability of wetlands to climate change
- 18.5: Wetlands and mitigation of climate change
- 18.6: Adaptation to the impacts of climate change
- 18.7: Ramsar Convention decisions on climate change
- 18.8: Climate change initiatives from scientific societies
- References
- Further reading
- 19: Wetlands as social–ecological systems: Bridging nature and society
- Abstract
- 19.1: Introduction
- 19.2: Wetlands as coupled social–ecological systems
- 19.3: Understanding change in wetland systems—The role of values and worldviews
- 19.4: Wetland wise use—A social–ecological systems interpretation
- 19.5: Applying the social–ecological systems approach
- 19.6: Conclusions and future directions
- References
- Further reading
- 20: Wetlands and future change—Implications and opportunities with the Ramsar Convention
- Abstract
- 20.1: Introduction
- 20.2: How will the world’s wetlands change?
- 20.3: How might the Ramsar Convention respond?
- 20.4: Last words
- References
- Glossary
- Index
- No. of pages: 360
- Language: English
- Edition: 1
- Published: July 1, 2023
- Imprint: Elsevier
- Paperback ISBN: 9780128178034
- eBook ISBN: 9780128178041
PG
Peter Gell
Professor Gell is a paleoecologist who examines change in the condition of wetlands over culturally relevant timelines. He has a particular interest in contributing to a better understanding of natural ecological character under the Ramsar Convention. He specialises in the use of diatoms as indicators of present, and past, river and lake condition, particularly in coastal systems and across Australia's Murray Darling Basin. An emerging interest is the use of paleoecological approaches to reveal past instances of regimes shifts and tipping points in wetland ecosystems. He also continues his interests in the use of birds as indicators of ecosystem health.
Professor Gell has written over 140 journal articles, books, book chapters and reports, is a member of the Scientific Steering Committee of the Future Earth Global Change Project PAGES (Past Global Changes) and leads its ‘Aquatic Transitions’ working group.
Affiliations and expertise
Emeritus Professor, Future Regions Research Centre, Federation University Australia, Ballarat, AustraliaND
Nick Davidson
Professor Nick Davidson is an Adjunct Professor at the Institute of Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt University, Australia, and an independent consultant on wetland conservation and wise use. His work focusses on improving the science knowledge-base for policy-relevance and decision-making at national and international scales and the implementation of wetland wise use. His current research interests focus on wetland status and trends and the status, migrations and ecophysiology of migratory waterbirds. Nick was the Deputy Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands from 2000 to 2014, with overall responsibility for the Convention's global development and delivery of scientific, technical and policy guidance and advice and communications, as the Convention Secretariat’s senior advisor on these matters. Prior to his Ramsar Convention post he worked for the UK's national government conservation agencies on coastal wetland inventory, assessment, information systems and communications, and as International Science Coordinator for the global NGO Wetlands International. He currently chairs the Society of Wetland Scientists’ (SWS) Ramsar Section, is an SWS International Fellow and an Honorary Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Water & Environmental Management (CIWEM).
Affiliations and expertise
Gulbali Institute for Agriculture, Water and Environment, Charles Sturt University, Albury, New South Wales, Australia
Nick Davidson Environmental, United KingdomMF
Max Finlayson
Professor Max Finlayson is an internationally renowned wetland ecologist with extensive experience internationally in water pollution, mining and agricultural impacts, invasive species, climate change, and human well-being and wetlands. He has participated in global assessments such as those conducted by the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change, the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, and the Global Environment Outlook 4 & 5 (UNEP). Since the early 1990s he has been a technical adviser to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and has written extensively on wetland ecology and management. He has also been actively involved in environmental NGOs and from 2002 - 07 was President of the governing council of global NGO Wetlands International. He is currently on the scientific committee of the International Lake Environment Committee.
Professor Finlayson has contributed to over 400 journal articles, reports, guidelines, proceedings and book chapters on wetland ecology and management. He has contributed to the development of concepts and methods for wetland inventory, assessment and monitoring, and undertaken many site-based assessments in many countries.
Affiliations and expertise
Institute for Water Education, IHE Delft, Netherlands
Gulbali Institute for Agriculture, Water & Environment, Charles Sturt University, Albury, New South Wales, AustraliaRead Ramsar Wetlands on ScienceDirect