The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, established in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, holds Conferences of the Parties (COP) to advance wetland conservation.
Below is a concise timeline of Ramsar COPs since inception, based on official records:
- 1971: Ramsar Convention adopted in Iran, effective 1975, with COP as its decision-making body.
- 1980 (COP1, Cagliari, Italy): First COP, set conservation guidelines, framework for Ramsar Sites.
- 1984 (COP2, Groningen, Netherlands): Adopted criteria for wetland designation, pushed national policies.
- 1987 (COP3, Regina, Canada): Introduced “wise use” concept, financial aid for developing nations.
- 1990 (COP4, Montreux, Switzerland): Established Ramsar Small Grants Fund, monitoring procedures.
- 1993 (COP5, Kushiro, Japan): Focused on integrating wetlands into development, public awareness.
- 1996 (COP6, Brisbane, Australia): Adopted first Strategic Plan, emphasized partnerships.
- 1999 (COP7, San José, Costa Rica): Guidelines for wetland management, community involvement.
- 2002 (COP8, Valencia, Spain): Addressed climate change, water management, cultural values.
- 2005 (COP9, Kampala, Uganda): First African COP, focused on poverty reduction, integrated management.
- 2008 (COP10, Changwon, South Korea): Highlighted wetlands and urbanization, biodiversity.
- 2012 (COP11, Bucharest, Romania): Promoted wetland tourism, restoration policies.
- 2015 (COP12, Punta del Este, Uruguay): Adopted new Strategic Plan, youth engagement.
- 2018 (COP13, Dubai, UAE): Focused on urban wetlands, sustainable development.
- 2022 (COP14, Wuhan, China & Geneva, Switzerland): Addressed wetland loss, climate resilience, hybrid format due to COVID-19.
COPs occur roughly every three years, with the next (COP15) starting in Zimbabwe on 23 July 2025.
