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WWF And IUCN Urge Governments to Take Freshwater Related International Treaties Seriously

April 22nd, 1998



NEW YORK -- The World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF) and IUCN-The World Conservation Union today urged governments and international institutions at the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development meeting to be serious in implementing existing international treaties that relate to freshwater ecosystems.

Among the key treaties that relate significantly to fresh water are the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, 1971) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (1992).

"Governments must show leadership in implementing integrated national water policies if they are serious about averting a global freshwater crisis," said Dr. Claude Martin, Director General of WWF International. "Putting freshwater ecosystem conservation at the center of any action plan on freshwater is critical if freshwater resources are to be available for people on a sustainable basis."

"Protection of freshwater ecosystems is a win-win investment for people," said Dr. Ger Bergkamp, IUCN's Freshwater Resources Coordinator.

IUCN and WWF believe that destruction and deterioration of freshwater ecosystems is leading to negative impacts on human health, living standards and livelihoods. An effective strategy at any scale - local, national, regional or international - must seek to maximize benefits for both people and ecosystems.

"We are happy to learn that Turkey has just added four major wetland sites to the Ramsar List," Dr. Martin said. "We congratulate both the Government of Turkey for their bold decision and WWF's partner organization in Turkey, the DHKD, which was instrumental in the process. Designation of important wetlands on the Ramsar List is a significant first step in arresting the rapid degradation of wetlands."

The four new Turkish Ramsar sites announced are Gediz Delta, Uluabat, Akyatan and Kizilirnak. In addition, the latest government declaration now gives full protection to Kus Lake and Burdur Ramsar sites which earlier had only 50 per cent of their area covered under the Ramsar Convention. Sixty per cent of Turkey's wetlands have been lost during the last three decades to inroads from agriculture, industry and tourism.

Conservation of freshwater ecosystems = water for people: this is a straightforward equation. Without ecosystem conservation, basic human needs cannot be met, and without those basic needs being met, social and economic development to benefit people is not feasible.

Contact:
Carole Saint-Laurent
or Someshwar Singh
or Shannon Kearns
at +1 212 986 8800/1758 (fax)