The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance held their 26th Meeting of the Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP26) this week from 5-8 February in Gland, Switzerland.
This comes as the first Ramsar meeting since the CIC was accepted as an Intergovernmental Organisation (IGO) of the Convention last year; the CIC Director General Sebastian Winkler and Policy Coordinator Alexandra Kalandarishvili were present to provide technical inputs.
Much of the focus at the STRP26 was on the Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP) Workplan 2023-2025, which explores how the sustainable use of wetlands can contribute towards addressing climate change, while delving into measures to integrate sustainable use as part of national sustainable development strategies.
The 2023-2025 Workplan is carried out through five thematic Working Areas, each targeting a different area of wetland conservation.
Of relevance to the CIC were two of these Work Areas, which the CIC will be providing inputs on in subsequent meetings:
- Thematic Work Area 4: Wise use, sustainable management and restoration of wetlands in the wider landscape/seascape.
- Thematic Work Area 5: Cross-cutting issues, supporting functions, and synergies with other MEAs
Other notable talking points surrounded the 5th Strategic Plan of the Convention on Wetlands – Targets and Indicators, which is currently under development
A first draft of the Plan was presented to those in attendance as part of the proceedings; reflective of much of Ramsar’s work in recent years, it also identifies sustainable use as a foundational principle for the work of the Convention in the years ahead.
The 5th Strategic Plan is due to be adopted at the Ramsar COP15 in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe (2025). As part of the discussions in Gland, the CIC offered its support to the Ramsar Secretariat within the framework of the conference.
