Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
The International Convention on Wetlands (called the Ramsar Convention) was signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971 and was adopted on 21 December 1975. The Convention promotes the conservation and wise use of wetlands of international significance within each signatory's territory. In signing the Convention, there is an obligation for Contracting Parties to list and protect qualifying wetlands as Ramsar Sites.  Australia was one of the first countries to become a Contracting Party to the Ramsar Convention.

Pied Oystercatchers

Each Contracting Party makes a commitment to:

• Designate wetlands for inclusion on the list of Wetlands of International Importance according to set nomination criteria. These are known as Ramsar Sites;
• Protect the ecological character of listed Ramsar Sites;
• Include wetland conservation within their national planning mechanisms; and,
• Establish nature reserves on wetlands, whether or not they are included in the Ramsar List
• Promote training in the fields of wetland research, management and conservation.
• International Cooperation

For more information on the Ramsar Convention see: http://www.ramsar.org/

Parties to the CMS are obliged to work together to conserve migratory species which share range states by:

• concluding multilateral agreements for the conservation and management of listed migratory species
• undertaking co-operative research activities

The parties undertake to endeavour:

• To conserve or restore the habitats of endangered species;
• To prevent, remove, compensate for or minimise the adverse effects of activities or obstacles that impede the migration of the species; and,
• To the extent feasible and appropriate, to prevent, reduce or control factors that are endangering or are likely to further endanger the species.