Preserving vulnerable and characteristic wetlands of
international importance, such as the Pantanal, the Everglades,
the Danube delta or the Wadden Sea and implementation of the
ecosystem approach and precautionary principle were among the
most critical issues that the participants at the 7th
International Ecological conference (INTECOL) on Wetlands
regarded important. Wise use, conservation and restoration of
wetlands worldwide were discussed in the context of global
climate change, human population pressure and expected economic
developments.
The more than 900 INTECOL Conference participants coming from
universities and research institutions as well as wetland,
and/or nature management programmes, from over eighty countries
and representing a wide range of expertise in wetland science,
natural resource management, water policy and nature
conservation;
Discussed a large amount of new scientific information on
wetland functioning, wetland biodiversity, hydrology, food chain
support (e.g. fish production), wetland restoration, in relation
to integrated water resources management, past and future
climate change and expected impacts of economic development in
Asia, Latin America and Africa.
Came to agreement on the following issues:
-
Major human reclamation of very large wetland areas, as
perhaps best exemplified by the historic development of the
Western part of The Netherlands, may have brought great economic
success and social welfare, but at the same time has led to the
major disruption of large-scale wetland functioning, causing
serious problems such as land subsidence, oxidation of peat,
destruction of natural water purification potential, and
increasing risks of major floods which can only be prevented by
very costly artificial flood control structures in combination
with continuous pumping. It is evident that natural ecosystems
and biodiversity have been very seriously damaged and altered
throughout the history of reclamation.
-
Future plans for reclamation of large wetland areas or
drastic hydraulic measures in rivers (e.g. dams) should never be
allowed without a very critical and thorough assessment of the
ecological consequences and trade-offs. In fact, so much
ecological information on past projects with environmental
disasters is already available that future large-scale projects
of reclamation or major hydraulic alteration should generally be
replaced with multiple smaller projects that support ecological
and social benefits.
-
Instead, the principle of 'wise use' should be the
cornerstone of any land use planning in major wetland areas
around the world. This principle implies that wetlands are not
drained but rather developed in intact form, with a sustainable
use of economically important ecosystem services such as fish
and shellfish production, water quality improvement, floodwater
detention, carbon storage, wood production and ecotourism.
-
The vast peatlands in the Northern hemisphere, as well as
the tropical peatlands in Asia, are of paramount importance for
global carbon storage. Further peat mining for fuel or
horticultural purposes will lead to an even further loss of
carbon storage capacity, and at the same time to rapid oxidation
of the extracted peat into carbon dioxide.
-
Fisheries and hunting in wetlands have become so intense
that they are destructive in many major wetland areas.
-
Too often, losses of wetlands are compensated for by
construction of a different kind of wetland, lacking key
characteristics of the original system and therefore of much
less value. The number of different wetland types that can be
successfully restored within a short time frame is limited.
Conservation of existing, intact wetlands, should therefore
remain the highest priority.
-
Management objectives for restoring biodiversity should be
considered at the regional scale, rather than setting objectives
for small areas.
-
A thorough ecological understanding of wetlands is key to
preserving them. It is fundamental that universities and
governments world-wide establish centres of excellence and
ensure significant expansion and implementation of wetland
preservation. Management needs to be adaptive and decisions need
to be based on the precaution principle and on ongoing
scientific research, inventory and assessment.
-
Tidal freshwater wetlands constitute an important wetland
type, which has been strongly disturbed by man and is threatened
by further destruction in many parts of the world. These
wetlands should be protected with high priority.
Acknowledged the paramount importance of wetlands for
biodiversity, water storage, floodwater mitigation, water
quality improvement, migrating birds, nursing grounds, food
chain support and carbon storage;
Are deeply concerned about the threats for the future existence
of wetlands as a result of climate change, economic development
and related human activities, such as overfishing,
infrastructures, flood defence works, pollution and mining
activities;
Especially acknowledged the commitments made by the contracting
parties to the International Convention on Wetlands, otherwise
known as Ramsar, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD),
and other international conventions, and noted the opportunities
for wetland conservation and protection provided by a wide range
of other international treaties and programmes;
Acknowledged with great appreciation the good record of the
government of The Netherlands in supporting wetlands protection
and wise use in the country itself as well as in many regions of
the world through major contributions to international NGO's as
well as contributions through funding of research and
management.
Reminded the 138 contracting parties to the Ramsar convention of
their obligation to identify all sites within their territories
that can be classified as wetlands of international importance
and ensure the conservation and wise use of these sites;
Particularly reminded the Netherlands government of its
responsibility within the EU and further International context
in relation to assigning areas requiring special protection, and
reassuring the wise use of such areas; in particular, the
recently increased mining of peat in the vast peatland complexes
in Eastern Europe, and the use of non-sustainable fishing
methods for shellfish in the Wadden Sea should be followed very
critically
Welcomed scientific leadership towards global conservation of
wetlands as displayed by the Netherlands, Utrecht University and INTECOL in hosting and supporting the Seventh International
Wetlands Conference;
Appreciated with great interest the large number of wetland
restoration projects carried out in the riverine and polder
landscape of the Netherlands and neighbouring countries, and the
major scientific research efforts to assess the causes of
success and failure of restoration.
Recommend that;
the Netherlands government ensures its international
credibility, particularly in relation to its present EU
presidency by applying the ecosystem approach, incorporating the
principles of and wise use to manage wetlands of international
importance and ensuring the precaution;
the Netherlands uses its EU presidency during the following
months for facilitating and benchmarking wetland conservation
policy and management within international, European and
national context, through its numerous highly qualified
international wetland and ecology research institutes and
universities.
the Netherlands cooperates with partner agencies, organisations
and contracting parties to the Ramsar, Biodiversity conventions
to ensure timely and effective implementation of relevant policy
frameworks and principles, and uses the opportunity to address
wetland issues within the EU water framework directive (WFD) as
well as the EU Marine strategy;
new scientific insights and development for preserving wetlands
as presented during this conference will be considered at all
relevant forthcoming meetings of the contracting parties of
international agreements, to allow for adaptive management and
adequately respond over time to the resilience of wetland
systems.
wetland restoration projects will be stimulated and accompanied
by good monitoring and scientific research.
Encourage;
the Netherlands government to conscientious use of wetlands of
international importance particularly in relation to all
activities, including gas extraction, in the Wadden Sea.
Furthermore, the government should initiate progressive policy
and management to conserve and protect the natural resilience of
the Wadden ecosystem by implementing the ban on shell fishing
and allowing for sustainable development.
Engagement of the international wetlands science community to
assist the people and institutions of Iraq and neighbouring
countries to restore the ecological character and social and
economic values of Mesopotamian wetlands
Stronger ties between the range of expertise and experience
represented by INTECOL wetland scientists, policy makers and
environmental managers and the implementation of national and
regional wetland policies and wise use initiatives.
Thanked the Government of the Netherlands and Utrecht University
for hosting, sponsoring and contributing to the 7th INTECOL
Conference.
Signed on behalf of the participants in Utrecht, the Netherlands
July 30, 2004, by R. Eugene Turner and Jos T.A. Verhoeven.