The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands: Assessment of International Designations Within the United States

Abstract

The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat, more commonly knows as the Ramsar Convention, is one international framework used to protect wetlands. At this time, the United States has designated 22 sites as wetlands of international importance. In this Article, Royal C. Gardner and Kim Diana Connolly analyze survey data collected from each of these 22 sites to determine whether and how Ramsar designation benefits these wetland areas. The authors first provide a brief overview of the Ramsar Convention, including its function within the United States. They then break down the survey data, looking at both benefits and problems of Ramsar designation. Finally, they make several recommendations for strengthening Ramsar wihin the United States.

Keywords: Ramsar Convention, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, wetlands of international importance, wetlands, U.S. Ramsar National Committee

JEL Classification: HI, N5, Q2, Q3