Description of ecological character
2nd DRAFT 21 Sept 2007
The ecological character of wetlands
Proposals concerning guidance on describing ecological character,
in the context of the Ramsar Convention
(including proposals for harmonization with fields for core wetland inventory)
Dave Pritchard, STRP
(with a little input from Nick Davidson, DSG)
_______________________________________________________________________
Note: This is an updated version of the paper posted on the STRP Support Service on 15 August 2007. Among other things it takes account of the latest version of the federal Australian ecological character description system.
Following this further period of consultation among the Panel, a final version of this document will probably form a background document to be tabled at COP10. A proposal for guidance to be based on/extracted from this document is likely to be offered to the COP for possible adoption, together with proposed guidance on detecting, responding to and reporting on change in ecological character.
It will be helpful at this stage if Working Group members could consider and comment on the nature and presentation of the guidance that should be offered to the COP, based on this paper. Comments would be particularly helpful on the level of detail which it would be appropriate to seek from compilers of the proposed ecological character description sheet. There would be several options for how to present the various fields to compilers to match the chosen level of detail – for example free-text boxes, “multiple-choice”/“tick-box” approaches etc.
The terminology has been chosen for compatibility with other existing guidance and schemes, but has not yet been checked for potential problems when translated into other Convention languages. Comments on any such problems that may be perceived will also be important at this stage.
A couple of technical questions have also been highlighted in the text.
Views on these matters would be welcomed by the response deadline of 22 October.
Additional note by DSG (January 2008). No further comments have been made on the STRP Support Service website forum, so it will be essential the issues and queries raised in Dave Pritchard’s note above are addressed and agreed during STRP14 if this material, revised into guidance for Parties, is to be prepared for COP10.
The Panel should also note that this discussion paper includes comparisons between core inventory, proposed ecological character, and current Ramsar Information Sheet (RIS) fields. This also speaks to the component of STRP task 52 concerning making proposals for any revisions to the RIS, since the paper indicates that at least a reorganization, and harmonization of field titles, of the RIS may be appropriate. The paper also provides indications that a more radical change to RIS, focusing on justifications against Criteria for international importance of the site, may be an option, with core inventory/ecological character description sitting behind the RIS itself as supporting information needed for management, monitoring and reporting change in ecological character (see also Dave Pritchard’s WG1 companion paper on task 54 (detecting, reporting and responding to change in ecological character).
However, given the significance to Contracting Parties of any proposals to amend the RIS too frequently, the Secretariat suggests rather than STRP trying to prepare between now and April (the deadline needed for finalizing STRP materials for COP10 consideration) a major RIS revision, that WG1 and the Panel focus for COP10 on preparing the guidance on describing ecological character, and harmonization of this with core inventory data fields; that the Panel indicates in the COP10 Information Paper on these matters the implications (as above) for amendments to the RIS itself; and that the Panel identifies this aspect of current task 52 as an Immediate Priority for its work in the next triennium.
The ecological character concept, and specification of the current task
1. The original text of the Ramsar Convention includes, in Article 3.2, the requirement that “Each Contracting Party shall arrange to be informed at the earliest possible time if the ecological character of any wetland in its territory and included in the List has changed, is changing or is likely to change”. Through a series of COP decisions (principally the Strategic Plan adopted in 1996 and Resolution VII.8 in 2002), the requirement in Article 3.1 to “promote the conservation” of Ramsar sites has been equated to “maintenance of the ecological character” of these sites.
2. The current definition of “ecological character” is contained in paragraph 15 of Resolution IX.1 Annex A (2005), and reads as follows:
“Ecological character is the combination of the ecosystem components, processes and benefits*/services that characterise the wetland at a given point in time.
*Within this context, ecosystem benefits are defined in accordance with the MA [= Millennium Ecosystem Assessment] definition of ecosystem services as ‘the benefits that people receive from ecosystems”.
3. A separate document (“Detecting, reporting and responding to change in ecological character - consolidated and expanded guidance on the processes”), prepared in 2007, responds to the request made to the STRP (in Resolution VIII.8) for “further consolidated guidance on the overall process of detecting, reporting and responding to change in ecological character”.
4. The present document complements the one described above, and responds to the additional request made to the STRP (in paragraph 52 of the Annex to Resolution IX.2), to prepare “guidance for the description of the ecological character of wetlands”.
5. This therefore moves beyond the definition of the concept, to a treatment of the constituent parts of what goes to make up ecological character, which can be applicable to any wetland in the context of documenting core aspects of an inventory of wetlands (see Resolution VIII.6), and in the context of completing the Ramsar Information Sheet (RIS) for any given Ramsar site.
6. This work is key to the establishment of baselines against which Article 3.2 and relevant Convention indicators and other assessments (and reporting on these) will operate. It leads in turn to suggestions concerning the structure and content of the Ramsar Information Sheet (RIS) and of the core fields for wetland inventory, both of which the STRP has also been asked to address. Harmonisation with the core inventory fields is dealt with later in this paper below. Proposals regarding the RIS will be made separately, and subsequently, once the core inventory and ecological character description proposals firm up.
7. The present exercise offers some reflection on the Convention definition of ecological character, referred to above. While it is certainly correct that the concept should embrace ecosystem components, processes and services, the definition makes clear that ecological character consists not simply of a list of these, but includes the additional idea of what they represent in combination. The dividing-line between what is counted as a component, or a process, or a service, may not always be sharply distinguished. For example “water regime” is included in “components” in the schemes analysed below, but might also be regarded as a “process”. Long debate on this however would not be fruitful, since these categorizations are pragmatic expedients, and the key principle is that ecological character is a holistic rather than a reductionist concept.
8. In any guidance on ecological character description, there will be a need to map out clearly the various different purposes for/uses of this description and how these differ from purposes of core wetland inventory, and also RIS and Article 3.2 reporting. For example, the uses of an ecological character description identified during the on-going Australian work developing ecological character descriptions (described below) include: providing the basis for a summary ecological character description in the RIS; informing management planning; informing monitoring; and providing information to assist in implementing legislation such as EIA legislation that relates to Ramsar sites.
Comparisons of existing characterization frameworks
9. Item-by-item tabulated cross-comparisons were made of existing frameworks where a description of ecological character could be situated, as follows (details available separately):
(i) The current suggested data fields for core inventory, which are contained in the Annex to Resolution VIII.6, were matched against the data fields in the Ramsar Information Sheet (RIS).
Observations include:
- The core inventory fields probably do not distinguish sufficiently between aspects of biological interest that are important for summarizing ecological character in the RIS;
- The core inventory fields omit some administrative information currently required in the RIS, and do not include directly fields relating to international importance/the Ramsar criteria.
(ii) The components, processes and services contributing to ecological character which are listed in the “Framework for describing the ecological character of Ramsar wetlands”, published by the Government of the State of Victoria (Australia) in 2005 (see Annex to the present paper), were matched against the data fields in the RIS.
Observations include:
- Not surprisingly, the Victorian scheme does not cover various administrative and management issues covered in the RIS;
- There are significant ambiguities, or potential duplications, in deciding whether to assign biodiversity interests in the ecological character description to the RIS fields for describing “noteworthy fauna/flora” etc or to those for ecosystem services (“values”);
- There are similar ambiguities in distinguishing between what should be recorded under “land uses” and what should be recorded under services/values;
- Habitat and water connectivity, and “wetland buffer zones”, are also somewhat difficult to correlate between the different schemes;
- (Note also that the Victorian scheme is based on the now superseded 1999 definition of ecological character).
(iii) The components, processes and services contributing to ecological character which are listed in the “Framework for describing the ecological character of Ramsar wetlands”, published by the Government of the State of Victoria (Australia) in 2005, were matched against the current suggested data fields for core inventory, which are contained in the Annex to Resolution VIII.6.
Observations include:
- The core inventory fields do not cater well for ecosystem processes and habitat connectivity;
- There are significant ambiguities, or potential duplications, in deciding whether to assign biodiversity interests in the ecological character description to the core inventory field concerning biotic interests, or to that concerning ecosystem services;
- There are similar ambiguities/duplications between the ideas, in both lists, of land-uses and of services (for example a site may provide recreational services as a by-product, or its main land-use allocation may be for such activities; a site may provide flood storage as an incidental benefit, or it may have been created as an artificial wetland specifically for that purpose; etc).
- (Note also that the Victorian scheme is based on the now superseded 1999 definition of ecological character).
(iv) The current suggested data fields for core inventory, which are contained in the Annex to Resolution VIII.6, were matched against the components, processes and services contributing to ecological character which are listed in the “Framework for describing the ecological character of Ramsar wetlands”, published by the Government of the State of Victoria (Australia) in 2005.
Observations include:
- Naturally, some administrative and management issues covered by core inventory are not covered in the ecological character scheme;
- Again there is a need to rationalize the interpretation of land-uses and services (see above);
- Threats, pressures, vulnerabilities and trends, while covered in the core inventory fields, seem to fall outside the ecological character fields, but in principle they should be included as they are part of the “processes” part of character;
- (Note also that the Victorian scheme is based on the now superseded 1999 definition of ecological character).
(v) The components, processes and services contributing to ecological character which are listed in the the “Framework for describing the ecological character of Ramsar wetlands”, published by the Government of the State of Victoria (Australia) in 2005, were matched against those listed in the latest available draft at the time of writing (draft of 1 August 2007) of the Australian Commonwealth (national) Department of the Environment and Water Resources’ “National Framework and Guidance for Describing the Ecological Character of Australia’s Ramsar Wetlands”.
Observations include:
- Each of these two schemes contains elements which the other does not;
- The Victorian scheme seems to have advantages in referring to habitats, to salinity, and in respect of some of the decisions made about assigning elements between “component” and “process” categories;
- The Commonwealth scheme seems to have advantages in referring to inflows/outflows, evaporation, climate parameters, soil biology, pH, peat, medicinal products, carbon sequestration, genetic products, existence values and research values.
- (Note also that the Victorian scheme is based on the now superseded 1999 definition of ecological character).
A global synthesis proposal for ecological character description
10. Taking account of the analyses described above, a proposed global scheme for describing ecological character in the context of the Ramsar Convention is provided below. (Guidance notes for compilers, giving some interpretation of the various fields below, will need to be drafted to accompany the description sheet). Some notes on the approach taken/points emerging, and comments on harmonization/linkage with the RIS and with core inventory fields, then follow underneath the table. For an explanation of purposes for including the “Change/likely change?” column, see paragraphs [XX]-[XX] below.
11. In addition to the proposed “Change/likely change?” column, it may also be appropriate to include a further column to describe the “Limits of acceptable change, where defined”. This would speak to the role of the ecological character description in management planning, and also in determining when an Article 3.2 report of non-trivial change in ecological character would be needed (for further discussion of limits of acceptable change see the separate STRP draft paper on “Detecting, reporting and responding to change in ecological character”). (see also paragraphs 18/19 below)
| |
|Ramsar ecological character description sheet |
| |Change/likely change? |
|Site name: | | |
|Official name of site and catchment)/other identifier(s) (eg | | |
|reference number) | | |
| | |
|1. Summary statement |
| |Change/likely change? |
|Two or three narrative sentences giving a statement of what is | | |
|ecologically distinctive (not necessarily important) about the | | |
|site, based on the details below. | | |
|(With reference to the COP 9 definition, this concerns the | | |
|combination of the components, processes and services that | | |
|characterise the wetland (emphasis added)). | | |
| |
|2. Ecological components |
| |Change/likely change? |
|2.1 Geomorphic setting: | | |
|Setting in the landscape/catchment/river basin - including | | |
|altitude, upper/lower zone of catchment, distance to coast | | |
|where relevant, etc | | |
|2.2 Climate: | | |
|Overview of prevailing climate type, zone and major features | | |
|(precipitation, temperature, wind) | | |
|2.3 Habitat types (including comments on particular rarity | | |
|etc), and Ramsar wetland types | | |
|2.4 Habitat connectivity | | |
|2.5 Area, boundary and dimensions: | | |
|Site shape (cross-section and plan view), boundaries, area, | | |
|area of water/wet area (seasonal max/min where relevant), | | |
|length, width, depth (seasonal max/min where relevant) | | |
|2.6 Plant communities, vegetation zones and structure | | |
|(including comments on particular rarity etc) | | |
|2.7 Animal communities (including comments on particular | | |
|rarity etc) | | |
|2.8 Main species present (including comments on particular | | |
|rare/endangered species etc); population size and proportion | | |
|where known, seasonality of occurrence, and approximate | | |
|position in distribution range (eg whether near centre or edge | | |
|of range) | | |
|2.9 Soil: | | |
|Geology, soils and substrates; and soil biology | | |
|2.10 Water regime: | | |
|Water source (surface and groundwater), inflow/outflow, | | |
|evaporation, flooding frequency, seasonality and duration; | | |
|magnitude of flow and/or tidal regime, links with groundwater | | |
|2.11 Connectivity of surface waters and of groundwater | | |
|2.12 Stratification and mixing regime | | |
|2.13 Sediment regime (erosion, accretion, transport and | | |
|deposition of sediments) | | |
|2.14 Water turbidity and colour | | |
|2.15 Light - reaching the wetland (openness or shading); and | | |
|attenuation in water | | |
|2.16 Water temperature | | |
|2.17 Water pH | | |
|2.18 Water salinity | | |
|2.19 Dissolved gases in water [Or only oxygen?] | | |
|2.20 Dissolved or suspended nutrients in water | | |
|2.21 Dissolved organic carbon | | |
|2.22 Redox potential of water and sediments [Or | | |
|“oxidation-reduction”?] | | |
|2.23 Water conductivity | | |
| |
|3. Ecological processes |
| |Change/likely change? |
|3.1 Primary production (S)* | | |
|3.2 Nutrient cycling (S)* | | |
|3.3 Carbon cycling | | |
|3.4 Animal reproductive productivity | | |
|3.5 Vegetational productivity, pollination, regeneration | | |
|processes, succession, role of fire etc | | |
|3.6 Notable species interactions, including grazing, | | |
|predation, competition, diseases and pathogens | | |
|3.7 Notable aspects concerning animal and plant dispersal | | |
|3.8 Notable aspects concerning migration | | |
|3.9 Pressures, vulnerabilities and trends concerning any of | | |
|the above, and/or concerning ecosystem integrity | | |
| |
|4. Ecosystem services |
| |Change/likely change? |
|4.1 Drinking water for humans and/or livestock (P)* | | |
|4.2 Water for irrigated agriculture (P)* | | |
|4.3 Water for industry (P)* | | |
|4.4 Groundwater replenishment (R)* | | |
|4.5 Water purification/waste treatment or dilution (R)* | | |
|4.6 Food for humans (P)* | | |
|4.7 Food for livestock (P)* | | |
|4.8 Wood, reed, fibre and peat (P)* | | |
|4.9 Medicinal products (P)* | | |
|4.10 Biological control agents for pests/diseases (R)* | | |
|4.11 Other products and resources, including genetic material | | |
|(P)* | | |
|4.12 Flood control, flood storage (R)* | | |
|4.13 Soil, sediment and nutrient retention (R)* | | |
|4.14 Coastal shoreline and river bank stabilization and storm | | |
|protection (R)* | | |
|4.15 Other hydrological services (R)* | | |
|4.16 Local climate regulation/buffering of change (R)* | | |
|4.17 Carbon storage/sequestration (R)* | | |
|4.18 Recreational hunting and fishing (C)* | | |
|4.19 Water sports (C)* | | |
|4.20 Nature study pursuits (C)* | | |
|4.21 Other recreation and tourism (C)* | | |
|4.22 Educational values (C)* | | |
|4.23 Cultural heritage (C)* | | |
|4.24 Contemporary cultural significance, including for arts | | |
|and creative inspiration, and including existence values | | |
|(C)* | | |
|4.25 Aesthetic and “sense of place” values (C)* | | |
|4.26 Spiritual and religious values (C)* | | |
|4.27 Important knowledge systems, and importance for research | | |
|(C)* | | |
|(For nature conservation value as an ecosystem ‘service’ (S)*, see items under ‘components’ and ‘processes’ above) |
* Ecosystem Services are categorised as “provisioning” (P), “regulating” (R), cultural (C) or “supporting” (S) according to the categorization in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. Some may appear in the “processes” section as well as the “services” section above.
Points to note
12. The two Australian ecological character schemes, and the Resolution VIII.6 core inventory fields, do not require information to be recorded on the wetland type (in the sense of the Ramsar classification of wetland type). While clearly the essential place for this is the RIS, it has been included in the proposed ecological character description sheet above as well (together with the “habitat” field), since there will be advantage in identifying it in this context too.
13. Further to the comment made in paragraph [X] above arising from the cross-comparison analyses, a “pressures, vulnerabilities and trends” item has been added to the “ecological processes” section of the sheet.
14. Under generic titles in the Australian schemes, more detailed sub-items are provided: in some cases the sub-items may be a complete listing of what comprises the generic category; in others they may only be important examples. There is a lack of a sub-category “other”, which nevertheless seems a necessary addition especially in the latter type of case. Where relevant, therefore, it has been added to the proposed global scheme.
15. While endeavouring to produce the minimum number of consequences for any of the existing schemes on which the new proposal is based, a small number of other additions have been included in the proposed character sheet, for example to include “distance to coast where relevant” in the category “geomorphic setting”, and to include “approximate position in distribution range (eg whether near centre or edge of range)” in the category “biota/main species”.
16. The RIS and core inventory fields need to include information on land (and water) use, ie in the sense of legal or customary activities, permissions, allocations etc. That does not form part of the ecological character structure proposed above; although clearly some of the “ecosystem services” items (but not all), in some of their instances (but not all), will be translatable directly into land/water uses.
17. Obviously there are other fields which will be required in the RIS which are not part of the ecological character of a site and therefore do not appear above; such as:
- the reasons why the site fulfils the Ramsar criteria (and information on biogeographic region, associated with this);
- administrative and locational information, such as country, location, coordinates, relevant authorities, land ownership;
- conservation management information (eg management plan, conservation and monitoring measures).
Change in ecological character, and Article 3.2
18. Reference has been made above to the separate document which addresses the STRP task concerning further consolidated guidance on the overall process of detecting, reporting and responding to change in ecological character, in the context of the requirement in Article 3.2 of the Convention for Parties to report such change.
19. In connection with this, the COP has also asked the Secretariat to prepare a simple format for reporting under Article 3.2. Some initial proposals were drawn up in 2006, as a separate pro-forma document. An alternative proposal is made here, however, to use the Ramsar ecological character description sheet proposed above as the basis for change reports. A simple column has been added on the right-hand side of the table above headed “Change/likely change?”. A copy of the sheet for a given site, with relevant details entered into this column, could act as the simple alert mechanism required to trigger the processes (described in the companion paper to this one, on STRP task 54) for implementing Article 3.2.
Harmonisation with core fields for wetland inventory
20. Core fields for wetland inventory were agreed by COP8 in Resolution VIII.6 in 2002. STRP task 52 (ii) (from Resolution IX.2), which mandated the work begun in the present paper to prepare guidance for the description of the ecological character of wetlands, also includes a priority sub-task described as:
“harmonization of the layout and information fields of the RIS with the core data fields of the Framework for wetland inventory and the description of ecological character”.
21. A proposal for harmonisation of the core inventory fields with the ecological character description proposed above is given in the table below. This shows the existing fields, as contained in the Annex to Resolution VIII.6 (on the left), and a proposed revised version (on the right), which would bring the issue-clustering and terminology into line with the proposed ecological character description sheet.
22. Note that at least one other issue emerges from the current and proposed amendments to core inventory fields, which needs further consideration and resolving. This concerns the approach being applied and further developed of a hydro-geomorphic-based wetland classification – an initial such classification has already been adopted by Parties within the COP8 guidance on groundwater management (see Ramsar Handbook 9 “Managing Groundwater”). Under the present core inventory field structure there is no field specifically for “Hydro-geomorphic wetland type”: rather different aspects of such a classification appear to be split between the field for “Geomorphic setting” and that for “Water regime”.
| | |
|Core inventory fields |Core inventory fields |
|(from Resolution VIII.6) |(proposed revision) |
| |(Harmonized with proposed ecological character description sheet)|
|Biophysical features |[Sub-heading deleted] |
|Site name |Site name: |
|(official name of site and catchment) |Official name of site and catchment/other identifier(s) (eg |
| |reference number) |
|Area and boundary |Area, boundary and dimensions: |
|(size and variation, range and average values) |Site shape (cross-section and plan view), boundaries, area, area |
| |of water/wet area (seasonal max/min where relevant), length, |
| |width, depth (seasonal max/min where relevant) |
|Location |Location: |
|(projection system, map coordinates, map centroid, elevation) |Projection system, map coordinates, map centroid, elevation |
|Geomorphic setting |Geomorphic setting: |
|(where it occurs within the landscape, linkage with other aquatic|Setting in the landscape/catchment/river basin - including |
|habitat, biogeographical region) |altitude, upper/lower zone of catchment, distance to coast where |
| |relevant, etc |
| |Biogeographical region |
|General description |[Covered in “Dimensions” above] |
|(shape, cross-section and plan view) | |
|Climate |Climate: |
|(zone and major features) |Overview of prevailing climate type, zone and major features |
| |(precipitation, temperature, wind) |
|Soil: |Soil: |
|(structure and colour) |Geology, soils and substrates; and soil biology |
|Water regime: |Water regime: |
|(periodicity, extent of flooding and depth, source of surface |Water source (surface and groundwater), inflow/outflow, |
|water and links with groundwater) |evaporation, flooding frequency, seasonality and duration; |
| |magnitude of flow and/or tidal regime, links with groundwater |
|Water chemistry: |Water chemistry: |
|(salinity, pH, colour, transparency, nutrients) |Temperature; turbidity; pH; colour; salinity; dissolved gases [or|
| |only oxygen?]; dissolved or suspended nutrients; dissolved |
| |organic carbon; conductivity |
|Biota: |Biota: |
|(vegetation zones and structure, animal populations and |Plant communities, vegetation zones and structure (including |
|distribution, special features including rare/endangered species)|comments on particular rarity etc); |
| |Animal communities (including comments on particular rarity etc);|
| |Main species present (including comments on particular |
| |rare/endangered species etc); population size and proportion |
| |where known, seasonality of occurrence, and approximate position |
| |in distribution range (eg whether near centre or edge of range) |
|Management features | |
| |[Sub-heading deleted] |
|Land use: |Land use: |
|(local, and in the river basin and/or coastal zone) |Local, and in the river basin and/or coastal zone |
|Pressures on the wetland: |Pressures and trends: |
|(within the wetland and in the river basin and/or coastal zone) |Concerning any of the features listed above, and/or concerning |
| |ecosystem integrity |
|Land tenure and administrative authority: |Land tenure and administrative authority: |
|(for the wetland, and for critical parts of the river basin |For the wetland, and for critical parts of the river basin and/or|
|and/or coastal zone) |coastal zone |
|Conservation and management status of the wetland: |Conservation and management status of the wetland: |
|(including legal instruments and social or cultural traditions |Including legal instruments and social or cultural traditions |
|that influence the management of the wetland |that influence the management of the wetland |
|Ecosystem values and benefits (goods and services) derived from |Ecosystem services: |
|the wetland: | |
|(including products, functions and attributes (see Resolution |(See Ramsar ecological character description sheet) |
|VI.1) and, where possible, their services to human well-being | |
|(see Resolutions VI.23 and VII.8)) | |
|Management plans and monitoring programs: |Management plans and monitoring programs: |
|(in place and planned within the wetland and in the river basin |In place and planned within the wetland and in the river basin |
|and/or coastal zone (see Resolutions 5.7, VI.1, VII.17, and |and/or coastal zone (see Resolutions 5.7, VI.1, VII.17, and |
|VIII.14)) |VIII.14) |
A harmonised overall structure for Ramsar’s tools for describing ecological character, reporting change in ecological character, compiling core inventory, and the Ramsar Information Sheet
23. These four Convention tools have significant overlaps in the information they require. This paper now provides the basis for them to form a more coherent and compatible connected system than hitherto, with harmonised terminology and data sources.
24. A first comparison between the proposals for core inventory and ecological character, and the current numbered fields of the Ramsar Information Sheet (RIS) are provided as a starting-point for consideration in Annex 2. Further proposals regarding the specifics of the RIS will be developed separately. In essence these proposals will put forward a four-part structure for the RIS, to cover information about:
(i) administrative and locational details;
(ii) the international importance of the site (the reasons why it fulfils the Ramsar Criteria);
(iii) the ecological character of the site;
(iv) conservation and management issues.
25. The information required in sections (i), (iii) and (iv) can be designed to be derived from the core inventory and/or ecological character descriptions. Thus the unique section of the RIS will be that proving the statement of international importance against the Criteria.
26. The slightly revised and updated version of the Resolution VIII.6 core inventory data fields proposed in the table above will relate directly to three of the four proposed RIS sections. The fourth, international importance, is not included in core inventory, since core inventory is designed for wetlands in general and the issue of international importance is specific to Ramsar site designation.
27. In turn, the proposed Ramsar ecological character description sheet should directly provide the information (in a summarised version) which will form the ecological character description required for core inventory and for the RIS. Reports under Article 3.2, on change or likely change in ecological character of Ramsar sites, would also be drawn directly from the ecological character description sheet.
28. Schematically, this structure can be represented as follows:
[pic]
29. An expanded view of the first two columns of this scheme is given below (omitting the Article 3.2 format and RIS sections), showing in more detail the correspondence between the proposed ecological character description sheet and the proposed revised core inventory fields.
|Ramsar ecological character description sheet |Core inventory fields |
| |(proposed revision) |
| | |
| | |
| |Administrative and locational details |
| |Site name: |
| |Official name of site and catchment/other identifier(s) (eg |
| |reference number) |
| |Area, boundary and dimensions: |
| |Site shape (cross-section and plan view), boundaries, area, |
| |area of water/wet area (seasonal max/min where relevant), |
| |length, width, depth (seasonal max/min where relevant) |
| |Location: |
| |Projection system, map coordinates, map centroid, elevation |
| |Biogeographical region |
| |Land tenure and administrative authority: |
| |For the wetland, and for critical parts of the river basin |
| |and/or coastal zone |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |Ecological character |
|Site name: |(See under administrative and locational details above) |
|Official name of site and catchment)/other identifier(s) (eg | |
|reference number) | |
|Summary statement | |
|Two or three narrative sentences giving a statement of what is | |
|ecologically distinctive (not necessarily important) about the |(Not part of core inventory) |
|site, based on the details below. | |
|(With reference to the COP 9 definition, this concerns the | |
|combination of the components, processes and services that | |
|characterise the wetland (emphasis added)). | |
|2. Ecological components | |
|2.1 Geomorphic setting: |Geomorphic setting: |
|Setting in the landscape/catchment/river basin - including |Setting in the landscape/catchment/river basin -including |
|altitude, upper/lower zone of catchment, distance to coast |altitude, upper/lower zone of catchment, distance to coast |
|where relevant, etc |where relevant, etc |
|2.2 Climate: |Climate: |
|Overview of prevailing climate type, zone and major features |Overview of prevailing climate type, zone and major |
|(precipitation, temperature, wind) |featuresGeomorphic setting: |
| |Setting in the landscape/catchment/river basin -including |
| |altitude, upper/lower zone of catchment, distance to coast |
| |where relevant, etc |
|2.3 Habitat types (including comments on particular rarity |Part of section on biota: |
|etc), and Ramsar wetland types |Plant communities, vegetation zones and structure (including |
| |comments on particular rarity etc);Climate: |
| |Overview of prevailing climate type, zone and major features |
|2.4 Habitat connectivity | |
|2.5 Area, boundary and dimensions: |Part of section on biota: |
|Site shape (cross-section and plan view), boundaries, area, |Plant communities, vegetation zones and structure (including |
|area of water/wet area (seasonal max/min where relevant), |comments on particular rarity etc); |
|length, width, depth (seasonal max/min where relevant) | |
|2.6 Plant communities, vegetation zones and structure |Part of section on biota: |
|(including comments on particular rarity etc) |Plant communities, vegetation zones and structure (including |
| |comments on particular rarity etc); |
| |(See under administrative and locational details above) |
|2.7 Animal communities (including comments on particular |Part of section on biota: |
|rarity etc) |Animal communities (including comments on particular rarity |
| |etc);Part of section on biota: |
| |Plant communities, vegetation zones and structure (including |
| |comments on particular rarity etc); |
|2.8 Main species present (including comments on particular |Part of section on biota: |
|rare/endangered species etc); population size and proportion |Main species present (including comments on particular |
|where known, seasonality of occurrence, and approximate |rare/endangered species etc); population size and proportion |
|position in distribution range (eg whether near centre or edge |where known, seasonality of occurrence, and approximate |
|of range) |position in distribution range (eg whether near centre or edge |
| |of range)Part of section on biota: |
| |Animal communities (including comments on particular rarity |
| |etc); |
|2.9 Soil: |Soil: |
|Geology, soils and substrates; and soil biology |Geology, soils and substratesPart of section on biota: |
| |Main species present (including comments on particular |
| |rare/endangered species etc); population size and proportion |
| |where known, seasonality of occurrence, and approximate |
| |position in distribution range (eg whether near centre or edge |
| |of range) |
|2.10 Water regime: |Water regime: |
|Water source (surface and groundwater), inflow/outflow, |Water source (surface and groundwater), inflow/outflow, |
|evaporation, flooding frequency, seasonality and duration; |evaporation, flooding frequency, seasonality and duration; |
|magnitude of flow and/or tidal regime, links with groundwater |magnitude of flow and/or tidal regime, links with |
| |groundwaterSoil: |
| |Geology, soils and substrates |
|2.11 Connectivity of surface waters and of groundwater | |
| | |
| |(Incorporate in “Water regime” above) * |
|2.12 Stratification and mixing regime | |
|2.13 Sediment regime (erosion, accretion, transport and | |
|deposition of sediments) | |
|2.14 Water turbidity and colour |Part of section on Water chemistry: |
| |Turbidity; colour |
|2.15 Light - reaching the wetland (openness or shading); and |(Incorporate as appropriate in vegetation and chemistry |
|attenuation in water |sections above) * |
|2.16 Water temperature |Part of section on Water chemistry: |
| |Temperature |
|2.17 Water pH | Part of section on Water chemistry: |
| |pH |
|2.18 Water salinity |Part of section on Water chemistry: |
| |Salinity |
|2.19 Dissolved gases in water [or only oxygen?] |Part of section on Water chemistry: |
| |Dissolved gases [or only oxygen?] |
|2.20 Dissolved or suspended nutrients in water |Part of section on Water chemistry: |
| |Dissolved or suspended nutrients |
|2.21 Dissolved organic carbon |Part of section on Water chemistry: |
| |Dissolved ortganic carbon |
|2.22 Redox potential of water and sediments [or |(Incorporate in chemistry section if appropriate) * |
|“oxidation-reduction”?] | |
|2.23 Water conductivity |(Incorporate in chemistry section if appropriate) * |
|Ecological processes | |
|3.1 Primary production (S)* | |
| |(Not included) * |
|3.2 Nutrient cycling (S)* | |
|3.3 Carbon cycling | |
|3.4 Animal reproductive productivity | |
| | |
| | |
| |(Incorporate as necessary in section on biota) * |
|3.5 Vegetational productivity, pollination, regeneration | |
|processes, succession, role of fire etc | |
|3.6 Notable species interactions, including grazing, | |
|predation, competition, diseases and pathogens | |
|3.7 Notable aspects concerning animal and plant dispersal | |
|3.8 Notable aspects concerning migration | |
|3.9 Pressures and trends concerning any of the above, and/or |Pressures and trends: |
|concerning ecosystem integrity |Concerning any of the features listed above, and/or concerning |
| |ecosystem integrity |
|Ecosystem services | |
|4.1 Drinking water for humans and/or livestock (P)* | |
| |Ecosystem services: |
| | |
| |(Derive summary, to length appropriate, of the aspects |
| |documented in the character description sheet as listed in |
| |fields 4.1 - 4.27 on the left) |
|4.2 Water for irrigated agriculture (P)* | |
|4.3 Water for industry (P)* | |
|4.4 Groundwater replenishment (R)* | |
|4.5 Water purification/waste treatment or dilution (R)* | |
|4.6 Food for humans (P)* | |
|4.7 Food for livestock (P)* | |
|4.8 Wood, reed, fibre and peat (P)* | |
|4.9 Medicinal products (P)* | |
|4.10 Biological control agents for pests/diseases (R)* | |
|4.11 Other products and resources, including genetic material | |
|(P)* | |
|4.12 Flood control, flood storage (R)* | |
|4.13 Soil, sediment and nutrient retention (R)* | |
|4.14 Coastal shoreline and river bank stabilization and storm | |
|protection (R)* | |
|4.15 Other hydrological services (R)* | |
|4.16 Local climate regulation/buffering of change (R)* | |
|4.17 Carbon storage/sequestration (R)* | |
|4.18 Recreational hunting and fishing (C)* | |
|4.19 Water sports (C)* | |
|4.20 Nature study pursuits (C)* | |
|4.21 Other recreation and tourism (C)* | |
|4.22 Educational values (C)* | |
|4.23 Cultural heritage (C)* | |
|4.24 Contemporary cultural significance, including for arts | |
|and creative inspiration, and including existence values (C)* | |
|4.25 Aesthetic and “sense of place” values (C)* | |
|4.26 Spiritual and religious values (C)* | |
|4.27 Important knowledge systems, and importance for research | |
|(C)* | |
|(For nature conservation value as an ecosystem ‘service’ (S)*, | |
|see items under ‘components’ and ‘processes’ above) | |
| | |
| |Conservation and management |
| |Conservation and management status of the wetland: |
| |Including legal instruments and social or cultural traditions |
| |that influence the management of the wetland |
| |Management plans and monitoring programs: |
| |In place and planned within the wetland and in the river basin |
| |and/or coastal zone (see Resolutions 5.7, VI.1, VII.17, and |
| |VIII.14) |
| |Land use : |
| |Local, and in the river basin and/or coastal zone |
* Ecosystem Services are categorised as “provisioning” (P), “regulating” (R), cultural (C) or “supporting” (S) according to the categorization in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. Some may appear in the “processes” section as well as the “services” section above.
* = No direct correspondence, otherwise inventory ceases to be “core”! - Perhaps need to discuss.
Annex 1
List of ecological character description fields in (a) scheme for Australian State of Victoria; (b) national Australian scheme, and (c) Ramsar ecological character description sheet proposed in the present paper
| | | | | |
|Components, processes and services | |“Ecosystem components, processes, | |Data fields in the Ramsar ecological |
|contributing to ecological character, as| |benefits and services that are critical | |character description sheet proposed in |
|listed in Government of the State of | |to the ecological character of the site” | |the present paper |
|Victoria (Australia) (2005): Framework | |as listed in Commonwealth of Australia, | | |
|for describing the ecological character | |Department of the Environment and Water | | |
|of Ramsar wetlands | |Resources (DRAFT 1 August 2007): | | |
| | |National Framework and Guidance for | | |
| | |Describing the Ecological Character of | | |
| | |Australia’s Ramsar Wetlands Module 2 of | | |
| | |the National Guidelines for Ramsar | | |
| | |Wetlands - Implementing the Ramsar | | |
| | |Convention in Australia | | |
| | |[NB items listed are described as | | |
| | |“examples”] | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | |Site name |
| | | | |Official name of site and |
| | | | |catchment)/other identifier(s) (eg |
| | | | |reference number) |
| | | | | |
| | | | |1. Summary statement |
| | | | |Two or three narrative sentences giving a|
| | | | |statement of what is ecologically |
| | | | |distinctive (not necessarily important) |
| | | | |about the site, based on the details |
| | | | |below. |
| | | | |(With reference to the COP 9 definition, |
| | | | |this concerns the combination of the |
| | | | |components, processes and services that |
| | | | |characterise the wetland (emphasis |
| | | | |added)). |
|(Victoria) | |(Australia) | |(Proposed Ramsar sheet) |
| | | | | |
|Ecological components | |Ecological components of a wetland | |2. Ecological components |
| | | | | |
|Biological | |Physical form | |2.1 Geomorphic setting: |
|Species (genes, individuals and | |Area of the wetland | |Setting in the landscape/catchment/river |
|populations) | |Wetland form (depth, shape and bathymetry| |basin - including altitude, upper/lower |
|Flora and fauna communities | |[the study of underwater depth]) | |zone of catchment, distance to coast |
|Habitats or ecological niches | | | |where relevant, etc |
|Habitat connectivity | |Wetland soils | | |
| | |Soil physical properties (structure, | |2.2 Climate: |
|Physical | |texture, consistency and profile) | |Overview of prevailing climate type, zone|
|Geomorphology | |Soil chemical properties (organic | |and major features (precipitation, |
|Size (area of wetland when fully | |content, nutrients, metal oxides, silica | |temperature, wind) |
|inundated) | |clays, | | |
|Morphology (length, width, shape, depth)| |salts and pH) | |2.3 Habitat types (including comments on|
|Connectivity of surface waters | |Soil biological properties (soil | |particular rarity etc), and Ramsar |
|Water source (surface and groundwater) | |organisms such as bacteria and fungi, | |wetland types |
|Water regime (flooding frequency, | |protozoans, nematodes, mites and worms) | | |
|seasonality and duration; magnitude of | | | |2.4 Habitat connectivity |
|flow and/or tidal regime) | |Physicochemical/water | | |
|Stratification and mixing regime | |Nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus) | |2.5 Area, boundary and dimensions: |
|Sediment regime (erosion, transport and | |Electrical conductivity | |Site shape (cross-section and plan view),|
|deposition of sediments) | |Turbidity | |boundaries, area, area of water/wet area |
|Substrate or soil type | |Temperature | |(seasonal max/min where relevant), |
|Light reaching the wetland (openness or | |Dissolved oxygen | |length, width, depth (seasonal max/min |
|shading) | |pH | |where relevant) |
|Light attenuation in water | |Nutrient cycling | | |
|Water temperature | |Light attenuation | |2.6 Plant communities, vegetation zones |
|Water turbidity | | | |and structure (including comments on |
|Wetland buffer zone | |Biota | |particular rarity etc) |
| | |Wetland plants | | |
|Chemical | |Vertebrate fauna (fish, amphibians, | |2.7 Animal communities (including |
|Dissolved gases (hydrogen, nitrogen, | |reptiles, waterbirds, mammals) | |comments on particular rarity etc) |
|oxygen, carbon dioxide and methane) | |Phytoplankton, including diatoms | | |
|Water salinity | |Aquatic macroinvertebrates | |2.8 Main species present (including |
|Redox potential of water and sediments | | | |comments on particular rare/endangered |
|Nutrients (for example, phosphorus, | | | |species etc); population size and |
|nitrogen, potassium, sodium, magnesium, | | | |proportion where known, seasonality of |
|calcium and trace elements such as iron,| | | |occurrence, and approximate position in |
|managanese, copper, zinc and silicon) | | | |distribution range (eg whether near |
|Dissolved organic carbon | | | |centre or edge of range) |
|(Victoria) | |(Australia) | |(Proposed Ramsar sheet) |
| | | | | |
| | | | |2.9 Soil: |
| | | | |Geology, soils and substrates; and soil |
| | | | |biology |
| | | | | |
| | | | |2.10 Water regime: |
| | | | |Water source (surface and groundwater), |
| | | | |inflow/outflow, evaporation, flooding |
| | | | |frequency, seasonality and duration; |
| | | | |magnitude of flow and/or tidal regime, |
| | | | |links with groundwater |
| | | | | |
| | | | |2.11 Connectivity of surface waters and |
| | | | |of groundwater |
| | | | | |
| | | | |2.12 Stratification and mixing regime |
| | | | | |
| | | | |2.13 Sediment regime (erosion, |
| | | | |accretion, transport and deposition of |
| | | | |sediments) |
| | | | | |
| | | | |2.14 Water turbidity and colour |
| | | | | |
| | | | |2.15 Light - reaching the wetland |
| | | | |(openness or shading); and attenuation in|
| | | | |water |
| | | | | |
| | | | |2.16 Water temperature |
| | | | | |
| | | | |2.17 Water pH |
| | | | | |
| | | | |2.18 Water salinity |
| | | | | |
| | | | |2.19 Dissolved gases in water [or only |
| | | | |oxygen?] |
| | | | | |
| | | | |2.20 Dissolved or suspended nutrients in|
| | | | |water |
| | | | | |
| | | | |2.21 Dissolved organic carbon |
| | | | | |
| | | | |2.22 Redox potential of water and |
| | | | |sediments [or “oxidation-reduction”?] |
| | | | | |
| | | | |2.23 Water conductivity |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
|(Victoria) | |(Australia) | |(Proposed Ramsar sheet) |
| | | | | |
|Ecological processes | |Examples of ecological processes | |3. Ecological processes |
| | | | | |
|Energy and nutrient dynamics | |Climate | |3.1 Primary production (S)* |
|Primary production | |Precipitation | | |
|Nutrient cycling | |Temperature | |3.2 Nutrient cycling (S)* |
|Carbon cycling | |Evaporation | | |
|Decomposition | |Wind | |3.3 Carbon cycling |
| | | | | |
|Processes which maintain animal and | |Geomorphology | |3.4 Animal reproductive productivity |
|plant populations | |Topography/morphology | | |
|Reproduction | |Connectivity of surface waters | |3.5 Vegetational productivity, |
|Regeneration | |Water source | |pollination, regeneration processes, |
|Dispersal | |Soils | |succession, role of fire etc |
|Migration | |Sedimentation | | |
|Pollination | |Erosion | |3.6 Notable species interactions, |
| | | | |including grazing, predation, |
|Species interactions | |Hydrology | |competition, diseases and pathogens |
|Competition | |Water balance (water flowing in, water | | |
|Predation | |flowing out) | |3.7 Notable aspects concerning animal |
|Succession | |Groundwater infiltration and seepage | |and plant dispersal |
|Herbivory | |Surface–groundwater interactions | | |
|Diseases and pathogens | |Tidal regime | |3.8 Notable aspects concerning migration|
| | |Inundation regime (volume, frequency, | | |
| | |duration, height and seasonality [timing]| |3.9 Pressures and trends concerning any |
| | |of inundation) | |of the above, and/or concerning ecosystem|
| | | | |integrity |
| | |Energy and nutrient dynamics | | |
| | |Primary production | | |
| | |Nutrient cycling (nitrogen, phosphorus) | | |
| | |Carbon cycling | | |
| | |Decomposition | | |
| | |Oxidation–reduction | | |
| | | | | |
| | |Processes that maintain animal and plant | | |
| | |populations | | |
| | |Reproduction | | |
| | |Regeneration | | |
| | |Dispersal | | |
| | |Migration | | |
| | |Pollination | | |
| | | | | |
| | |Species interactions | | |
| | |Competition | | |
| | |Predation | | |
| | |Succession | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
|(Victoria) | |(Australia) | |(Proposed Ramsar sheet) |
| | | | | |
| | |Herbivory | | |
| | |Diseases and pathogens | | |
| | | | | |
| | |Physical processes | | |
| | |Stratification | | |
| | |Mixing | | |
| | |Sedimentation | | |
| | |Erosion | | |
| | |Evaporation | | |
| | |Infiltration | | |
|Ecosystem services | |Wetland ecosystem benefits and services | |4. Ecosystem services |
| | | | | |
|Provisioning services | |Provisioning services - products obtained| |4.1 Drinking water for humans and/or |
| | |from the ecosystem such as food, fuel and| |livestock (P)* |
|Wetland products | |fresh water | | |
|Drinking water for humans and for | | | |4.2 Water for irrigated agriculture |
|livestock | |Food | |(P)* |
|Water for irrigated agriculture | |Sustenance for humans (e.g. fish) | | |
|Water for industry | | | |4.3 Water for industry (P)* |
|Sustenance for humans (for example, | |Fresh water | | |
|fish) | |Drinking water for humans | |4.4 Groundwater replenishment (R)* |
| | |Drinking water for livestock | | |
|Timber | |Water for irrigated agriculture | |4.5 Water purification/waste treatment |
|Livestock fodder | |Water for industry | |or dilution (R)* |
|Storage and delivery of water as part of| | | | |
|water supply systems | |Wetland products | |4.6 Food for humans (P)* |
| | |Timber | | |
|Regulating services | |Fuel wood | |4.7 Food for livestock (P)* |
| | |Peat | | |
|Maintenance of hydrological stability | |Livestock fodder | |4.8 Wood, reed, fibre and peat (P)* |
|Flood control | |Commercial fishing | | |
|Replenish groundwater | | | |4.9 Medicinal products (P)* |
| | |Biochemical products | | |
|Coastal shoreline and river bank | |Extraction of materials from biota | |4.10 Biological control agents for |
|stabilization and storm protection | | | |pests/diseases (R)* |
|Reduce impacts of wind and wave action | |Genetic materials | | |
|and currents | |Medicines | |4.11 Other products and resources, |
|Prevent erosion by holding sediment with| |Genes for tolerance of certain conditions| |including genetic material (P)* |
|plant roots | |(e.g. salinity) | | |
| | |Genes for resistance to plant pathogens | |4.12 Flood control, flood storage (R)* |
|Sediment and nutrient retention | |Ornamental species | | |
|Flood retardation and sediment and | | | |4.13 Soil, sediment and nutrient |
|nutrient deposition | | | |retention (R)* |
| | | | | |
|(Victoria) | |(Australia) | |(Proposed Ramsar sheet) |
| | | | | |
|Local climate regulation | |Regulating services - benefits obtained | |4.14 Coastal shoreline and river bank |
|Local climatic stabilization, | |from the regulation of ecosystem | |stabilization and storm protection (R)* |
|particularly in relation to rainfall and| |processes such as climate regulation, | | |
|temperature. | |water regulation and natural hazard | |4.15 Other hydrological services (R)* |
| | |regulation | | |
|Climate change mitigation | | | |4.16 Local climate regulation/buffering |
|Sequester carbon | |Maintenance of hydrological regimes | |of change (R)* |
| | |Groundwater recharge and discharge | | |
|Water purification | |Storage and delivery of water as part of | |4.17 Carbon storage/sequestration (R)* |
|Removal and dilution of wastewaters from| |water supply systems for agriculture and | | |
|irrigation areas, urban areas and sewage| |industry | |4.18 Recreational hunting and fishing |
|treatment plants | | | |(C)* |
| | |Erosion protection | | |
|Biological control of pests and diseases| |Retention of soils | |4.19 Water sports (C)* |
|Support of predators of agricultural | |Prevention of physical changes such as | | |
|pests (for example, ibis feeding on | |coastal erosion and bank slumping | |4.20 Nature study pursuits (C)* |
|grasshoppers) | | | | |
| | |Pollution control and detoxification | |4.21 Other recreation and tourism (C)* |
|Cultural services | |Sediment deposition and retention | | |
| | |Retention, recovery and removal of excess| |4.22 Educational values (C)* |
|Recreation and tourism | |nutrients and pollutants | | |
|Recreational fishing and hunting | | | |4.23 Cultural heritage (C)* |
|Water sports and activities | |Climate regulation | | |
|Picnics, outings, touring | |Regulation of greenhouse gases, | |4.24 Contemporary cultural significance,|
|Nature observation | |temperature precipitation and other | |including for arts and creative |
| | |climatic processes | |inspiration, and including existence |
|Cultural value | | | |values (C)* |
|Inspiration | |Biological control of pests and diseases | | |
|Aesthetic values | |Support of predators of agricultural | |4.25 Aesthetic and “sense of place” |
|Cultural heritage (historical and | |pests (e.g. ibis feeding on | |values (C)* |
|archaeological) | |grasshoppers) | | |
|Spiritual and religious | | | |4.26 Spiritual and religious values |
|Sense of place | |Hazard reduction | |(C)* |
|Educational values | |Flood control | | |
|Knowledge systems | |Coastal shoreline and river bank | |4.27 Important knowledge systems, and |
| | |stabilisation and storm protection | |importance for research (C)* |
|Supporting services | | | | |
| | | | | |
|Food web support** | | | |(For nature conservation value as an |
|Nutrient cycling | | | |ecosystem ‘service’ (S)*, see items under|
|Primary production | | | |‘components’ and ‘processes’ above) |
| | | | | |
|Ecological value | | | | |
|Reservoirs of biodiversity in relation | | | | |
|to: | | | | |
|- supporting an abundance of individuals| | | | |
|of particular species or groups | | | | |
|(Victoria) | |(Australia) | |(Proposed Ramsar sheet) |
| | | | | |
|- supporting significant proportions of | |Cultural services — benefits people | |* Ecosystem Services are categorised as |
|particular species populations | |obtain through spiritual enrichment, | |“provisioning” (P), “regulating” (R), |
|- supporting a high diversity of species| |recreation, education and aesthetics | |cultural (C) or “supporting” (S) |
| | | | |according to the categorization in the |
|- maintaining bioregional biodiversity | |Recreation and tourism | |Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. Some |
|- representing a rare or threatened | |Recreational fishing and hunting | |may appear in the “processes” section as |
|wetland type | |Water sports and activities | |well as the “services” section above. |
|- being a unique wetland type | |Picnics, outings, touring | | |
|- being representative of a bioregion | |Nature observation | | |
|- being important as habitat for animal | |Nature-based tourism | | |
|taxa at a particular stage of their life| | | | |
|cycle | |Spiritual and inspirational | | |
|- being important as habitat for animal | |Inspiration | | |
|taxa at a vulnerable stage of their life| |Cultural heritage (historical and | | |
|cycle or as a refuge during adverse | |archaeological) | | |
|conditions | |Spiritual and religious significance | | |
|- supporting threatened species or | |Sense of place | | |
|threatened ecological communities. | |Existence value | | |
| | |Appreciation of natural features | | |
|** Also classed as ecological processes | | | | |
| | |Scientific and educational | | |
| | |Educational activities and opportunities | | |
| | |Scientific reference area or site | | |
| | |Long-term monitoring site | | |
| | |Major scientific study site | | |
| | |Type and extant locality for a taxon | | |
| | | | | |
| | |Supporting services - services necessary | | |
| | |for the production of all other ecosystem| | |
| | |services such as water cycling, nutrient | | |
| | |cycling and habitat for biota. These | | |
| | |services will generally have an indirect | | |
| | |benefit to humans or a direct benefit | | |
| | |over a long period of time | | |
| | | | | |
| | |Biodiversity | | |
| | |Supports a variety of all lifeforms | | |
| | |including plants, animals and | | |
| | |microorganisms, the genes they contain | | |
| | |and the ecosystems of which they form a | | |
| | |part | | |
|(Victoria) | |(Australia) | |(Proposed Ramsar sheet) |
| | | | | |
| | |Soil formation | | |
| | |Sediment retention | | |
| | |Accumulation of organic matter | | |
| | | | | |
| | |Nutrient cycling | | |
| | |Storage, recycling, processing and | | |
| | |acquisition of nutrients | | |
| | |Carbon sequestration | | |
Annex 2
[First cut] Core inventory (revised), ecological character and RIS (current) fields
Notes
1. For this first mapping of current RIS fields against proposed revised core inventory and new ecological character information sheets, several of the current RIS fields have been included twice or more times against different inventory/ecological character fields, since all or one component of the RIS field relates to different aspects of the inventory/character structure.
2. A next step will be to look at how the RIS structure might be revised and aligned more directly with the inventory/character fields, without doing unnecessary damage to the current process, and the RIS field structure re-sequenced further (if necessary) to form the four sections described in paragraph 21 above.
3. The key fields for Ramsar site designation (as opposed to monitoring and reporting etc.) are those in the newly grouped Sections A (administrative/locational details) and B (Statement of International Importance).
4. Section D (conservation and management) should be closely similar to the information on such matters from the core inventory fields, but for some aspects may need more detail than mught be generally anticipated from core inventory information.
5. The main aspect of the RIS structure which appears to need attention is Section C (ecological character statement) to bring it more consistently in line with core inventory and ecological character field structure. In part this can be resolved from determining the levels of detail and disaggregation of information on each aspect of ecological character, and by renaming some of the RIS fields for consistency. In that sense the ecological character description speaks to many separate components, whilst the core inventory level of detail can be seen as more of a summary of these aspects – and the RIS level of detail (if this section is retained in the RIS) could be closely similar to this level of summary in core inventory.
6. Note also that some of the current RIS fields include several different aspects of information cf core inventory and/or ecological character fields. In the RIS column in the table below these current RIS fields are included more than once against different aspects of core inventory/ecological character, with the relevant component of the RIS field indicated in italics for each location.
7. Note also that RIS field 34. Bibliographical references does not currently appear as a field in either core inventory or ecological character systems – consideration may be needed as to whether such a field should be added to one or both of these systems.
8. Although not shown (yet) in this table, the fourth pro-forma needed (Article 3.2 reporting) looks like being possible to be built largely from aspects of the RIS and the ecological character description sheet, possibly through a largely check-list approach, plus some summary narrative text on the causes of change, degree of likelihood etc. This will be structured once the ecological character and RIS revisions are moved into near-final state.
| | |RIS fields |
|Core inventory fields |Ramsar |(current RIS field names, but re-arranged into four sections) |
|(proposed revisions) |ecological character description sheet |Note. Where an RIS field is repeated below in more than one |
| | |location, the relevant part of that field is indicated in |
| | |italics |
| | |A. Administrative/locational details |
|Administrative and locational details | | |
| | |1. Name and address of the compiler of this form |
| | |2. Date this sheet was completed/updated |
| | |3. Country |
|Site name: |Site name: |4. Name of the Ramsar site |
|Official name of site and catchment/other identifier(s) (eg |Official name of site and catchment)/other identifier(s) (eg | |
|reference number) |reference number) | |
| | |5. Designation of new Ramsar site or update of existing site |
|Area, boundary and dimensions: | |7 a) A map of the site, with clearly delineated boundaries, is |
|Site shape (cross-section and plan view), boundaries, area, | |included |
|area of water/wet area (seasonal max/min where relevant), | |11. Area |
|length, width, depth (seasonal max/min where relevant) | | |
|Location: | |8. Geographical coordinates |
|Projection system, map coordinates, map centroid, elevation | |7. b) Describe briefly the type of boundary delineation applied|
| | | |
| | |10. Elevation |
| | |9. General location (Include in which part of the country and |
| | |which large administrative region(s) the site lies and the |
| | |location of the nearest large town.) |
|Biogeographical region | |15. Biogeography |
|Land tenure and administrative authority: | |24. Land tenure/ownership: a) within the Ramsar site; b) in the|
|For the wetland, and for critical parts of the river basin | |surrounding area |
|and/or coastal zone | |32. Jurisdiction: (territorial, e.g. state/region, and |
| | |functional/sectoral, e.g. Dept of Agriculture/Dept. of |
| | |Environment, etc.) |
| | |33. Management authority |
| | |6. For RIS updates only, changes to the site since its |
| | |designation or earlier update (section a) only here) |
| | | |
| | |B. Statement of international importance |
| | |13. Ramsar Criteria |
| | |14. Justification for the application of each Criterion listed |
| | |in 13 above |
| | | |
|Ecological character |Ecological character |C. Statement of ecological character |
| |1. Summary statement | |
| |Two or three narrative sentences giving a statement of what is |12. General overview of the site |
|(Not part of core inventory) |ecologically distinctive (not necessarily important) about the |20. General ecological features (further description, as |
| |site, based on the details below. |appropriate, of the main habitats, vegetation types, plant and |
| |(With reference to the COP 9 definition, this concerns the |animal communities present in the Ramsar site, and the |
| |combination of the components, processes and services that |ecosystem services of the site and the benefits derived from |
| |characterise the wetland (emphasis added)). |them.) |
| |2. Ecological components | |
|Geomorphic setting: |2.1 Geomorphic setting: |16. Physical features of the site (geology, geomorphology; |
|Setting in the landscape/catchment/river basin - including |Setting in the landscape/catchment/river basin -including |origins - natural or artificial; hydrology; soil type; water |
|altitude, upper/lower zone of catchment, distance to coast |altitude, upper/lower zone of catchment, distance to coast |quality; water depth, water permanence; fluctuations in water |
|where relevant, etc |where relevant, etc |level; tidal variations; downstream area; general climate, |
| | |etc.) |
|Climate: |2.2 Climate: |17. Physical features of the catchment area (surface area, |
|Overview of prevailing climate type, zone and major features |Overview of prevailing climate type, zone and major features |general geology and geomorphological features, general soil |
|(precipitation, temperature, wind) |(precipitation, temperature, wind) |types, and climate (including climate type). |
| | |16. Physical features of the site (geology, geomorphology; |
| | |origins - natural or artificial; hydrology; soil type; water |
| | |quality; water depth, water permanence; fluctuations in water |
| | |level; tidal variations; downstream area; general climate, |
| | |etc.) |
|Part of section on biota: |2.3 Habitat types (including comments on particular rarity |19. Wetland Types |
|Plant communities, vegetation zones and structure (including |etc), and Ramsar wetland types | |
|comments on particular rarity etc); | | |
| |2.4 Habitat connectivity |20. General ecological features (further description, as |
|(Incorporate in “Geomorphic setting” above)* | |appropriate, of the main habitats, vegetation types, plant and |
| | |animal communities present in the Ramsar site, and the |
| | |ecosystem services of the site and the benefits derived from |
| | |them.) |
| |2.5 Area, boundary and dimensions: |[see above – section A for area etc; and C (16) and ditto below|
|(See under administrative and locational details above) |Site shape (cross-section and plan view), boundaries, area, |for aspects of hydrology etc.) |
| |area of water/wet area (seasonal max/min where relevant), | |
| |length, width, depth (seasonal max/min where relevant) | |
|Part of section on biota: |2.6 Plant communities, vegetation zones and structure |20. General ecological features (further description, as |
|Plant communities, vegetation zones and structure (including |(including comments on particular rarity etc) |appropriate, of the main habitats, vegetation types, plant and |
|comments on particular rarity etc); | |animal communities present in the Ramsar site, and the |
| | |ecosystem services of the site and the benefits derived from |
| | |them.) |
|Part of section on biota: |2.7 Animal communities (including comments on particular |20. General ecological features (further description, as |
|Animal communities (including comments on particular rarity |rarity etc) |appropriate, of the main habitats, vegetation types, plant and |
|etc); | |animal communities present in the Ramsar site, and the |
| | |ecosystem services of the site and the benefits derived from |
| | |them.) |
|Part of section on biota: |2.8 Main species present (including comments on particular |21. Noteworthy flora |
|Main species present (including comments on particular |rare/endangered species etc); population size and proportion |22. Noteworthy fauna |
|rare/endangered species etc); population size and proportion |where known, seasonality of occurrence, and approximate | |
|where known, seasonality of occurrence, and approximate |position in distribution range (eg whether near centre or edge | |
|position in distribution range (eg whether near centre or edge |of range) | |
|of range) | | |
|Soil: |2.9 Soil: |16. Physical features of the site (geology, geomorphology; |
|Geology, soils and substrates; and soil biology |Geology, soils and substrates; and soil biology |origins - natural or artificial; hydrology; soil type; water |
| | |quality; water depth, water permanence; fluctuations in water |
| | |level; tidal variations; downstream area; general climate, |
| | |etc.) |
|Water regime: |2.10 Water regime: |16. Physical features of the site (geology, geomorphology; |
|Water source (surface and groundwater), inflow/outflow, |Water source (surface and groundwater), inflow/outflow, |origins - natural or artificial; hydrology; soil type; water |
|evaporation, flooding frequency, seasonality and duration; |evaporation, flooding frequency, seasonality and duration; |quality; water depth, water permanence; fluctuations in water |
|magnitude of flow and/or tidal regime, links with groundwater |magnitude of flow and/or tidal regime, links with groundwater |level; tidal variations; downstream area; general climate, |
| | |etc.) |
| |2.11 Connectivity of surface waters and of groundwater | |
|(Incorporate in “Water regime” above) * | | |
| |2.12 Stratification and mixing regime | |
| |2.13 Sediment regime (erosion, accretion, transport and | |
| |deposition of sediments) | |
|Part of section on Water chemistry: |2.14 Water turbidity and colour | |
|Turbidity; colour | | |
|(Incorporate as appropriate in vegetation and chemistry |2.15 Light - reaching the wetland (openness or shading); and | |
|sections above) * |attenuation in water | |
|Part of section on Water chemistry: |2.16 Water temperature | |
|Temperature | | |
|Part of section on Water chemistry: |2.17 Water pH | |
|pH | | |
|Part of section on Water chemistry: |2.18 Water salinity | |
|Salinity | | |
|Part of section on Water chemistry: |2.19 Dissolved gases in water [or only oxygen?] | |
|Dissolved gases [or only oxygen?] | | |
|Part of section on Water chemistry: |2.20 Dissolved or suspended nutrients in water | |
|Dissolved or suspended nutrients | | |
|Part of section on Water chemistry: |2.21 Dissolved organic carbon | |
|Dissolved ortganic carbon | | |
|(Incorporate in chemistry section if appropriate) * |2.22 Redox potential of water and sediments [or | |
| |“oxidation-reduction”?] | |
|(Incorporate in chemistry section if appropriate) * |2.23 Water conductivity | |
| |3. Ecological processes | |
| |3.1 Primary production (S)* | |
|(Not included) * | | |
| |3.2 Nutrient cycling (S)* | |
| |3.3 Carbon cycling | |
| |3.4 Animal reproductive productivity | |
| | | |
| | | |
|(Incorporate as necessary in section on biota) * | | |
| |3.5 Vegetational productivity, pollination, regeneration | |
| |processes, succession, role of fire etc | |
| |3.6 Notable species interactions, including grazing, | |
| |predation, competition, diseases and pathogens | |
| |3.7 Notable aspects concerning animal and plant dispersal | |
| |3.8 Notable aspects concerning migration | |
|Pressures and trends: |3.9 Pressures and trends concerning any of the above, and/or |26. Factors (past, present or potential) adversely affecting |
|Concerning any of the features listed above, and/or concerning |concerning ecosystem integrity |the site’s ecological character, including changes in land |
|ecosystem integrity | |(including water) use and development projects: a) within the |
| | |Ramsar site; |
| | |b) in the surrounding area |
| | | |
| | |6. For RIS updates only, changes to the site since its |
| | |designation or earlier update (section b only) |
| |4. Ecosystem services | |
|Ecosystem services: | |20. General ecological features (further description, as |
| | |appropriate, of the main habitats, vegetation types, plant and |
|(Derive summary, to length appropriate, of the aspects | |animal communities present in the Ramsar site, and the |
|documented in the character description sheet as listed in | |ecosystem services of the site and the benefits derived from |
|fields 4.1 - 4.27 in ecological character sheet: | |them.) |
| |4.1 Drinking water for humans and/or livestock (P)* |18. Hydrological values |
| | |(also 4.12-4.15 below) |
| |4.2 Water for irrigated agriculture (P)* | |
| |4.3 Water for industry (P)* | |
| |4.4 Groundwater replenishment (R)* | |
| |4.5 Water purification/waste treatment or dilution (R)* | |
| |4.6 Food for humans (P)* | |
| |4.7 Food for livestock (P)* | |
| |4.8 Wood, reed, fibre and peat (P)* | |
| |4.9 Medicinal products (P)* | |
| |4.10 Biological control agents for pests/diseases (R)* | |
| |4.11 Other products and resources, including genetic material | |
| |(P)* | |
| |4.12 Flood control, flood storage (R)* |18. Hydrological values |
| | |(also 4.1-4.5 above) |
| |4.13 Soil, sediment and nutrient retention (R)* | |
| |4.14 Coastal shoreline and river bank stabilization and storm | |
| |protection (R)* | |
| |4.15 Other hydrological services (R)* | |
| |4.16 Local climate regulation/buffering of change (R)* | |
| |4.17 Carbon storage/sequestration (R)* | |
| |4.18 Recreational hunting and fishing (C)* |31. Current recreation and tourism |
| |4.19 Water sports (C)* | |
| |4.20 Nature study pursuits (C)* | |
| |4.21 Other recreation and tourism (C)* | |
| |4.22 Educational values (C)* | |
| |4.23 Cultural heritage (C)* |23. Social and cultural values |
| |4.24 Contemporary cultural significance, including for arts | |
| |and creative inspiration, and including existence values (C)* | |
| |4.25 Aesthetic and “sense of place” values (C)* | |
| |4.26 Spiritual and religious values (C)* | |
| |4.27 Important knowledge systems, and importance for research | |
| |(C)* | |
| |(For nature conservation value as an ecosystem ‘service’ (S)*, | |
| |see items under ‘components’ and ‘processes’ above) | |
| | | |
|Conservation and management | |D. Conservation and management |
| | | |
|Conservation and management status of the wetland: | |27. Conservation measures taken a) List national and/or |
|Including legal instruments and social or cultural traditions | |international category and legal status of protected areas, |
|that influence the management of the wetland | |including boundary relationships with the Ramsar site; b) If |
| | |appropriate, list the IUCN (1994) protected areas category/ies |
| | |which apply to the site |
| | |28. Conservation measures proposed but not yet implemented |
| | |30. Current communications, education and public awareness |
| | |(CEPA) activities related to or benefiting the site |
|Management plans and monitoring programs: | |27. Conservation measures taken c) Does an officially approved |
|In place and planned within the wetland and in the river basin | |management plan exist; and is it being implemented?; d) |
|and/or coastal zone (see Resolutions 5.7, VI.1, VII.17, and | |Describe any other current management practices. |
|VIII.14) | |29. Current scientific research and facilities (e.g., details |
| | |of current research projects, including biodiversity |
| | |monitoring; existence of a field research station, etc.) |
|Land use : | |25. Current land (including water) use: a) within the Ramsar |
|Local, and in the river basin and/or coastal zone | |site; |
| | |b) in the surroundings/catchment |
| | |34. Bibliographical references |
* Ecosystem Services are categorised as “provisioning” (P), “regulating” (R), cultural (C) or “supporting” (S) according to the categorization in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. Some may appear in the “processes” section as well as the “services” section above.
* = No direct correspondence, otherwise inventory ceases to be “core”! - Perhaps need to discuss.
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