What is the Ramsar Convention?
The Ramsar convention on wetlands of international importance requires the conservation of wetlands especially those sites registered by governments under the convention. It is named after the town of Ramsar in Iran where it was signed. It is published in the UK as Cm 6464. The UK is a signatory to the convention and the whole of the Firth of Forth (including the mouth of the Esk) has now been registered as Ramsar UK 13017. Responsibility for Ramsar sites in the UK rest with the Department of the Environment who have devolved responsibility to Scottish Natural Heritage. Registration of sites is the responsibility of the Nature Conservancy. Signature of the convention commits the UK government to protect the sites which have an importance either in national terms e.g. special local features or international significance e.g. migratory species. The Firth of Forth is especially important for the large numbers of wintering waders and wild fowl many in internationally important numbers.
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