24 January 2013: The Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar Convention) has reported that the Government of Tunisia has designated a new Wetland of International Importance, the Complexe Lac de Tunis.

According to the Ramsar Secretariat, the new site is a coastal brackish lagoon surrounded by intertidal marshes, close to the city of Tunis. It provides a nesting ground for several waterbirds and wintering ground for migrating species. The lake, which also supports over 138 species of aquatic fauna, as well as mammals, is mainly used for fishing.

The designation was made to mark the 90th birthday of Luc Hoffmann, one of the “Founding Fathers” of the Ramsar Convention and co-founder of WWF.

Tunisia’s designation contributes to one of the goals contained in the Ramsar Convention’s Strategic Plan for 2009-2015, which is to reach a protected area of 250 million hectares by 2015. [Ramsar Press Release]