14 June 2012: The Secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention) has announced that the Government of the US has designated the Sue and Wes Dixon Waterfowl Refuge at Hennepin & Hopper Lakes as its 34th Wetland of International Importance.

According to Ramsar, the Sue and Wes Dixon Waterfowl Refuge at Hennepin & Hopper Lakes, located in the midwestern state of Illinois, hosts 22 federally- or state-endangered and threatened birds. Recreational activities are carried out on the site, which is threatened by invasive species, fires, and pesticide residues from nearby agricultural activities.

The US’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]