23 August 2012: The Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar Convention) has reported that the Government of Andorra has deposited its instrument of accession to the Ramsar Convention, which will enter into force for Andorra on 23 November 2012.

Andorra is Ramsar’s 163rd Contracting Party. The Ramsar Secretariat also reported that Andorra has designated Parc naturel de la vallée de Sorteny, in Ordino parish, as its first wetland to be included in the List of Wetlands of International Importance. The site is a Natural Park high in the Pyrenees, which offers habitat to several rare species of flora and fauna, as well as amphibians and reptiles.

The site also plays an important role for the provision and purification of water, as well as for the general hydrological balance of the area. It has historical value, as it contains remains of constructions related to traditional activities of iron mining and livestock breeding. Activities carried out on the site include livestock breeding, tourism, recreation and research.

Andorra’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]