The 10th meeting of the contracting parties (COP 10) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat was held from 28 October to 4 November 2008, in Changwon, Republic of Korea.

The meeting took as its theme, “Healthy Wetlands, Healthy People.” Over 2000 participants attended, representing 158 parties, international organization partners of the Ramsar Convention, UN agencies and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. COP 10 adopted 33 resolutions, including on: wetlands and climate change; wetlands and biofuels; wetlands and extractive industries; wetlands and poverty eradication; wetlands and human health and well-being; enhancing biodiversity in rice paddies as wetland systems; and promoting international cooperation on the conservation of waterbird flyways. The COP also adopted the Convention’s budget for 2009-2013 and Strategic Plan 2009-2014.
Most participants expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the Conference, highlighting the public attention it received in the host country and the Asian region as an important step towards raising the Convention’s profile. A number of resolutions provide guidance for further streamlining reporting and monitoring under the Convention as well the Convention’s own operations. However, the main issue of institutional reform – the legal status of the Convention’s Secretariat – was deferred to an intersessional working group. While many delegates welcomed the fact that the decisions on wetlands and climate change and on wetlands and biofuels remained focused on aspects relevant to wetland conservation and wise use rather than broadening the issues beyond the Convention’s scope, some felt that COP10 had missed an opportunity to make the Convention more visible at the global level.
Link to further information
IISD RS coverage, November 2008