11 July 2011: The Secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention) and the Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS) signed a third Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC), for 2011-2015, to collaborate on areas of common interest for wetland conservation and wise use.

The MoC was signed during the annual conference of the SWS in Prague, Czech Republic, on 7 July 2011. The first MoC between the two parties was signed in 1999, and the second in 2004. SWS has been contributing to and supporting various aspects of the work of Ramsar’s Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP), and in 2010 established a formal “Ramsar Section” designed to facilitate connections between the two organizations.

During the conference, the Ramsar Section of SWS held a symposium on “Designation, wise use and restoration of Ramsar wetlands” as a contribution to Ramsar’s 40th anniversary. Presentations from this symposium and other sessions of the conference will be available on the SWS website. [SWS Website] [Ramsar Press Release] [Memorandum of Cooperation]