7 March 2013: The Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention) has announced that the Government of Swaziland has acceded to the Convention, becoming its 165th contracting party.

According to the Ramsar Secretariat, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the depository of the Convention, has confirmed that the instrument of accession and accompanying Ramsar Site designations of Swaziland were received on 15 February 2013. The Convention will enter into force for that country on 15 June 2013.

Swaziland’s first three Ramsar sites are: Hawane Nature Reserve and Dam; Sand River; and Van Eck. [Ramsar Website]