174 



(b) The entries in the List of Wetlands of International Impor- 

 tance which is to be maintained imder the Convention could usefully 

 be supplemented by descriptions of the biotopes involved and an 

 enumeration of the bird species especially in need of protection therein. 



20. The Conference adopted eleven Recommendations which are 

 submitted to the Governments and other Bodies concerned for con- 

 sideration and appropriate action. Although in sympathy with the 

 intention of Recommendations 1 to 5, Delegates from some countries 

 refrained from voting on them for the formal reason that they did 

 not wish to be involved in the internal affairs of the countries con- 

 cerned. These Recommendations are appended as Annex II to this 

 Final Act and relate to : 



(1) Conservation of the Waddensea, northwestern Europe. 



(2) Conservation of Thjorsarver, Iceland. 



(3) Conservation of North Bull Island, Ireland. 



(4) Conservation of Lakes Ab-i-Istada and Dasht-e-Nawar, 

 Afghanistan. 



(5) Conservation of the Medway Estuary, England. 



(6) Oil Pollution. 



(7) Pesticides. 



(8) Promotion of Wetlands Research. 



(9) Promotion of Hunting Research. 



(10) African Wetlands. 



(11) Wetlands and the Man and the Biosphere Programme. 

 In loitness lohereof. the Representatives have signed this Final Act. 

 Done at Ramsar this third day of February, One thousand nine 



hundred and seventy one, in a single copy in the English language. 



The original text of this Final Act shall be deposited by the Gov- 

 ernment of Iran with the Director General of the United Nations 

 Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization who shall send a 

 certified copy of this instrument to each of the Governments repre- 

 sented at the Conference. 



CONVENTION ON WETLANDS OF INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE 

 ESPECIALLY AS WATERFOWL HABITAT 



The Contracting Parties, 



Recognising the interdependence of Man and his environment; 



Considering the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands as 

 regulators of water regimes and as habitats supporting a character- 

 istic flora and fauna, especially waterfowl ; 



Being convinced that wetlands constitute a resource of great eco- 

 nomic, cultural, scientific and recreational value, the loss of which 

 would be irreparable ; 



Desiring to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wet- 

 lands now and in the future ; 



Recognising that waterfowl in their seasonal migrations may trans- 

 cend frontiers and so should be regarded as an international resource ; 



Being confident that the conservation of wetlands and their flora 

 and fauna can be ensured by combining far-sighted national policies 

 with co-ordinated international action ; 



Have agreed as follows : 



