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Article 1 



1. For the purpose of this Convention wetlands are areas of marsh, 

 fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or 

 temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, 

 including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does 

 not exceed six meters. 



2. For the purpose of this Convention waterfowl are birds eco- 

 logically dependent on wetlands. 



Article 2 



1. Each Contracting Party shall designate suitable wetlands with- 

 in its territory for inclusion in a List of Wetlands of International 

 Importance, hereinafter referred to as "the List", which is maintained 

 by the bureau established under Article 8. The boundaries of each 

 wetland shall be precisely described and also delimited on a map and 

 they may incorporate riparian and coastal zones adjacent to the wet- 

 lands, and islands or bodies of marine water deeper than six metres 

 at low tide lying within the wetlands, especially where these have im- 

 portance as waterfowl habitats. 



2. Wetlands should be selected for the List on account of their inter- 

 national significance in terms of ecology, botany, zoology, limnology 

 or hydrology. In the first instance wetlands of international impor- 

 tance to waterfowl at any season should be included. 



3. The inclusion of a wetland in the List does not prejudice the 

 exclusive sovereign rights of the Contracting Party in whose territory 

 the wetland is situated. 



4. Each Contracting Party shall designate at least one wetland to be 

 included in the Inst when signing this Convention or when depositing 

 its instrument of ratification or accession, as provided in Article 9. 



5. Any Contracting Party shall have the right to add to the List 

 further wetlands situated within its territory, to extend the boundaries 

 of those wetlands already included by it in the List, or, because of its 

 urgent national interests, to delete or restrict the boundaries of wet- 

 lands already included by it in the List and shall, at the earliest pos- 

 sible time, inform the organization or government responsible for the 

 continuing bureau duties specified in Article 8 of any such changes, 



6. Each Contracting Party shall consider its international responsi- 

 bilities for the conservation, management and wise use of migratory 

 stocks of waterfowl, both when designating entries for the List and 

 when exercising its right to change entries in the List relating to wet- 

 lands within its territory. 



Article 3 



1. The Contracting Parties shall formulate and implement their 

 planning so as to promote the conservation of the wetlands included 

 in the List, and as far as possible the wise use of wetlands in their 

 territory. 



2. Each Contracting Party shall arrange to be informed at the 

 earliest possible tim.e if the ecological character of any wetland in its 

 territory and included in the List has changed, is changing or is likely 



