Ramsar Sites Database

How to search the Ramsar Sites Database

Searches

The reporting system of the Ramsar Sites Database includes two search facilities:

- A "quick search" facility to find Ramsar sites using any of the following fields:
       · Ramsar site number
       · Wetlands International site number
       · Site name
       · Country

- An "advanced search" facility to find Ramsar sites by selecting on nearly any combination of criteria by using the " build query" function.
       · If you want to select more than one item in a listbox, hold down the Ctrl-key.
       · In most cases you can indicate OR relationship between the listbox values you selected. The default is AND (except for Ramsar Region and Country, the default is OR).
       · For certain fields (dates, area, elevation, etc.) you can enter either a minimum, maximum or a range.
       · Coordinates have to be entered in latitude/longtitude decimal degrees (e.g 11°30'S = -11.5 decimal degrees and 149°15' = 149.25 decimal degrees)
       · You can reset your selection by pressing the "reset" button at the bottom of the page.

After each search the database will give the number of sites found, the total area of the selected sites, and a list with all sites in the database that fulfil the given criteria.

Example1: Search for all Ramsar sites in Europe which are designated under at least criterion 5 OR 6.
- Select 'Europe' under Ramsar Region
- Select criteria '5' and '6' under Ramsar criteria (hold down the Ctrl-key) and activate "OR" by clicking on the tickbox (if "OR" is not activated, only the Ramsar sites which have criteria 5 AND 6 are selected)
- Press the search button

RESULT: The database will return a list of all sites in the database that fulfil these criteria. To see the details of a site, select a report.

Example2: Search for all Ramsar sites of which the dominant wetland types are lakes or rivers and which are important for commercial fishing.
- Select wetland types 'M', 'N', 'O', 'P' (permanent/seasonal lakes and permanent/seasonal rivers) under dominant wetland type (hold down the Ctrl-key) and activate "OR" by clicking on the tickbox
- Select 'commercial fishing' under Land use within Ramsar site
- Press the search button

RESULT: The database will return a list of all sites in the database that fulfil these criteria. To see the details of a site, select a report.

Reporting

The available information on the subset of sites selected through the "Quick Search" and "Advanced Search" facilities, can be reported in different ways:

1. Site Overview: This option allows you to click on the data fields that you would like to include in the report. After selecting the data fields, press the "Report Checked " button. If you want all the information kept in the database on the selected Ramsar sites be included in the report, press the "Report All" button. You can choose for a single site report or to report all sites at once (by using the Sites overview link above the list of all sites found). You may print the report(s) after they are displayed on screen, using standard Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator print tools.

2. Ramsar information Sheet: A link to the most recent Ramsar Information Sheet (PDF format) of the site submitted by the Contracting Party to the Ramsar Convention Secretariat.

3. Ramsar Site Directory Report: A link to the Ramsar Sites Directory entry of the site.

4. Site map: A link to the Web Mapper zoomed to site level with links to other available products for the site.

When selecting a Country an additional option will appear to view the country map. This link (View country map) will zoom to the selected Country within the Web Mapper showing the distribution of all Ramsar sites within that country with links to other products available on country level.

All data on the selected sites can be exported and saved as a text file to be imported into Excel for further analysis and/or mapping purpose by using the "Export sites data" link (above the list of all sites found). Click here for more guidance.

Click here to download Adobe Reader - software for viewing and printing PDF files!

For any comments, suggestions and/or questions on the Ramsar Sites Information Service, please mail to: ellen.dieme@wetlands.org