Ramsar Sites Directory

The Directory is a unique Internet-based technical product containing concisely written descriptions of each Ramsar Site in a standard format, taken from the RIS.

Since the style and level of detail of information provided by Parties when they have designated a Site varies considerably, particularly between Sites designated in the early years of the Convention and more recent Sites designated using the RIS, the purpose of the Ramsar Sites Directory is to extract and present summary information about each Site in a standardised and accessible form, which in turn enables more consistent comparisons between Sites.

Directory entries include a summary of why the Site is important, and full  scientific names of key species recorded.  This most recent edition of the Ramsar Sites Directory marks the 8th issue prepared for a triennial meeting (COP) of Ramsar Contracting Parties, and includes 1,462 Sites as at 30 September 2005 for which data were available. 

At the country level, every Site included has a concise Directory entry, which is derived from the official information supplied by Contracting Parties on the Ramsar Information Sheet.  An example of the format of the standardised Directory entry is given below, organised into the following categories:

Country Name                                                                 Site Code

Site: Name of Site		Designation date: dd/mm/yyyy
Coordinates: Lat. Long.	Elevation:   m		Area:   ha
Location: Concise description.
Criteria: any of 1 - 8 (replaces pre-1999 criteria codes)
Importance: Description of why the Site is important, highlighting species and other features.  This description may be similar to the one contained in the Annotated List, maintained by the Ramsar Secretariat
Wetland Types: Ramsar wetland classification types and a short description of morphology
Biological/Ecological notes:   Brief notes on species composition and ecology to provide an impression of the character of the Site
Hydrological/Physical notes:   Water and geo-morphological features
Human Uses:   Principal uses and any references to Wise Use
Conservation Measures:   Protection status and designations in force
Adverse Factors:.  Main threats to the Site
Site Management: Which agency (with contacts) is responsible for (local) Site management, and its address
Note providing the source of the information.

Definitions of key terms used, including Criteria or Wetland Types, can be accessed from the web pages. Note that the Area given is the area of the designated Site and is not necessarily the area of the wetland within the Site.

A key section of each Directory entry, following its geographical location and Criteria, is the Importance section.  This provides a concise description of the value of the Site, as provided by the Administrative Authority of the Contracting Party concerned.  It also sets into context the information provided in the other sections.