A brief introduction. The four International Organisation Partners (IOPs) occupy a special position within the group of Observers invited to attend meetings of the Convention. By virtue of their long-standing interest and practical involvement with the Convention the IOPs are considered to be full partners in all aspects of the development of the Convention's work, and are full Members of the STRP. Each IOP occupies a niche which complements the work of the other IOPs and a brief outline of their roles is given here. Click on the buttons to reach the IOPs websites, which provide detailed information.
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Ramsar
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International
Organisation Partner
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BirdLife International is concerned with all aspects of policy development and operation of the STRP. It also promotes and performs inventories (e.g. on Important Bird Areas), and is involved with development of monitoring and biodiversity indicators; |
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 Water and Wetlands 
Species Commission |
IUCN provides species advice through its Species Survival Commission, general advice on wetlands and water issues, including on policy, through its Wetlands and Water Programme, and certain areas of thematic advice (wetland economics, climate change, social policy, education and communication, invasive species etc.) through other IUCN programmes; and its Red Listing programme provides the basis for the application of Criterion 2 for globally threatened species; |
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Wetlands International provides policy advice, guidance on designation of under-represented wetland types in the Ramsar List, advice on inventory, monitoring and assessment, and on training. Globally relevant benchmarks for waterbirds including the regular review and setting of 1% population thresholds for the application of Criterion 6 criterion for the designation of Ramsar sites; the recent bird flu crisis has also emphasised the need to invest more in surveillance monitoring and analysis. |
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Living Waters Programme |
WWF International primarily contributes policy advice on wetlands and ecosystem management, and undertakes expert reviews of different aspects of the scientific, technical and policy implementation of the Convention. WWF has also made available substantial funds to encourage Contracting Parties to make further designations of wetlands to the List. |
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The International Water Management Institute is a nonprofit scientific research organization focusing on the sustainable use of water and land resources in agriculture and on the water needs of developing countries. IWMI works with partners in the South to develop tools and methods to help these countries eradicate poverty through more effective management of their water and land resources. |
