8 – 10 June 2023

“Wetland Cities ensure the wise use of wetlands for the benefit of present and future generations of citizens.”

The second circle of Wetland Cities was held in Amiens, France, from 8th to 10th June 2023, with the aim of bringing together mayors dedicated to the cause, along with a number of key stakeholders working on wetlands and ensuring their wise and sustainable use. The event was jointly organized by the Ramsar Regional Center – East Asia (RRC-EA) and the city of Amiens.

From left to right: Mr Jérôme BIGNON, President of Ramsar France, Mrs LAFAYE de MICHEAUX, Ministry MTECT France, Mr Seung Oh SUH RRC-EA Director, Mr Kwan-kuy ROH, Mayor of Suncheon City (Republic of Korea), Mrs Brigitte FOURE, Mayor of Amiens (France), Mr. Jay ALDOUS, Ramsar Deputy Secretary General, Stéphane HAUSSELIER President of the Département de la Somme France, Bruno BIENAIME Deputy Mayor of Amiens.

Twenty-four cities joined the event with their delegations, as well as key stakeholders such as the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT), the United Nations Environment Programme, the Shanghai Regional Programme of WWF, the Ramsar France Association, and the Mediterranean Wetlands Initiative (MedWet). They provided insights and expertise during plenary presentations and parallel sessions.

As a reminder, the Wetland City Accreditation Scheme is a framework based on Resolution XII.10 adopted at the 12th Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP12) held in 2015. In this resolution, the Contracting Parties highlight “the huge potential of urban areas in terms of education and public awareness related to wetlands conservation”. By August 2022, 43 wetland cities had been accredited in 17 countries.

The establishment of a network of Wetland Cities represents a relevant approach to effectively contribute to the implementation of the Ramsar Convention, through the collective efforts of local policies in consultation with communities. Education and awareness-raising projects are of paramount strategic importance. Museums, visitor and education centres, and schools are all invited to embrace these fragile ecosystems and biodiversity reserves for our future.

At the meeting, Brigitte Fouré, Mayor of Amiens, was elected President of the Wetland Cities Network. All the participants discussed at length the proposed 2022-2028 strategic plan. Communication, knowledge exchange, cooperation, and resource pooling were central to the program.

During the plenary session, two delegations raised the issue of financial capacity for some municipalities to engage in the process. The President highlighted the significance of fostering collective thinking and promoting solidarity among cities.

Participants also had the opportunity to discover the diversity of wetland areas in this region, including the Baie de Somme Nature Reserve and the Marquenterre Bird Park, with its 200 hectares of marshes, dunes, and reed beds. They also explored the Hortillonnages site, which integrates wetlands into the heart of the urban area.

With the Wetland City label, it’s clear that this is a fine tool for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands and one that is conducive to exchanges, and we hope that 2023 will see the accreditation of new cities.

Next key dates to remember

Submission of accreditation renewal application: 30 November 2023
https://www.ramsar.org/activity/wetland-city-accreditation

Ghar el Melh, 1st Mediterranean city to be accredited as a Ramsar city

Right in the center of the Mediterranean, on the Tunisian coast, Ghar el Melh was the inspiration for the genesis of the world-renowned “Wetland City Accreditation” commonly known as the “Ramsar City”.

During a side event, Sana Mezoughi, a member of the Tunisian delegation, highlighted the historical background of the label and the community’s conservation efforts regarding the Ghar el Melh lagoon. The inspiring journey spanned 11 years, starting from the Ghar el Melh lagoon’s designation as a Ramsar Site in 2007 to the subsequent designation of the city of Ghar el Melh as a “Ramsar city” in 2018. The connection between the community and the lagoon was emphasized, particularly through fishing and small-scale farming activities, underscoring the socio-cultural significance of the term “el Bhira” (which translates to “lagoon” in Arabic).

The event was also an opportunity to recall the actions and projects undertaken by the Ghar el Melh municipality, the Directorate General of Forests, its regional office – the Bizerte Agricultural Development Commission – and the WWF North Africa, as well as its international partners on the ground today to maintain the various protection statuses of the site.

Ghar El Melh (Tunisia). © MedWet/C.Amico

4th meeting of mayors of French wetland cities

Thanks to the national coordination of the accreditation led by the Ramsar France Association, the 2nd Roundtable of Wetland City Mayors in Amiens was an opportunity to organize a meeting of French mayors.

The meeting, marking the fourth gathering since 2019, saw representation from four out of the six accredited cities in France: Amiens, of course, Courteranges, Pont-Audemer, and Belval-en-Argonne. With representatives from Abbeville, a candidate for accreditation in 2023, also in attendance, the following topics were discussed:

• Their local authority’s actions and projects relating to wetlands;
• The details of the application and accreditation renewal procedures for the 4 towns designated in 2018;
• The recognition that Wetland City Accreditation holds value, albeit lacking significant awareness among the general public. Therefore, there is a need to enhance communication efforts, particularly during World Wetlands Day and public events.

The upcoming meeting is scheduled to coincide with the annual seminar of French Ramsar stakeholders, taking place from September 27th to 29th. The objective is to support the accreditation renewal process and facilitate the submission of new applications before the national deadline of October 6th, 2023.

More information: http://www.zones-humides.org/les-villes-des-zones-humides

Les hortillonnages, Amiens. © Laurent Gavory, Amiens Métropole

Wetland Link International – mobilizing communities around wetlands in urban areas

The Wetland City Accreditation is important too for engaging people and raising awareness. Often people in urban areas have little or no contact, or awareness of wetlands, even though they may have wetlands in or near their cities. The Wetland City badge gives people a sense of pride in their wetlands and encourages them to find out more and get involved.

At Amiens, the famous Baie de Somme provides a link to an internationally important wetland system, including a wetland visitor center and many opportunities to experience the wetland, only a few kilometers away from the town. In the town itself, the Hortillonages wetland complex shows how wetlands still provide benefits to the town.

Valencia in Spain is another example. Its surrounding wetlands have offered sustainable agricultural opportunities for generations, and still form an important income generation through tourism, traditional fishing, and rice production.

Further North, WWT created the London Visitor Centre, launched in 2000, and built on the site of disused drinking water reservoirs. We created a mosaic semi-natural wetland habitat, viewing points, and access and a built visitor center complete with visitor facilities and a team of education and outreach staff. You can see more here. Our global WLI network provides support to all those delivering wetland center projects, wherever they are in the world.

In summary, this label is not only a means of recognizing good wetland management, but also celebrates engaging with local people and stimulates a better understanding of what wetlands can do for us in urban areas

More information: https://wli.wwt.org.uk/fr/

WLI-LWC Peacock Tower, ©WLI

A look back at some key dates

02 February 2012, Ghar el Melh: presentation of the concept to the local population of Ghar el Melh during a wetland conservation project implemented by WWF Tunisia.

6-13 July 2012, COP11, Bucharest, Romania: plenary presentation of the concept of the Ramsar Wetland City Label by WWF Tunisia.

1-9 June 2015, COP12, Punta del Este, Uruguay: supported by South Korea and with the collaboration of the working group, resolution XII.10 -COP12 for the Wetland City Label was adopted by the contracting parties and included in the text of the convention.

20-29 October 2018, COP13, Dubai: official accreditation of 18 cities with the Wetland City Label.

5-13 November 2022: Resolution XIV.10 was adopted during COP14 in Geneva updating the accreditation modalities and announcement of the 2nd wave of designations for 25 new accredited cities.