Ramsar Wetlands

Ramsar Wetlands: Values, Assessment, Management addresses the approaches, successes and limitations of the Ramsar Convention in a changing world, how recent approaches to wetland monitoring and management can contribute to improving wetland state, what the future holds for wetlands and their wise use, and what the Ramsar Convention needs to do to achieve future successes. The book presents a unique outlook on a range of issues, addressing considerable advances in our understanding of wetlands, their great environmental, social, cultural and economic importance, their role in maintaining the global water-cycle, and in mitigating and adapting to changing climates.

No other book has yet taken this broad look at the past, present and future of wetlands and the Ramsar Convention. From aquatic ecologists, environmental scientists and engineers, to water resource managers, conservation agencies, and land management planners, this comprehensive guide is a beneficial tool in understanding wetlands.

A. Introduction
1. Introduction: the Ramsar Convention
2. The World’s Most Significant Wetlands
3. Wetland Ecosystems: evolution
4. Threatening Processes; State of World’s Wetlands
5. Ecosystem Services; wise use

B. Monitoring Wetland Change
6. Long Term Wetland Change
7. The Anthropocene
8. Wetland Monitoring; understanding variability and change in ecological condition
9. Remote sensing of changing extent
10. Trajectories in condition; Setting Limits of Acceptable Change

C. Managing the World’s Wetlands
11. Law, policy and Science under the Ramsar Convention
12. Reporting and mitigating Changes
13. The CoP; understanding a diverse management community; reach and sphere of influence
14. National obligations to the Convention
15. Management effectiveness of wetland protected areas

D. The Future
16. Emerging threats
17. Investment in wetland restoration; recovery; setting targets, novel ecosystems
18. Cultural Considerations
19. International contests for water
20. Future Climates: hydroclimate and sea-level rise
21. Implications for Socio-ecological Systems