scholarly journals A review of the adequacy of reporting to the Ramsar Convention on change in the ecological character of wetlands

2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 117 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. C. Davidson ◽  
L. Dinesen ◽  
S. Fennessy ◽  
C. M. Finlayson ◽  
P. Grillas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sufficient Information ◽  
Information Sheet ◽  
National Scale ◽  
Ramsar Convention ◽  
Sustainable Development Goal ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Ecological Character ◽  
The Status ◽  
International Importance ◽  
Over Time

We review the mechanisms established by the Ramsar Convention for reporting on the status and change in the ecological character of wetlands. We assess the extent of their implementation and compliance, but not issues of the adequacy of their design nor the consequences of their extent of implementation. We conclude that, with the exception of qualitative national-scale reporting in triennial Contracting Party National Reports, there is inadequate implementation and compliance with most of these mechanisms, notably concerning required reporting under Article 3.2 of the Convention and the updating of the Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS). This limits the ability of the Convention to assess the status, and trends in status, of designated Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites), and to inform future decision-making and priority-setting for the wise use of all wetlands. As has been recognised by the Ramsar Convention, unless compliance with these mechanisms is improved, sufficient information will not be gathered through the mechanisms of Ramsar Convention to assess fully the Sustainable Development Goal 6.6.1 indicator supported by the Convention on change in the extent of water-related ecosystems over time.

scholarly journals Trends in the ecological character of the world's wetlands

2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 127 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. C. Davidson ◽  
L. Dinesen ◽  
S. Fennessy ◽  
C. M. Finlayson ◽  
P. Grillas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Ramsar Site ◽  
Ramsar Convention ◽  
Sustainable Development Goal ◽  
Development Goal ◽  
Average Area ◽  
Ecological Character ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
Better Than

We assessed trends in the ecological character of wetlands generally and of Ramsar Sites reported in 2011, 2014 and 2017 by the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in their national reports. There was more widespread deterioration than improvement in the ecological character of wetlands generally, with deterioration increasingly more widespread between 2011 and 2017. The ecological-character trends in Ramsar Sites were significantly better than those of wetlands generally, but an increasingly more widespread deterioration of ecological character was reported between 2011 and 2017. Trends in the ecological character of wetlands generally, and of Ramsar Sites were worst in Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean, and recently also in Oceania, and better in North America and Europe. Deterioration in the ecological character of Ramsar Site was more widespread in countries with a large average area of their Ramsar Sites. This information on trends of wetland ecological character can contribute to assessing the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal Target 6.6 and Aichi Biodiversity Target 5. Our analysis indicated that the 1971 aim of the Ramsar Convention to stem the degradation of wetlands has not yet been achieved.

scholarly journals Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance–Improving Conservation Outcomes

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. T. Kingsford ◽  
G. Bino ◽  
C. M. Finlayson ◽  
D. Falster ◽  
J.A. Fitzsimons ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Western Europe ◽  
Ramsar Site ◽  
Ramsar Convention ◽  
Wise Use ◽  
Ecological Character ◽  
The World ◽  
International Importance ◽  
Site Network ◽  
Key Indicators ◽  
Wise Use Of Wetlands

The Ramsar Convention (or the Convention on Wetlands), signed in 1971, was one of the first international conservation agreements, promoting global wise use of wetlands. It has three primary objectives: national designation and management of wetlands of international importance; general wise use of wetlands; and international cooperation. We examined lessons learnt for improving wetland conservation after Ramsar’s nearly five decades of operation. The number of wetlands in the Ramsar Site Network has grown over time (2,391 Ramsar Sites, 2.5 million km2, as at 2020-06-09) but unevenly around the world, with decreasing rate of growth in recent decades. Ramsar Sites are concentrated in countries with a high Gross Domestic Product and human pressure (e.g., western Europe) but, in contrast, Ramsar Sites with the largest wetland extent are in central-west Africa and South America. We identified three key challenges for improving effectiveness of the Ramsar Site Network: increasing number of sites and wetland area, improved representation (functional, geographical and biological); and effective management and reporting. Increasing the number of sites and area in the Ramsar network could benefit from targets, implemented at national scales. Knowledge of representativeness is inadequate, requiring analyses of functional ecotypes, geographical and biological representativeness. Finally, most countries have inadequate management planning and reporting on the ecological character of their Ramsar Sites, requiring more focused attention on a vision and objectives, with regular reporting of key indicators to guide management. There are increasing opportunities to rigorously track ecological character, utilizing new tools and available indicators (e.g., remote sensing). It is critical that the world protect its wetlands, with an effective Ramsar Convention or the Convention on Wetlands at the core.

scholarly journals The status of waterbird populations of Chhaya Rann Wetland Complex in Porbandar, Gujarat, India

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 14268-14278
Author(s):  
Dhavalkumar Vargiya ◽  
Anita Chakraborty
Keyword(s):  
Urban Setting ◽  
Ramsar Convention ◽  
Wetland Birds ◽  
Lesser Flamingo ◽  
Limosa Limosa ◽  
The Status ◽  
International Importance ◽  
Wetland Complex ◽  
Near Threatened ◽  
Common Pochard

The present investigation was undertaken to study the diversity of wetland birds in Chhaya Rann (Gujarati: Deserted land) wetland complex, situated in the urban setting of Porbandar City, in the western state of Gujarat, India.  Almost 70 species belonging to 21 families of wetland birds have been reported from here with an estimated count of 35,747 and 20,981 in the year 2016 and 2015 respectively.  Anatidae and Scolopacidae represent the higher number of species (11 each) followed by Ardeidae (eight species) and Laridae (seven species).  The wetland complex supports one IUCN Red Listed Vulnerable species (Common Pochard Aythya ferina), six Near Threatened species (Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor, Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster, Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus, Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus, Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa and River Tern Sterna aurantia), and 63 Least Concern species.  The wetland meets the Criteria 5 and 6 for listing as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. 

A Review of Sustainable Development Goal 3 Indicators in European Countries Before the COVID-19 Pandemic

2022 ◽  
pp. 229-249
Author(s):  
Nuray Tezcan
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Health Indicators ◽  
Well Being ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Sustainable Development Goal ◽  
Development Goal ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
The World ◽  
The Status ◽  
Development Goals

In recent years, achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has been one of the most important issues for countries throughout the world. In the SDG framework, Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3) is devoted to “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.” However, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which has been experienced since the beginning of 2020, has deeply affected countries in all respects. Accordingly, the health systems of countries have come to the point of collapsing. This situation has been bringing about setback to meet the targets of SDG3. The purpose of this study is to determine the status of SDG3 indicators in European countries before the COVID-19 pandemic. For this purpose, firstly, countries are clustered based on their health indicators given in the Europe Sustainable Development Report 2020 using cluster analysis. Having classified similar countries, each cluster has been examined by considering the effects of COVID-19 pandemic.

Role of palaeoecology in describing the ecological character of wetlands

2016 ◽  
Vol 67 (6) ◽  
pp. 687 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Max Finlayson ◽  
Stewart J. Clarke ◽  
Nick C. Davidson ◽  
Peter Gell
Keyword(s):  
Reference Conditions ◽  
Drivers Of Change ◽  
Ramsar Convention ◽  
Ecological Character ◽  
Trajectories Of Change ◽  
Responding To Change ◽  
Considerable Body ◽  
Over Time

While it is acknowledged that changes in the condition of a wetland can be detected through contemporary monitoring programs, this paper explores the extent to which palaeoecological approaches can be used in concert with contemporary techniques to understand benchmark conditions, rates and direction of change. This is done within the context of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands that addresses the conservation of internationally important wetlands and the wise use of all wetlands. Over time the Convention has adopted a considerable body of guidance on detecting, reporting and responding to change in ecological character. In recognition that there remain gaps in available guidance on ecological character the Convention has requested further advice on the determination of appropriate reference conditions for assessing change and establishing the range of natural variability of wetlands. As palaeoecological approaches provide a ready means of considering the trajectories of change, and the nature and drivers of change over time, they can assist in qualifying established ecological descriptions. They can also help understand the timing and nature of any departure from normal conditions, and provide early warnings of future change, especially when integrated with contemporary monitoring and modelling.

In or Out?

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine E. De Vries
Keyword(s):  
Public Opinion ◽  
Status Quo ◽  
Data Sources ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Alternative State ◽  
Empirical Measurement ◽  
The Status ◽  
People’S Attitudes ◽  
Over Time ◽  
The Eu

This chapter introduces a benchmark theory of public opinion towards European integration. Rather than relying on generic labels like support or scepticism, the chapter suggests that public opinion towards the EU is both multidimensional and multilevel in nature. People’s attitudes towards Europe are essentially based on a comparison between the benefits of the status quo of membership and those associated with an alternative state, namely one’s country being outside the EU. This comparison is coined the ‘EU differential’. When comparing these benefits, people rely on both their evaluations of the outcomes (policy evaluations) and the system that produces them (regime evaluations). This chapter presents a fine-grained conceptualization of what it means to be an EU supporter or Eurosceptic; it also designs a careful empirical measurement strategy to capture variation, both cross-nationally and over time. The chapter cross-validates these measures against a variety of existing and newly developed data sources.

scholarly journals Personality dynamics at work: The effects of form, time, and context of variability

2021 ◽  
pp. 089020702110173
Author(s):  
Nadin Beckmann ◽  
Damian P Birney ◽  
Amirali Minbashian ◽  
Jens F Beckmann
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Temporal Stability ◽  
Limited Evidence ◽  
Short Term ◽  
State Data ◽  
The Status ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Trait Variability

The study aimed to investigate the status of within-person state variability in neuroticism and conscientiousness as individual differences constructs by exploring their (a) temporal stability, (b) cross-context consistency, (c) empirical links to selected antecedents, and (d) empirical links to longer term trait variability. Employing a sample of professionals ( N = 346) from Australian organisations, personality state data together with situation appraisals were collected using experience sampling methodology in field and repeatedly in lab-like settings. Data on personality traits, cognitive ability, and motivational mindsets were collected at baseline and after two years. Contingent (situation contingencies) and non-contingent (relative SD) state variability indices were relatively stable over time and across contexts. Only a small number of predictive effects of state variability were observed, and these differed across contexts. Cognitive ability appeared to be associated with state variability under lab-like conditions. There was limited evidence of links between short-term state and long-term trait variability, except for a small effect for neuroticism. Some evidence of positive manifold was found for non-contingent variability. Systematic efforts are required to further elucidate the complex pattern of results regarding the antecedents, correlates and outcomes of individual differences in state variability.

scholarly journals The consumer goods sector and the sustainability agenda in Ghana: a review of sustainability commitments

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Abubakari ◽  
Bessy Thuranira
Keyword(s):  
Consumer Goods ◽  
Sustainable Consumption ◽  
Academic Community ◽  
Concerted Effort ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
Sustainable Development Goal ◽  
Development Goal ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Sustainable Consumption And Production ◽  
Qualitative Literature

AbstractCorporate entities are expected to show a great commitment to the sustainability agenda in response to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)-12—‘Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns’ by 2030. This study, therefore, analyses the sustainability commitments of two major consumer goods companies in Ghana; Unilever Ghana Limited, and PZ Cussons Ghana Limited. It uses the traditional qualitative literature review approach to identify and evaluate the varying commitments of the two entities through an analytic lens of the Sustainable Business Model (SBM) archetypes. The findings indicate that of the eight archetypes, Unilever Ghana Limited is committed to four of the archetypes—1, 3, 6, and 8—whereas PZ Cussons Ghana Limited’s commitments align with five of the archetypes—1, 2, 5, 6, and 8. This indicates a defining step in their sustainability commitments moving forward, however, the translation of the commitments of the two companies into actualities calls for a concerted effort involving the State, civil society, the academic community, and the entities themselves.

scholarly journals The Determinants of Access to Sanitation: The Role of Human Rights and the Challenges of Measurement

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 1676
Author(s):  
Rebecca Schiel ◽  
Bruce M. Wilson ◽  
Malcolm Langford
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Field Data ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Human Right ◽  
Sustainable Development Goal ◽  
Development Goal ◽  
The Sustainable Development

Ten years after the United Nation’s recognition of the human right to water and sanitation (HRtWS), little is understood about how these right impacts access to sanitation. There is limited identification of the mechanisms responsible for improvements in sanitation, including the international and constitutional recognition of rights to sanitation and water. We examine a core reason for the lack of progress in this field: data quality. Examining data availability and quality on measures of access to sanitation, we arrive at three findings: (1) where data are widely available, measures are not in line with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets, revealing little about changes in sanitation access; (2) data concerning safe sanitation are missing in more country-year observations than not; and (3) data are missing in the largest proportions from the poorest states and those most in need of progress on sanitation. Nonetheless, we present two regression analyses to determine what effect rights recognition has on improvements in sanitation access. First, the available data are too limited to analyze progress toward meeting SDGs related to sanitation globally, and especially in regions most urgently needing improvements. Second, utilizing more widely available data, we find that rights seem to have little impact on access.

The Genesis and Development of the Maqāṣid al-Qur’ān

2013 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 39-58
Author(s):  
Tazu Islam
Keyword(s):  
Compact Form ◽  
Television Programs ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Status ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Scholarly Discussion ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Academic Debate

Maqāṣid al-Qur’ān is an emerging science that promotes an understanding of the Qur’anic discourse’s purposive (maqasidic) angle. Beginning with preliminary ideas in the fifth Islamic century, it has now achieved the status, in the eyes of many prominent contemporary Muslims, of being a specific science. Having been the subject of scholarly discussion in articles, books, television programs, seminars and conferences, this subject has created a new academic debate in the very contemporary field of Qur’anic studies. This study explores its genesis and conceptual developments over time by analyzing the root of this science as well as how it has fared at the hands of early and modern scholarship of the Qur’an. Its findings are expected to contribute to presenting this field to the public in a compact form.

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