NAM- International treaties – RAMSAR
RATIFIED INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS
Namibia
Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (RAMSAR)
Art.1-1
The legal framework provides for definitions (of key terms) identical in wording or effect as those set out in Article 1 (in particular "wetland" and "waterfowl").
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Namibia's Draft Wetland Policy
Background Information Section 1: Wetlands include a large variety of highly productive habitat types including rivers, lakes, floodplains, shallow pans and marshes. They are areas that have acquired special characteristics from being wet on a permanent or temporary basis.[...] |
Art.2-1
The legal framework allows for the designation of suitable wetlands within the national territory for inclusion in a List of Wetlands of International Importance, which is maintained by the bureau of the Convention, with the boundaries of each wetland precisely described and also delimited on a map.
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Namibia's Draft Wetland Policy
Background Information Section 1: [...]This policy document recognises the following categories and types of wetlands in Namibia based on the list provided by the International Convention on Wetlands and adapted to Namibian conditions by the Wetlands Working Group of the Namibian National Biodiversity Task Force.[...] |
Art.2-2
The legal framework allows for:
a) the selection of wetlands to be included on the List on account of their international significance in terms of ecology, botany, zoology, limnology or hydrology; and
b) the inclusion in the first instance of wetlands of international importance to waterfowl in any season.
a) the selection of wetlands to be included on the List on account of their international significance in terms of ecology, botany, zoology, limnology or hydrology; and
b) the inclusion in the first instance of wetlands of international importance to waterfowl in any season.
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Namibia's Draft Wetland Policy
Background Information Section 1: a) [...] categories are - Coastal wetlands including estuaries, deltas, river mouths, tidal lagoons, islands and the rocky shoreline to a depth of 6m; - Perennial, ephemeral and seasonal rivers and streams and their floodplains; [...] - Marshes, swamps and vleis [...] b) [...] To date Namibia has designated four wetlands as Ramsar sites (wetlands of International importance) viz. the Walvis Bay Lagoon, Sandwich Harbour Lagoon, the Orange River Mouth and the Etosha Pan [...] |
Art.2-5
The legal framework allows:
a) adding to the List further wetlands situated within its territory and/or extending the boundaries of those wetlands already included in the List;
b) deleting and/or restricting the boundaries of wetlands already included in the List; and
c) communicating such changes to the convention bureau, at the earliest possible time.
a) adding to the List further wetlands situated within its territory and/or extending the boundaries of those wetlands already included in the List;
b) deleting and/or restricting the boundaries of wetlands already included in the List; and
c) communicating such changes to the convention bureau, at the earliest possible time.
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Namibia's Draft Wetland Policy
4.2 Wetland Resource Use and Conservation Principles Section 4.2.2: The protected areas network in Namibia shall be expanded to include vulnerable wetlands as well as functional units of each wetland type. Trans-frontier protected areas shall be established (e.g. along the lower reaches of the Okavango downstream of Mukwe in both Namibia and Botswana, and between Namibia, Angola, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe that share the Zambezi River at its floodplains upstream of the Victoria Falls ). |
Art.3-1
The legal framework allows:
- promoting the conservation of wetlands included in the List; and
- promoting, as far as possible, the wise use of wetlands in their territory.
- promoting the conservation of wetlands included in the List; and
- promoting, as far as possible, the wise use of wetlands in their territory.
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Namibia's Draft Wetland Policy
3 Guiding Principles Section 2: Sustainable and equitable use: The concepts of sustainable development and equity, as advocated in the Namibian Constitution and Namibia’s National Development Plans are fundamental to this policy. |
Art.3-2
The legal framework allows for:
- the adoption of measures enabling the State to be informed as soon as possible if the ecological character of any wetland in its territory and included in the List has changed, is changing or is likely to change as the result of technological developments, pollution or other human interference; and
- the immediate communication of this information to the convention bureau.
- the adoption of measures enabling the State to be informed as soon as possible if the ecological character of any wetland in its territory and included in the List has changed, is changing or is likely to change as the result of technological developments, pollution or other human interference; and
- the immediate communication of this information to the convention bureau.
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No relevant elements identified/documented |
Art.4-1
The legal framework allows for the conservation of wetlands and waterfowl by establishing nature reserves on wetlands, whether included in the List or not, and for their wardening.
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Nature Conservation Ordinance
Section 13 Etosha National Park: The area defined in Schedule 2 and known as the Etosha National Park shall be a game park for the propagation, protection, study and preservation therein of wild animal life, wild plant life and objects of geological, ethnological, archaeological, historical and other scientific interest and for the benefit and enjoyment of the inhabitants of Namibia and other persons. |
Art.4-2
The legal framework allows that, whenever a wetland included in the List is exceptionally deleted or restricted, any loss of wetland resources is compensated, in particular by creating additional nature reserves for waterfowl and for the protection, either in the same area or elsewhere, of an adequate portion of the original habitat.
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No relevant elements identified/documented |
Art.4-3
The legal framework allows for the promotion of research and the exchange of data and publications regarding wetlands and their flora and fauna.
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Namibia's Draft Wetland Policy
Section 4.6 Research and Information Principles: [...] A high quality of research and monitoring shall be maintained to obtain reliable and up-to-date information. […] |
Art.4-4
The legal framework allows for increase of waterfowl populations through management on appropriate wetlands.
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Namibia's Draft Wetland Policy
4.2 Wetland Resource Use and Conservation Principles Section 4.2.2: The protected areas network in Namibia shall be expanded to include vulnerable wetlands as well as functional units of each wetland type. Trans-frontier protected areas shall be established (e.g. along the lower reaches of the Okavango downstream of Mukwe in both Namibia and Botswana, and between Namibia, Angola, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe that share the Zambezi River at its floodplains upstream of the Victoria Falls ). |
Art.4-5
The legal framework allows for the training of personnel in wetland research, management and wardening.
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Namibia's Draft Wetland Policy
Section 4.6 Research and Information Principles: [...] A high quality of research and monitoring shall be maintained to obtain reliable and up-to-date information. […] |
Art.5
The legal framework encourages:
- inter-State consultation for the fulfillment of obligations under the Convention in transboundary wetlands and shared river basins; and
- inter-State coordination on present and future policies and regulations relating to the conservation of wetlands, their flora and fauna.
- inter-State consultation for the fulfillment of obligations under the Convention in transboundary wetlands and shared river basins; and
- inter-State coordination on present and future policies and regulations relating to the conservation of wetlands, their flora and fauna.
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Namibia's Draft Wetland Policy
Section 4.6 Research and Information Principles: [...] Opportunities for partnerships between government and civil society, particularly national and international NGOs, shall be developed. […] |