Ramsar site

Ramsar convention was approved by Chile in September 1980; and the “Carlos Andwanter Nature Sanctuary”, located in the Cruces River (Lake Region), was designated as the first Ramsar site.  Currently there are seven Ramsar sites, all under the protection regime of national parks, national reserves or nature sanctuaries.
Following the Strategic Plan 1997-1992, Chile established the National Committee on Wetlands, with a national and regional emphasis and with the participation of both governmental and non-governmental organizations. As Focal Points on Communication, Education and Public Awareness (CEPA) on wetlands are two members of the committee, the National Museum of Natural History and the Union of Chilean Ornithologists (governmental and non-governmental organizations respectively).
Both organizations are working on CEPA, together and independently of each other, and their activities are directed to general public, students (junior and high schools, and universities) and also include public authorities.  The National Museum of Natural History developed specific materials (CD ROM, booklet, and poster) to give to regional and local authorities, information on wetlands, Ramsar convention, and national and international legal aspects involved in wetland conservation and management.
We discuss the spatial and temporal success of these activities and also the difficulties we found to reach the goals.  The activities dedicated to communication with public authorities are very important, because there are several decisions taken at local level (regions, provinces and counties) and related with wetlands; but also a central (governmental) support is needed.  In the educational system, the wetlands are treated as part of the “environment issue” and still have to be specifically included in different levels of education.

Resumen: Los humedales costeros del Perú son importantes por los múltiples bienes y servicios que proveen a las poblaciones aledañas. Para protegerlos, es importante hacer un seguimiento de sus áreas y de los cambios que ocurren en las mismas. Los Pantanos de Villa es un humedal Ramsar de la ciudad de Lima, y que, al igual que muchos humedales costeros, en los últimos años ha pasado por múltiples cambios naturales y antropogénicos. En el presente trabajo se utilizaron imágenes de satélite de alta y mediana resolución (como las imágenes WorldView 3 con fecha de mayo del 2018 y CBERS2, 2B y 4 de los años 2004, 2008 y 2018) con el objetivo de definir, identificar y caracterizar las unidades de vegetación y analizar los cambios en la cobertura vegetal en el área utilizando el NDVI (Índice de Vegetación de Diferencia Normalizada). La metodología incluyó la obtención y adquisición de imágenes de satélite, información cartográfica básica y temática. Estas, fueron sometidas a corrección geométrica, técnicas de realce y algoritmos de clasificación y obtención del NDVI; todo ello haciendo uso del software ARGIS y realizando múltiples salidas de campo. Como resultado, se identificaron 8 unidades de vegetación que corresponden al gramadal, totoral, área intervenida-cuerpos de agua, juncal, corta-corta, acuáticas, carrizal, y salicornial. El resultado obtenido del análisis del NDVI nos indica que el área sin vegetación pasó de ocupar 1.96 ha en el año 2004 a ocupar 38.75ha en el 2018; la clase vegetación mixta pasó de 100,24 ha en el 2004 a 148,344 ha en el 2018; clase vegetación densa pasó de 130,146 ha a 40,285 ha en el 2018. El aumento del área sin vegetación es una muestra de cómo el cambio de uso de suelo, debido a diferentes actividades humanas, puede afectar un humedal costero. Abstract: Evaluation of the vegetation units in Los Pantanos De Villa (Lima, Peru) using geographical information systems and teledetection. Coastal wetlands of Peru are important because of the multiple services they provide to surrounding towns. To protect these ecosystems, it is important to monitor their areas and the changes that occurred in them. Los Pantanos de Villa is a Ramsar wetland in the city of Lima, and, like many coastal wetlands in the region, has undergone multiple natural and anthropogenic changes. In this work, high and medium resolution satellite images were used (such as WorldView 3 images dated May 2018 and CBERS2, 2B and 4 from 2004, 2008 and 2018) with the objective of defining, identifying and characterizing vegetation units and the analysis of changes in vegetation cover in the area using the NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index). The methodology included obtaining and acquiring satellite images, basic and thematic cartographic information. These were sometimes a geometric correction, reality techniques and algorithms of classification and obtaining of the NDVI; all this using the ARGIS software and making multiple field outputs. As a result, 8 vegetation units were identified that correspond to the gramadal, totoral, intervened area-bodies of water, juncal, shortcut , aquatic, carrizal, and salicornial. The result obtained from the NDVI analysis indicates that the area without vegetation went from occupying 1.96 ha in 2004 to occupying 38.75ha in 2018; the mixed vegetation class went from 100.24 ha in 2004 to 148,344 ha in 2018; Dense vegetation class went from 130,146 ha to 40,285 ha in 2018. The increase in the area without vegetation is a sign of how the change in land use, due to different human activities, can affect a coastal wetland.

Terneus, E., Salvador, D., Buñay, D., Solgues, D., Martínez, C. y M. Llulluna. 2008. Programa de monitoreo, vigilancia y estado de salud del complejo de Humedales "Ñucanchi-Turupamba" sitio Ramsar para el Ecuador. Ministerio del Ambiente del Ecuador, Convención Ramsar sobre Humedales y Fundación Agua. Quito.

La seguente tesi vuole dare gli strumenti per comprendere il fenomeno del turismo balneare nell'Alto Adriatico. In particolare, il terzo capitolo ripercorre la storia della località di Albarella, evidenziandone le criticità post-progettuali e, antiteticamente, lo sfruttamento positivo della sua posizione geografica, in un contesto naturale di autentico pregio.

Wetlands are areas of biological diversity, suppliers of food and construction materials, mitigators of the climate change, and natural reserve of fresh water. In Peru, for more than 12,000 years, the resources coming from these wetlands have been extensively used. The “totora” (Schoenoplectus californicus) is an example of these resources. This is a plant that grows in the wetlands and is raw material for the making of the ancient Caballito de totora. However, various socio-economic and
environmental agents are attacking our wetlands. Therefore, the following article attempts to visualize the current situation of the Balsares de Huanchaco (La Libertad) and propose its induction into the Ramsar List.

Corporate flower farms are based along the shores of Kenya’s Lake Naivasha, a Ramsar Convention protected wetland. Kenya suffers from high unemployment and relative poverty and prioritises economic development. Corporate flower farms are polluting the Lake with the use of agrochemicals and depleting its waters to irrigate this thirsty crop. The influx of people seeking work is also affecting the Lake as wastewater pollution is problematic. This paper will consider the issue of trying to determine who is responsible for the harms associated with any industry, and will also discuss existing and prospective methods of regulating corporate flower farms.

Among the numerous wetlands in the Philippines, this paper focuses on the Candaba wetlands which to date has not yet been recognized for its international significance. The Pampanga River Basin,which is the second largest basin in the country, is located in Luzon Island and covers a catchment area of 7,978km2. The longest channel spans of 265 km. A prominent feature within the basin is the 32,000 hectare Candaba wetlands: a complex of ponds, swamps and marshes surroundedby seasonally flooded grasslands and arable lands on a vast alluvial plain. As portions of the floodplains dry up from November to May, most emergent lands are planted to rice, corn and watermelon. During the rains from June to October, the wetland’s ecosystem-based function is as a natural flood retention basin of overflows from several rivers.
This paper hopes to encourage further discourse on protecting the Candaba wetlands.

Se describen las principales características de los vertebrados tetrápodos, mencionando valores de riqueza para el Sitio Ramsar Jaaukanigás y las principales especies presentes en el Sitio Ramsar Jaaukanigás, incluyendo las amenazadas. Se discute la función que cumplen la función de relacionar los ecosisemas acuáticos y terrestres. Varias especies de vertebrados, denominadas acuáticas o semi-acuáticas, se han adaptado para vivir en el medio acuático, aunque la mayoría todavía dependen del medio terrestre para completar sus ciclos de vida, (como la reproducción o hibernación) en los ecosistemas terrestres que rodean a los humedales. Por esta razón, el Sitio Ramsar se extiende en tierras periféricas al río Paraná, y la conservación de los ecosistemas en los alrededores del Sitio es sumamente importante para mantener su biodiversidad, las relaciones ecológicas y los ciclos de nutrientes que favorecen la vida en el Sitio.

https://www.academia.edu/Papers/UploadAbstract
The wetland of the Lakes Koronia and Volvi is of international importance, supporting high numbers of wintering migratory waterbirds. Although protected under the Ramsar Convention, pollution levels have increased enormously in the last two decades, damaging the natural environment. The aim of this thesis was to evaluate changes in the waterbird species populations recorded in the mid-winter counts since 1968 in the Ramsar Wetland of the Lakes Koronia and Volvi, in Northern Greece.
Data regarding waterbird populations were collected from the Hellenic Ornithological Society (HOS) and individual ornithologists who carried out the mid-winter counts. Data regarding environmental factors and pollution were collected from the Environmental Sector of the Ministry of Northern Greece and the Master Plan for the recovery of Lake Koronia. Data regarding fish populations were collected from the Fishing Directorate of the Prefecture of Thessaloniki. Data was presented in tables and graphs and analysis was performed to assess differences between waterbird populations and time. Individual species and groups of species of waterbirds were analyzed, as well as the total number of waterbirds. Fish populations vs. time and fish populations vs. fish-eating waterbirds were correlated. Variables characterizing pollution, climate and water use for irrigation vs. time, were analyzed. Data was not always sufficient for statistical analysis because of unavailability.
In 2002, Lake Koronia completely dried out with the result that large numbers of fish and waterbird deaths were documented. Wintering waterbirds populations also declined following this incident. After 2003, rainfall increased and the lake was regenerated. High numbers of waterbirds reappeared in the mid-winter counts of 2005. The fact that during the last few years Lake Koronia has again attracted a constant presence of pelicans, grebes and herons, is a good sign that the lake’s ecological status may be improving.
Lake Volvi has not been affected as much by pollution and drought. The area surrounding the lake is less densely inhabited, there are no industries and farmland irrigation occurs at a much lower level than Lake Koronia. However, fish species populations were gradually declining. Several duck species and coot are regularly counted in Lake Volvi, contributing significantly to the total waterbird counts. These species counts have dramatically declined in Lake Volvi since 1997. An occasional increase in wintering waterbirds observed in 2002 in Lake Volvi was due to fish-eating birds, mainly grebes. This is unlikely to be because of local factors, but more likely as a consequence of changes taking place elsewhere in Europe. The reasons leading to the above changes remain unclear, based on the present available data. Correlation of waterbird counts in Volvi and Koronia, with data from other Greek wetlands, would lead to useful conclusions and is one of several priorities for future analysis.

This report documents the results of a Systematic Reconnaissance Flight (SRF) aerial survey of the Malagarasi-Muyovozi Ramsar Site (Tanzania), conducted from 17
to 28 November 2001. The survey was made as part of the Danida-funded project on Sustainable and Integrated Management of the Malagarasi-Muyovozi Ramsar Site
(SIMMORS), which aims at assisting the Wildlife Division of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism to fulfil its obligations under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
The aerial survey provided a successful rapid assessment of the status and distribution of wildlife, vegetation & wetland types and their status in the Malagarasi-Muyovozi Ramsar
Site. The present report only presents the results of the observations on the status of the vegetation, disturbances and threats to habitats from human activities in the Ramsar Site. The types and extent of different vegetation types, human activities, threats and buffer zone issues in this important wetland area are discussed.

Technical Report for the Project on Sustainable and Integrated Management of the Malagarasi-Muyovozi Ramsar Site (SIMMORS), 2001.

Indiscriminate and illegal farming of the African Catfish Clarias gariepinus, in central Kerala has now resulted in the escape and spread of the species into Vembanad Lake, a large brackish water wetland and inland fish diversity hotspot.  We collected 17
individuals of C. gariepinus ranging in size from 200 to 750 mm from different locations in the southern sector of the lake during a field survey conducted in 2007.  Samples comprised of mature specimens of both sexes indicating their reproductive potential
in the study area.  The possible impacts of spread of C.gariepinus into natural water bodies of Kerala, especially the Vembanad Lake, and options for their management are
discussed.

"Key words: diversity, dragonflies, habitat cluster, Tasek Bera, temporal partitioning

Abstract
Fifty-nine species of Odonata were collected in a recent study in the freshwater swamp lake of Tasek Bera,
Peninsular Malaysia, in contrast to 33 species that were recorded previously from the Ramsar site. This study
added 35 species to the odonate records and together with the museum records, the number of species for the site
now stands at 78 from 12 families. The causal factors for the absence of 19 species and other biological aspects
such as habitat clustering and temporal activity profile were discussed."

This paper explores how the Ramsar Convention, a key multilateral environmental agreement for the world’s wetlands, influences the allocation and use of ecosystem goods and services. Focusing on the world’s second largest uninhabited mangrove island, Pulau Kukup, this study illustrates the social and ecological risks and opportunities surrounding protected wetlands. Interviews with, and observations of, nearby communities reveal that Pulau Kukup has continued to render regulatory, cultural, provisioning and supporting ecosystem services under different governance regimes and institutional arrangements. Under the current governance regime, national conservation agencies focus largely on conservation and have struggled to implement the principles of wise use as specified by the Ramsar Convention. Nevertheless, such strict local (formal) conservation rules restricting public access have improved the ecological integrity of the mangrove island, with little negative impact on the locals.  While restrictions in access may be seen as a trade-off for local communities wishing to pursue cultural activities, tourism linked to the island’s Ramsar designation has boosted the local economy. Despite these benefits, changes in property rights and growing influxes of tourists visiting the protected wetland may affect the long-term ecological integrity and the balance between wetlands, communities, livelihood options, and sustainability. Such challenges demand governance that recognises and responds to these emerging issues.   
Keywords: Wetlands, local community, resource regimes, intergovernmental, trade-offs

Deh Akro -2 Wildlife Sanctuary is a very important Ramsar Site and an Important Bird Area in Sindh. It has a complex of four major
habitats viz. desert, wetlands, agriculture fields and villages. It has 40 lakes which are mostly brackish. During the study period 2012 -
13, a total of 12 species of mammals, 50 species of birds, 09 species of reptiles and 34 species of plants were recorded from the area.
Marsh Crocodile and Marbled Teal are the key species of the Sanctuary. The area is under threat due to developmental activities,
disturbance and drought.

La Laguna de Cuyutlán se encuentra en el estado de Colima en el Occidente de México. Cuenta con un ecosistema de manglar predominado por Rhizophora mangle, Avicennia germinans y Laguncularia racemosa (Ruíz, 2009). El estudio se desarrolló en la zona Este de la laguna en el llamado vaso IV, que cuenta con una extensión de 1,900 hectáreas de humedal con reconocimiento Ramsar (Secretaría de la Convención de Ramsar, 2009). La laguna se ha visto históricamente influenciada por la actividad humana, principalmente por la producción de sal, la agricultura y la pesca; recibiendo el mayor impacto a sus ecosistemas en la época contemporánea, derivado del desarrollo industrial en la zona que el crecimiento del Puerto de Manzanillo produjo (Torres y Quintanilla-Montoya, 2014) y que se intenta mitigar a través de la compensación ambiental basada en la reproducción de plántulas y la reforestación (API, 2010). La falta de un estudio de valoración económica del manglar limita la capacidad de planeación de las instituciones involucradas en la gestión del ecosistema y sus servicios ambientales. Esto dificulta la correcta evaluación de las acciones compensatorias implementadas, por lo que se necesita información útil que permita hacer un uso eficiente de los recursos públicos y privados implicados, siendo el valor económico del recurso natural un elemento clave para lograrlo. Se utilizó un método de tipo hipotético llamado Valoración Contingente que consiste en la estimación del valor económico total del ecosistema tomando como base la disposición de pago para su conservación declarada por los principales usuarios, en este caso habitantes de la comunidad, turistas, salineros, lancheros, ejidatarios e investigadores. Se aplicó también un análisis multivariado TWINSPAN a los resultados para definir los distintos clústeres conformados por los usuarios. Se aplicaron 296 encuestas en 5 poblaciones para recabar los datos, a partir de los cuales se encontró que aquellos usuarios del manglar que viven en mayor contacto con él tienen una disposición de pago media 54.9% menor que aquellos que no tienen tanto contacto. Se estimó que una hectárea de manglar en el vaso IV de la Laguna de Cuyutlán tiene un valor de US$34,545.12 anuales, mientras que suvalor actual neto considerando un plazo de 5 años y una tasa de descuento del 12% (Bancode México, 2015) es de US$124,527.24. Con estos datos y con los resultados del análisis multivariado se tiene información aplicable en materia ambiental, económica y fiscal.

• The risk of human health through the ingestion of fish was estimated. • The study area is a Ramsar site polluted by mining activities and urbanization. • The consumption of C. spixii pose risk to human health due to Cd, Pb and As. • As in C. spixii showed high levels of cancer risk in the surroundings of the city. The risk of metals and As in seafood for traditional populations living in a Marine Protected Areas (MPA) is seldom assessed, although the risk of human exposure to contaminants is one of the indicators associated with the socioeconomic goals of MPAs. The current study aimed to estimate the potential risk of some metals (Cd, Pb, and Zn) and arsenic (As) for human health through the ingestion of fish locally harvested in a Ramsar site, the Cananéia-Iguape-Peruíbe Environmental Protected Area (APA-CIP). Previous studies showed environmental impacts in this area due to former mining activities and urbanization. Cathorops spixii, a catfish largely consumed by the local population, was collected along the estuary in three seasons with different rain regimes. Metals and As loads in muscle tissue were quantified and it was estimated (i) the target hazard quotient (THQ) and (ii) the daily intake (EDI) for metals and As, (iii) the cancer risk (CRisk) only for As, and (iv) the number of eligible meals per month. Cd, Pb, and As were found at concentrations above action levels for human consumption. Depending on the level of exposure of the local population, the consumption of C. spixii may pose risk to human health. Highest THQs were estimated for fish collected in sites closer to the main contamination sources in the APA-CIP, i.e. the mouth of Ribeira de Iguape River (P1) and the city of Cananéia (P4, P5, and P6). Arsenic showed high levels of cancer risk, although restricted to the area close to the city. The exposure of the local population to metal and As contaminated seafood cannot be disregarded in environmental studies and management of the APA-CIP.

Non-linear phenomena in biological findings of the residents of high background radiation areas of Ramsar

SMJ Mortazavi, H Mozdarani
International Journal of Radiation Research 01/2013; 11(1):3-9.


ABSTRACT Some Areas of Ramsar, a city in northern Iran are among the world’s well-known inhabited areas with highest levels of natural radiation. Annual exposure levels in these areas are up to 260 mGy y‐1 and the mean exposure rate is about 10 mGy y‐1 for a population of about 2000 residents. If elevated levels of natural radiation as high as a few hundred mSv per year is detrimental to health and leads to higher risks of genetic abnormalities and cancer, it should be evident in the residents of areas such as Ramsar. However, it has been reported that no detrimental biological effects have ever been detected in high natural background radiation areas. Some studies indicate that Ramsar residents not only show a significant increase in DNA repair but also demonstrate induction of radioadaptive response. There is currently a great debate over the shape of the dose‐response curve for stochastic effects such as mutations and cancer after exposure to low doses of ionizing radiation. Linear‐no‐threshold (LNT) model predicts that every dose, no matter how low, carries some cancer risk. Lack of any proven detrimental effect in the residents of high natural background radiation areas of Ramsar may be due to the induction of nonlinear dose‐response relationships which are not compatible with the widely accepted LNT hypothesis.

Health Phys. 2002 Jan;82(1):87-93.

Very high background radiation areas of Ramsar, Iran: preliminary biological studies.

Ghiassi-nejad M, Mortazavi SM*, Cameron JR, Niroomand-rad A, Karam PA.



National Radiation Protection Department, Iranian Nuclear Regulatory Authority, and Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran.
Email: mmortazavi@sums.ac.ir

Abstract

People in some areas of Ramsar, a city in northern Iran, receive an annual radiation absorbed dose from background radiation that is up to 260 mSv y(-1), substantially higher than the 20 mSv y(-1) that is permitted for radiation workers. Inhabitants of Ramsar have lived for many generations in these high background areas. Cytogenetic studies show no significant differences between people in the high background compared to people in normal background areas. An in vitro challenge dose of 1.5 Gy of gamma rays was administered to the lymphocytes, which showed significantly reduced frequency for chromosome aberrations of people living in high background compared to those in normal background areas in and near Ramsar. Specifically, inhabitants of high background radiation areas had about 56% the average number of induced chromosomal abnormalities of normal background radiation area inhabitants following this exposure. This suggests that adaptive response might be induced by chronic exposure to natural background radiation as opposed to acute exposure to higher (tens of mGy) levels of radiation in the laboratory. There were no differences in laboratory tests of the immune systems, and no noted differences in hematological alterations between these two groups of people.

Lung Cancer in High Background Radiation Areas (HBRAs) of Ramsar

SMJ Mortazavi, Ph.D

Professor of Medical Physics & Radiobiology
Medical Physics & Medical Engineering Department
and the Center for Research on Radiological Sciences
Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
E-mail: mmortazavi@sums.ac.ir

Source: http://www.sums.ac.ir/~mmortazavi/ramsar.html


Humans, animals and plants have been exposed to natural radiation since the creation of life. Interestingly, life evolved in a radiation field that was much more intense than today. The annual effective radiation dose from natural and man-made sources for the world's population is about 3 mSv, which includes exposure to alpha radiation from radon and its progeny nuclides. Nearly 80% of this dose (2.4 mSv) comes from natural background radiation, although levels of natural radiation can vary greatly. Ramsar, a northern coastal city in Iran, has areas with some of the highest levels of natural radiation measured to date. The effective dose equivalents in very high background radiation areas (VHBRAs) of Ramsar in particular in Talesh Mahalleh, are a few times higher than the ICRP-recommended radiation dose limits for radiation workers.
Inhabitants who live in some houses in this area receive annual doses as high as 132 mSv from external terrestrial sources. The radioactivity of the high background radiation areas (HBRAs) of Ramsar is due to Ra-226 and its decay products, which have been brought to the surface by the waters of hot springs. There are more than 9 hot springs with different concentrations of radium in Ramsar that are used as spas by both tourists and residents.
According to the results of the surveys performed to date the radioactivity seems primarily to be due to the radium dissolved in mineral water and secondarily to travertine deposits having elevated levels of thorium combined with lesser concentrations of uranium (Sohrabi 1990). Due to extraordinary levels of natural radiation in these areas, in some cases 55-200 times higher than normal background areas, some experts have suggested that dwellings having such high levels of natural radiation need urgent remedial actions (Sohrabi 1997). In spite of this, many inhabitants still live in their unaltered paternal dwellings.
The preliminary results of cytogenetical, immunological and hematological studies on the residents of high background radiation areas of Ramsar have been previously reported (Mortazavi et al. 2001, Ghiassi-Nejad et al. 2002 and Mortazavi et al. in press), suggesting that exposure to high levels of natural background radiation can induce radioadaptive response in human cells. Lymphocytes of Ramsar residents when subjected to 1.5 Gy of gamma rays showed fewer induced chromosome aberrations compared to residents in a nearby control area whose lymphocytes were subjected to the same radiation dose. Despite the fact that in in vitro experiments lymphocytes of some individuals show a synergistic effect after pretreatment with a low dose(Mortazavi et al. 2000), none of the residents of high background radiation areas showed such a response.
Based on results obtained in studies on high background radiation areas of Ramsar, high levels of natural radiation may have some bio-positive effects such as enhancing radiation-resistance. More research is needed to assess if these bio-positive effects have any implication in radiation protection (Mortazavi et al. 2001). The risk from exposure to low-dose radiation has been highly politicized for a variety of reasons. This has led to a frequently exaggerated perception of the potential health effects, and to lasting public controversies.
Current radiation protection recommendations are based on the predictions of an assumption on linear, no-threshold dose-effect relationship  (LNT).Beneficial effects and lack of detriment after irradiation with low levels of ionizing radiation, including a prolonged exposure to high levels of natural radiation of the inhabitants of HBRAs, are inconsistent with LNT (Mortazavi et al. 1999).
  Our preliminary results suggest that prolonged exposure to very high levels of natural radiation could lead to the induction of radiation resistance among exposed individuals, which has interesting implications for many aspects of radiation protection policy.
The phenomenon of radioresistance in living organisms has long been a matter of interest for scientists. Experiments on Drosophila nebulosa collected in the woods of a high background radiation area in Brazil indicated the addition of some genes caused the radioresistance found in these flies compared to flies collected from adjacent control woods. In humans it is also possible that genetic alterations have occurred over the span of many generations to induce the radioresistance noted in our study. More research is needed to clarify the mechanisms that make individuals radioresistant. 
There are many other areas with high levels of background radiation around the world, and epidemiological studies have indicated that natural radiation in these areas is not harmful for the inhabitants. Results obtained in our study are consistent with the hypothesis that a threshold possibly separates the health effects of natural radiation from the harm of large doses. This threshold seems to be much higher than the greatest level of natural radiation. 

Radon levels in some dwellings of Ramsar are up to 3700 Bq/m3 (over 100 pCi/L). The people and their ancestors exposed to abnormally high radiation levels over many generations. If a radiation dose of a few hundred mSv per year is detrimental to health causing genetic abnormalities or an increased risk of cancer, it should be evident in these people. Ramsar was divided into eight health districts and a health center provided primary health services in each health district. Indoor radon concentration levels were previously measured in each dwelling by the Iranian Nuclear Regulatory Authority experts. The overall cancer mortality, lung cancer mortality and neonatal death rate of different districts in the years from 2000 to 2001 were collected. The radon prone houses were located in a district named Ramak. Our study showed that the highest lung cancer mortality rate was in Galesh Mahaleeh, where the radon levels were normal. On the other hand, the lowest lung cancer mortality rate was in Ramak, where the highest concentrations of radon in the dwellings were found.

References
1. Ghiassi-nejad, M; Mortazavi, SMJ; Cameron, JR; Niroomand-rad, A; Karam, PA; Very High Background Radiation Areas of Ramsar, Iran: Preliminary Biological Studies. Health Physics, 82(1): 87-93, 2002.

2. Mortazavi SMJ, M. Ghiassi-Nejad and M. Rezaiean. Cancer risk due to exposure to high levels of natural radon in the inhabitants of Ramsar, Iran in: High Levels of Natural Radiation and Radon Areas: Radiation Dose and Health Effects, T. Sugahara, M. Morishima, M. Sohrabi, Y Sasaki, I. Hayata, and S. Akiba Eds, pp. 436-437, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2005.

3. Mortazavi, S.M.J., Karam, P.A. Apparent lack of radiation susceptibility among residents of the high background radiation area in Ramsar, Iran: can we relax our standards? (2005) Radioactivity in the Environment, 7 (C), pp. 1141-1147.

4. Mortazavi, S.M.J., Shabestani-Monfared, A., Ghiassi-Nejad, M., Mozdarani, H. Radioadaptive responses induced in lymphocytes of the inhabitants in Ramsar, Iran (2005) International Congress Series, 1276, pp. 201-203.

5. Mortazavi SMJ, Mozdarani H. Is it time to shed some light on the black box of health policies regarding the inhabitants of the high background radiation areas of Ramsar? Iranian Journal of Radiation Research. 2012;10(3-4):111-6.

6. Mortazavi SMJ, Niroomand-Rad A, Mozdarani H, Roshan-Shomal P, Razavi-Toosi SMT, Zarghani H. Short-term exposure to high levels of natural external gamma radiation does not induce survival adaptive response. Iranian Journal of Radiation Research. 2012;10(3-4):165-70.

7. Mortazavi SMJ, Mozdarani H. Non-linear phenomena in biological findings of the residents of high background radiation areas of Ramsar. International Journal of Radiation Research. 2013;11(1):3-9.
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There has been little recognition that the services of wetland ecosystem are vital for human well-being. As a result of this, there is an alarming loss of wetlands. In order to combat these losses, several policies, administrative and legal initiatives are required. The first and foremost step to stem the losses and in achieving optimal resource use with balanced priorities of biodiversity conservation is to obtain meaningful and timely information and data on wetland habitats, its fauna, flora and socioeconomic variables of relevance. Thus there is an urgent need to develop user friendly and cost effective tools to capture dynamic themes of a wetland ecosystem. Traditionally, the source of the spatial information has been from the optical remote sensing data. Although the optical remote sensing data is found to be very useful for wetland monitoring, cloud cover restricts the availability of satellite data during rainy season, which is the main source of water for most of the inland wetlands. Moreover, delineation of several classes of importance for wetland ecosystem is also not clearly differentiable on optical remote sensing data. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) can play an important role to achieve the above goals. Due to their unique response to open water and water with varying vegetation coupled with their all-weather capability, SAR sensors are the best choice for the monitoring of a wetland ecosystem. In this paper, we address the dynamics of wetland habitat using satellite data from optical (IRS-L-III) and multi-parametric SAR sensors (ERS-1/2, Multi-incidence angle RADARSAT-1, Multi-incidence & Multi-polarized ENVISAT-1 ASAR) over Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, India between 1996 to 2004. Results of the study clearly indicated that use of SAR data can improve the quality of information on various components of a wetland ecosystem, which is of great significance in formulating wetland conservation and monitoring regimes.

En el presente trabajo presentamos un modelo hidrodinámico 3D del Humedal del Rio Cruces en la Región de Los Ríos, Chile. Este humedal es uno de los mas grandes de Chile, está protegido por la convención RAMSAR y soporta una diversidad biológica de importancia continental, sobretodo como sitio de nidificación del Cisne de Cuello Negro (Cygnus melancoryphus). El modelo incluye 3 niveles de modelación anidada, con diferentes escalas geográficas y de definición de su grilla, logrando definiciones de la grilla de menos de 100 m. en su nivel mas anidado. Sobre este sistema de modelos hidrodinámicos se implementó un módulo lagrangiano para calcular el tiempo de residencia del Humedal. Nuestros resultados muestran tiempo de residencia de 3 dias para la zona baja del humedal y de 53 días para la zona alta. Nuestro trabajo muestra la utilidad de este tipo de modelos para conocer la dinámica de los componentes abióticos de este tipo de ecosistemas, la estructura de sus corrientes y la hidrodinámica en general de un sistema. El objetivo de presentar nuestro trabajo es incentivar el uso de este tipo de herramientas informáticas en la toma de decisiones de gestión ambiental de sistemas acuáticos, tanto en el ámbito público como privado, aportando a una visión integrada de este tipo ecosistemas.

Avian diversity is used to assess the functionality of diverse types of habitats around Salt Lake Djendli, Northeast Algeria. The landscape is stratified into five habitat types in a gradient from wetland to forested mountains. Bird species found in these habitats can be classified into four ecological groups with decreasing degrees of aquatic specialisation and increasing forest specialisation. For each surveyed species, five ecological status were assigned. Overall, there was lower species richness in urban areas compared to other “natural” habitats. Birds have a biogeographical affinity to the western Palaearctic according to the dominant faunal types. Interactions of ecological status with phenological traits reveal that water birds are different from non-aquatic species because most of them are migrants. Moreover, overall, there is no worrying conservation status for surveyed birds. Bird diet is dependent on the ecological status that differentiate bird groups from each other due to differences in the food resources of the habitats they frequent. Phenological categories tend to link together birds of urban and open-lands. These two groups are affected by seasonal human activities. Our findings emphasise the importance of using combinations within the birds’ ecological status, which would give information on the actual state of avifauna. This approach is relevant for future programmes and conservation actions.

The Kuala Selangor Nature Park (KSNP) was established and managed by the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) since 1987. During the World Wetlands Day in 2013, MNS launched the "KSNP for Ramsar" campaign and working together with the Selangor State Government and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) towards the realisation of a Ramsar Site. KSNP will then have a better habitat and wildlife protection.

Lake Naivasha was designated as a RAMSAR site in 1995. The lake environment is fragile and critically threatened by human-induced factors. The study presented a steady and transient numerical modeling. The long-term and system flux over time interaction between the lake and the surficial aquifer is represented in the Lake Package LAK3 with in the advanced 3-D simulation sofware (GMS). The model covers an area of 1817 km2. Model calibration was constrained by the observed groundwater and lake levels using PEST. The effect of excessive abstraction was rigorously analyzed via scenario analysis. The simulation was evaluated “with abstraction” and “without abstraction” scenarios. The abstraction scenario was simulated using range of combination assuming that all the abstraction was from the lake or the groundwater and in the ratio of groundwater and lake water. The effect of the stress was evaluated based on the observed aquifer heads and lake stage at the end of the simulation time. The development of low groundwater-level anomalies in the well field is explained. The result indicates that the one of the well fields is not in direct hydraulic connection to the main recharging water body. Apparently, similar development of cone of depression was not generated in the other two well fields, and this could have several reasons including due to the fact that these well fields are located relatively close by to the main recharging zones and concluded to have additional source of recharge, and this was supported by previous studies, whereby the isotopic composition of the boreholes has their source of recharge from precipitation and river and was also confirmed from the isotopic composition of unsaturated zone, which is a mixture of river and rain. The study reveals that seasonal variability of groundwater–surface water exchange fluxes and its spatially and temporally variable impact substantially on the water resource availability. Such analysis can be used as a basis to quantify the linkages between the surface water and groundwater regime and impacts in the basin. The model output is expected to serve as a basis via linking/coupling with others to incorporate the ecology and biodiversity of the lake to safeguard this high-value world heritage water feature.

This research examines the problems of public participation in conserving a Ramsar site at the Tana Delta in southeastern Kenya. Given no participation of the public in government initiatives so far, we attempted to find out what had prevented local people from cooperating with responsible government bodies. Using empirical evidence that we obtained from fieldworks, questionnaire surveys, and workshops , we found that the low participation was not mainly due to local people's unwillingness to conserve natural resources. Instead, we found that they were strongly interested in wetland resources conservation as long as their customary rights to governing resources are sufficiently recognized. We also documented how these local people managed their resources. The Kenya Wildlife Service and the National Museum of Kenya are the main government bodies to promote public participation, but we found that these agencies had not done effective communication works among local people. Our survey then clarified what sources of information can be most effective in communicating with local people in the Tana Delta. Finally, we discuss how the problems of public participation can be solved or reduced.

Tigers evolved from the genus Panthera approximately two million years ago during the Cenozoic era and were widely distributed in China and Southeast Asia. They then expanded their range northwards into Russia, Japan and Korea, and south and westwards into the Indian subcontinent and Caspian regions about one million years ago. Tigers branched off as a distinct species under the Panthera genus long before lion Panthera leo, leopard Panthera pardus, and jaguar Panthera onca. Tiger is essentially an Asian species and the fossil evidence suggests that it has never been found on any other continents, primarily due to the geo-climatic factors that shaped its ecological niche, along with its obligate mode of adaptation which is primarily based on preying on large ungulate mammals from tropical and sub-tropical monsoonal forests and riparian grassland ecosystems in South Asia. Empirical evidence suggests that in the 19th century there were over 100,000 tigers living in Asia, but by the turn of the mid 20th century, tiger numbers had astronomically plummeted to less than 10,000 across its range nations – due to the large scale British colonial hunting regime administered fashionably and ruthlessly to systematically kill tigers and other charismatic species in the Indian subcontinent.

This dissertation proposes that the current legal definition of springs, veredas and wetlands should be revised. The existing concepts applied to these hydrological systems are controversial, but at the same time have important legal implications. According to Law 12.651/2012 (Brazil 2012), marginal zones, as well as their surroundings, are entitled to protection as ‘Areas of Permanent Preservation’ - APP. Being defined as an APP area allows a differentiated protection regime, such as maintenance or restoration of the local vegetation. Intervention in APP areas, or the suppression of the local vegetation, is only possible in exceptional circumstances determined by the law. Brazil’s environmental legal framework has many different approaches and many different instruments, all of which aim to restrict the impacts on bodies of water and guide the reasonable use of these vital resources. However, there needs to be improvement in the application of these legal standards, better integration between national laws, and improved interaction between Brazil’s national laws and international treaties, such as the Ramsar Convention. Springs, veredas and wetlands need to be better conceptualized in the law, which would help to inform decisions on human settlement and alternative land use. This paper proposes a revision of the concepts for springs, veredas and wetlands, as well as a methodology for their future definition, based on a case study of the Ecological Monitoring Station in Águas Emendadas (ESEC-AE) in Brazil’s Federal District. ESEC-AE is particularly relevant for this study, given its role as a meeting point between the Escudo Central hydrogeological system and the Tocantins and Paraná Basins surface hydrology network. ESEC-AE’s hydrological and ecological attributes, combined with its environmental functions, indicate its potential to be recognized as a Ramsar Site. Nevertheless, there are indications that the ESEC-AE wetlands are reducing in size. Further studies are required to determine the factors influencing the shrinkage and any possible mitigation / recovery measures. The reduction in the ESEC-AE wetlands is particularly concerning, given their hydrological importance.

Bengal tigers of Bangladesh are at brink of extinction due to anthropocentric disturbances. The article provide ecological perspective to help conserve the dwindling population of tigers in Bangladesh Sundarbans: the largest deltaic mangrove ecosystem in tropical belt.