What is a Ramsar Site? Walvis Bay is the most important coastal wetland in southern Africa and was listed a Ramsar site in 1995.

The Convention on Wetlands, previously known as the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance aspecially as Waterfowl Habitat (or the Ramsar Convention after the Iranian city where the text was adopted in 1971) is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for international co-operation for the conservation of wetland habitats.

A Ramsar site must support a minimum of 20,000 waterfowl at all times. Walvis Bay wetlands regularly supports a minimum of 70,000 waterfowl rising to over 200,000 between September and April.

It must always support substantial numbers of individuals from particular groups of waterfowl. Walvis Bay wetlands support uo to 60,000 Flamingoes, 5000 Black-necked Grebe, 2000 Avocets, 1000 ducks, 200,000 Terns, 35,000 Curlew Sandpiper, 8000 Chestnut-banded Plovers, to mention a few. Walvis Bay Ramsar site supports between 50 to 70 different species of waterfowl.

It must regularly support 1% of the individuals in a population of one species or subspecies of waterfowl. Walvis Bay wetlands support 18 species of more than 1% of the world population. This includes the Chestnut-banded Plover of which we hold between 70 to 80% of the world population and 40% of the world population of the African subspecies of Black-necked Grebe.

Waterfowl is a term used to cover all shore birds such as Plovers and Sandpipers, all waders such as Flamingoes and Herons, all swimming birds such as Ducks and Geese and all sea birds such as Gulls and Terns

The Coastal Environmental Trust of Namibia, representing both the private and business sectors, is dedicated to conserving the fragile wetlands and an appeal is made to the international community to fund the implementation of the integrated Environmental Management Plan for the Walvis Bay Wetlands and Nature Reserve

Information supplied by the The Coastal Environmental Trust of Namibia e-mail cetn@iafrica.com.na