Press For Peace Campaigns to declare MANGLA DAM/LAKE as a RAMSAR site

Press For Peace Campaigns to declare MANGLA DAM/LAKE as a RAMSAR site

Site Location: District Mirpur,Azad Jammu and Kashmir

Dear Friends

The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, called the Ramsar Convention, is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. Negotiated through the 1960s by countries and non-governmental organizations that were concerned at the increasing loss and degradation of wetland habitat for migratory waterbirds, the treaty was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971 and came into force in 1975. It is the only global environmental treaty that deals with a particular ecosystem, and the Convention's member countries cover all geographic regions of the planet. The Convention's mission is "the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world".

Unlike the other global environmental conventions, Ramsar is not affiliated with the United Nations system of Multilateral Environmental Agreements, but it works very closely with the other MEAs and is a full partner among the "biodiversity-related cluster" of treaties and agreements.

Upon joining the Ramsar Convention, each Contracting Party is obliged by Article 2.4 to designate at least one wetland site for inclusion in the List of Wetlands of International Importance. Sites are selected by the Contracting Parties, or member states, for designation under the Convention by reference to the Criteria for Identifying Wetlands of International Importance.

Pakistan is also a active member of RAMSAR CONVENTION. MANGLA WETLAND,Mirpur Azad Jammu and Kashmir is site of national importance and it is significance in terms of ecology, botany, zoology and hydrology. Mangle Lake provides water for drinking and sanitation as well as food, fish, fuel and many raw materials .By considering its covered area it can be say that it regularly supports 20,000 or more water birds. It also supports s significant proportion of indigenous fish sub species, species or family, life-history stages, species interactions and /or proportions that are representatives of wetland benefits and/or values and thereby contributes to global biodiversity.

Waters of this lake need to be managed appropriately and the classification of the site will help with a coherent planning process and mobilize all stakeholders to abide by the rules. This can be a significant step forward for the conservation of biodiversity and welfare of communities who depend on this wetland for their livelihoods and for the wildlife that lives there.