Ramsar Wetlands
The Convention on Wetlands, signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, is an intergovernmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
Fivebough and Tuckerbil Swamps were designated a Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar) on October 21, 2002. The wetlands are Ramsar site 1224, and the 62nd Australian Ramsar site.
Ramsar Criteria
Fivebough and Tuckerbil Swamps qualify as a Wetland of International Importance against the following five of nine Ramsar criteria
- “A wetland should be considered internationally important if it supports vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered species or threatened ecological communities.”
- “A wetland should be considered internationally important if it supports populations of plant and/or animal species important for maintaining the biological diversity of a particular biogeographic region.”
- “A wetland should be considered internationally important if it supports plant and/or animal species at a critical stage in their life cycles, or provides refuge during adverse conditions.”
- A wetland should be considered internationally important if it regularly supports 20,000 or more waterbirds.”
- “A wetland should be considered internationally important if it regularly supports 1% of the individuals in a population of one species or subspecies of waterbird.”