The Montreux Record is a voluntary mechanism to highlight specific wetland sites that have been designated as wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, but which are facing immediate challenges. In particular, the Montreux Record is a register of listed Ramsar sites where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur as a result of technological developments, pollution, or other human interference.
The Montreux Record was established by Recommendation 4.8 at the 1990 COP. Subsequently, in 1993, the COP determined through Resolution 5.4 that the Montreux Record should be employed to identify priority sites for positive national and international conservation attention. As expressed in Resolution VIII.8 (2002), the Parties believe that “the voluntary inclusion of a particular site on the Montreux Record is a useful tool available to Contracting Parties in circumstances where:
- a) demonstrating national commitment to resolve the adverse changes would assist in their resolution;
- b) highlighting particularly serious cases would be beneficial at national and/or international level;
- c) positive national and international conservation attention would benefit the site; and/or
- d) inclusion on the Record would provide guidance in the allocation of resources available under financial mechanisms.”
Resolution VI.1 (1996) established more precise procedures for the utilisation of the Montreux Record mechanism, with guidelines on the steps to be taken for including Ramsar sites on the Record and removing sites from it. Pursuant to these guidelines, sites may be added to and removed from the Record only with the approval of the Contracting Parties in which they lie. As of January 2006, 57 sites were listed in the Montreux Record.
At the request of the Contracting Party concerned, the Secretariat may send a technical mission, known as a Ramsar Advisory Mission, to analyse the situation at one or more particular Montreux Record sites, provide advice on the measures to be taken, and assess the desirability of removing a site from the Montreux Record when measures have been implemented successfully. Additionally, the Secretariat may provide funding for restoration projects within available resources in its funding mechanisms.
For more information about the Montreux Record guidelines and the sites on the Record, see http://www.ramsar.org/key_montreux_record.htm