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The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat, is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands; it is named after the Iranian city of Ramsar, where the convention was signed by eighteen countries in 1971. The treaty obliges every country to nominate at least one Ramsar site, which they must make efforts to manage and preserve.[1] Wetlands meeting the Ramsar criteria are included in the global list of Wetlands of International Importance.[2]
As at December 2025 there are more than 2,500 Ramsar sites across the world, occupying an area of more than 2.5 million square kilometres (965,000 mi2).[3] The UK joined the Convention in 1976, and as at December 2025 has 176 Ramsar sites, more than any other country, occupying an area of more than 12,800 square kilometres (4,900 mi2).[4]
