By 2020, the rate of loss of all natural habitats, including forests, is at least halved and where feasible brought close to zero, and degradation and fragmentation is significantly reduced.

By 2020 areas under agriculture, aquaculture and forestry are managed sustainably, ensuring conservation of biodiversity.

By 2020, pollution, including from excess nutrients, has been brought to levels that are not detrimental to ecosystem function and biodiversity

By 2015, the multiple anthropogenic pressures on coral reefs, and other vulnerable ecosystems impacted by climate change or ocean acidification are minimized, so as to maintain their integrity and functioning.

By 2020, at least 17 per cent of terrestrial and inland water, and 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, and integrated into the wider landscapes and seascapes.

By 2020 the extinction of known threatened species has been prevented and their conservation status, particularly of those most in decline, has been improved and sustained.

By 2020, the genetic diversity of cultivated plants and farmed and domesticated animals and of wild relatives, including other socio-economically as well as culturally valuable species, is maintained, and strategies have been developed and implemented for minimizing genetic erosion and safeguarding their genetic diversity.

By 2020, ecosystems that provide essential services, including services related to water, and contribute to health, livelihoods and well-being, are restored and safeguarded, taking into account the needs of women, indigenous and local communities, and the poor and vulnerable.

By 2020, ecosystem resilience and the contribution of biodiversity to carbon stocks has been enhanced, through conservation and restoration, including restoration of at least 15 per cent of degraded ecosystems, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation and to combating desertification.

Wetland benefits are featured in national/local policy strategies and plans relating to key sectors such as water, energy, mining, agriculture, tourism, urban development, infrastructure, industry, forestry, aquaculture, fisheries at the national and local level.

Baseline

• 19% of Parties have made assessment of ecosystem services of Ramsar Sites. (National Reports to COP12).
• 70% of Parties have included wetland issues within national strategies and planning processes such as water resource management and water efficiency plans. (National Reports to COP12).
• 47% of Contracting Parties have included wetland issues within National Policies or measures on agriculture. (National Reports to COP12).

Indicator

• % of Parties that have made assessment of ecosystem services of Ramsar Sites. (Data source: National Reports).
• % of Parties that have included wetland issues within national strategies and planning processes such as water resource management and water efficiency plans. (Data source: National Reports).
• % of Parties that have included wetland issues within National Policies or measures on agriculture. (Data source: National Reports).

The ecological character of Ramsar sites is maintained or restored, through effective planning and integrated management.

Baseline

• At COP12, 973 Ramsar Sites have implemented management plans. (National Reports to COP12).
• Number of Ramsar Sites that have effective, implemented management plans. (Data source: new National Report question).
• 27% of Parties have made assessments of effective management of Ramsar sites. (National Reports to COP12).
• 43% (950 of Ramsar Sites have updated Ramsar Information Sheets. (Report of the Secretary General pursuant to Article 8.2 COP12 Doc.7).

Indicator

• Number of Ramsar Sites that have effective, implemented management plans. (Data source: National Report).
• Number of Ramsar Sites that have effective, implemented management planning. (Data source: new National Report question).
• % of Parties that have made assessments of effective management of Ramsar Sites. (Data source: National Reports).
• % of Ramsar Sites that have updated Ramsar Information Sheets. (Data source: Ramsar Sites database).

Possible further indicators that may be developed

• {Coverage of wetland dependent bird populations by designated Ramsar Sites. Indicator from Resolution IX.1 to be developed}.
• {Coverage of wetland dependent non-avian populations by designated Ramsar Sites. Indicator from Resolution IX.1 to be developed}.
• {% loss of IUCN Red Listed species from Ramsar Sites}

There is a significant increase in area, numbers and ecological connectivity in the Ramsar Site network, in particular under-represented types of wetlands including in under-represented ecoregions and Transboundary Sites.

Baseline

• By COP12, 2,186 Ramsar Sites have been designated. (Ramsar Sites database).
• By COP12 2,085,000 ha of Ramsar Sites have been designated. (Ramsar Sites database).
• By COP12 [16] transboundary Ramsar Sites have been designated. (Ramsar Secretariat).
• By COP12, Ramsar Sites have been designated for the following under-represented Ramsar Sites:
  • Karst and other subterranean hydrological systems – [110 Sites]
  • Coral reefs – [96 Sites]
  • Wet grasslands – [517 Sites]
  • Peatlands – [564 Sites]
  • Sea-grass beds – [249 Sites]
  • Mangroves – [280 Sites]
  • Temporary Pools – [729 Sites]
  • Bivalve (shellfish) reefs – [99 Sites]
  • (Ramsar Sites database, June 2015).

Indicator

• Number of Ramsar sites that have been designated. (Data source: Ramsar Sites database).
• Total hectares of Ramsar sites that have been designated. (Data source: Ramsar Sites database).
• Number of transboundary Ramsar Sites that have been designated. (Data source: Ramsar Sites database).
• Number of Ramsar Sites designated for the following underrepresented wetland types:
  • Karst and other subterranean hydrological systems – [XXX Sites]
  • Coral reefs – [XXX Sites]
  • Wet grasslands – [XXX Sites]
  • Peatlands – [XXX Sites]
  • Sea-grass beds – [XXX Sites]
  • Mangroves – [XXX Sites] T
  • emporary Pools – [XXX Sites]
  • Bivalve (shellfish) reefs – [XXX Sites]
  • (Data source: Ramsar Sites database).

The wise use of wetlands is strengthened through integrated resource management at the appropriate scale, inter alia, within a river basin or along a coastal zone.

Baseline

• 55% of Parties have adopted wetland policies or equivalent instruments that promote the wise use of their wetlands. (National Reports to COP12).
• 71% of Parties consider wetlands as natural water infrastructure integral to water resource management at the scale of river basin. (National Reports to COP12).

Indicator

• % of Parties that have adopted wetland policies or equivalent instruments that promote the wise use of their wetlands. (Data source: National Reports).
• % of Parties that consider wetlands as natural water infrastructure integral to water resource management at the scale of river basin. (Data source: National Reports).

Possible further indicators that may be developed

• {Involvement of stakeholders in various aspects of wetland and/or basin-scale management}

Ramsar Regional Initiatives with the active involvement and support of the Parties in each region are reinforced and developed into effective tools to assist in the full implementation of the Convention.

Baseline

• By COP12, [15] Regional Initiatives are in operation under the framework of the Ramsar Convention. (Ramsar Secretariat).
• 68% of Parties have been involved in the development and implementation of a Regional Initiative under the framework of the Convention. (National Reports to COP12).

Indicator

• Number of Regional Initiatives successfully implemented. (Data source: National Reports).
• % of Parties that have been involved in the development and implementation of a Regional Initiative under the framework of the Convention. (Data source: National Reports).

International cooperation is strengthened at all levels.

Baseline

Regional Initiatives

• By COP12, [15] Regional Initiatives are in operation under the framework of the Ramsar Convention. (Ramsar Secretariat).
• 68% of Parties have been involved in the development and implementation of a Regional Initiative under the framework of the Convention. (National Reports to COP12).

Other aspects of co-operation

• 35% of Parties have established networks including twinning arrangements nationally or internationally for knowledge sharing and training for wetlands that share common features. (National Reports to COP12).
• 33% of Parties have effective cooperative management in place for shared wetland systems (for example in shared river basins and coastal zones). (National Reports to COP12).
• [XX]% of Parties have co-ordination mechanisms for the implementation of MEAs existing at a national level. (Data source: new question for National Reports).
• At COP12, 168 Parties have acceded to the Ramsar Convention. (Report of the Secretary General to COP12 on the implementation of the Convention, COP12Doc8).
• At COP12, [16] transboundary Ramsar Sites. (Data source: Ramsar Secretariat).

Indicator

Regional Initiatives

• Number of Regional Initiatives successfully implemented. (Data source: National Reports).
• % of Parties that have been involved in the development and implementation of a Regional Initiative under the framework of the Convention. (Data source: National Reports).

Other aspects of co-operation

• % of Parties that have established networks including twinning arrangements nationally or internationally for knowledge sharing and training for wetlands that share common features. (Data source: National Reports).
• % of Parties that have effective cooperative management in place for shared wetland systems (for example in shared river basins and coastal zones). (Data source: National Reports).
• % of Parties where co-ordination mechanisms for the implementation of MEAs exist at a national level. (Data source: new question for National Reports).
• Number of Parties which have acceded to the Ramsar Convention. (Data Source: National Reports).
• Total number of transboundary Ramsar Sites. (Data source: Ramsar Sites Database).