Montreux Record

The Montreux Record is a voluntary register under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, listing designated sites that have undergone, are undergoing, or are at risk of changes in their ecological character due to technological developments, pollution, or other forms of human interference.^[1][2] Established by Recommendation 4.8 at the fourth Conference of the Contracting Parties held in Montreux, Switzerland, in June 1990, the Record serves as a mechanism to flag priority wetlands for enhanced monitoring, restoration efforts, and international cooperation among the Convention's 172 contracting parties.^[2][3] Inclusion in the Record is initiated at the discretion of the site’s designating country, often in response to observed threats like habitat loss or invasive species, and sites may be removed upon demonstrated ecological recovery, as exemplified by several European and Asian wetlands delisted after targeted interventions.^[1][3] As of March 2025, the Record encompasses around 46 sites worldwide, spanning diverse ecosystems from lakes and marshes to coastal zones, underscoring persistent anthropogenic pressures on global wetland integrity despite the Convention's framework for wise use and conservation.^[4] This tool has proven instrumental in mobilizing technical assistance and funding, though its effectiveness depends on national implementation and transboundary collaboration, with no formal enforcement powers beyond highlighting vulnerabilities.^[3]

Background and Establishment

Origins within the Ramsar Convention

The Montreux Record emerged as a specialized instrument within the Ramsar Convention framework to monitor and mitigate threats to designated wetlands. The Ramsar Convention, formally titled the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat, was signed by 18 nations on 2 February 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, and entered into force on 21 December 1975 after ratification by the required number of states. Under Articles 2 and 3, contracting parties commit to designating Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites) for conservation and wise use, while reporting any changes in their ecological character arising from human activities such as technological developments or pollution.^[5] By the late 1980s, reports of ecological degradation at several Ramsar Sites highlighted gaps in enforcement and assistance mechanisms, prompting discussions at Conference of the Parties (COP) meetings. At COP4, held in Montreux, Switzerland, from 27 June to 4 July 1990, delegates adopted Recommendation 4.8 specifically addressing "Change in ecological character of Ramsar sites." This recommendation recalled prior COP documents (e.g., Recommendation 3.9 and DOC. C.4.18) documenting site threats and urged parties to prevent or remedy such changes.^[5][6] Recommendation 4.8 formalized the Montreux Record as a voluntary register maintained by the Convention's Bureau (now Secretariat), listing Ramsar Sites where ecological character has changed, is changing, or is likely to change due to human interference. The Record distinguishes between sites lacking identified remedial actions and those with planned or ongoing measures, prioritizing them for the Ramsar Monitoring Procedure (predecessor to Ramsar Advisory Missions) within available resources.^[5][7] Named after the host city, it was envisioned as a flexible tool to signal urgency, foster international cooperation, and allocate technical support without imposing mandatory obligations on parties.^[7] Subsequent resolutions, such as 5.4 (1993), reinforced its role as the Convention's primary mechanism for focusing conservation attention on imperiled sites.^[7]

Establishment in 1990 and Initial Recommendation

The fourth Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP4) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands convened in Montreux, Switzerland, from 27 June to 4 July 1990.^[5] At this meeting, the contracting parties adopted Recommendation 4.8, formally establishing the Montreux Record as a voluntary register for Ramsar-listed wetland sites experiencing adverse changes—or at risk of such changes—in their ecological character.^[5][5] The recommendation emphasized that inclusion on the Record would enable prioritized national and international attention, including technical assistance and monitoring, to restore or maintain the sites' ecological integrity, without implying delisting from the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance.^[5] Recommendation 4.8 outlined a structured process for site nominations, requiring contracting parties to submit detailed information on observed or potential changes, such as habitat loss, pollution, or hydrological alterations, along with proposed restoration measures.^[5] It further urged parties to cooperate through the Ramsar Bureau in providing advice and support, positioning the Record as a flexible tool for proactive intervention rather than punitive action.^[5] This framework addressed growing concerns over the implementation gaps in wetland protection, as evidenced by reports of ecological degradation at several designated sites despite their international status.^[6] Following the adoption of Recommendation 4.8, initial sites were promptly added to the Montreux Record to demonstrate its utility. Stagno di Cagliari in Italy was inscribed on 4 July 1990, coinciding with the conference's conclusion, due to threats from urbanization and agricultural intensification affecting its brackish lagoon ecosystem.^[8] Similarly, Keoladeo National Park (now Keoladeo Ghana National Park) in India was added in 1990, primarily owing to reduced water inflows from upstream diversions that impaired its role as a critical bird habitat.^[9] These early inclusions highlighted the Record's focus on sites with verifiable ecological pressures, setting a precedent for subsequent voluntary listings by contracting parties.^[7]

Purpose and Criteria

Objectives for Wetland Conservation

The Montreux Record serves as a mechanism under the Ramsar Convention to prioritize wetlands facing adverse changes in ecological character, thereby directing targeted conservation efforts to prevent degradation and promote restoration. Its primary objective is to identify sites on the List of Wetlands of International Importance that have experienced, are experiencing, or are likely to undergo such changes, enabling national authorities and the international community to allocate resources and expertise accordingly.^[7] This focus on early intervention aims to maintain the intrinsic ecological functions of these sites, including biodiversity support, water purification, and flood regulation, which underpin broader wetland conservation goals.^[10] By facilitating Ramsar Advisory Missions (RAMs), the Record provides technical assistance to Contracting Parties, including on-site assessments and tailored recommendations for threat mitigation, such as hydrological restoration or pollution control measures.^[7] These missions, often requested voluntarily by site managers, emphasize collaborative problem-solving to reverse ecological declines, with evidence from missions indicating successes in habitat recovery where implemented promptly.^[11] The objective extends to fostering international cooperation, as inclusion on the Record signals a need for external support, potentially through funding or knowledge exchange, without imposing legal obligations but encouraging proactive management aligned with the Convention's wise use principle.^[10] Ultimately, the Record's conservation objectives target the long-term sustainability of listed wetlands by enabling site removal once threats are resolved, as demonstrated by cases where restored hydrological regimes or reduced human pressures have led to delisting.^[7] This adaptive approach underscores a commitment to empirical monitoring of ecological character—defined as the assemblage of biotic and abiotic components and processes—ensuring that conservation actions are evidence-based rather than presumptive.^[11] Through these means, the mechanism contributes to global wetland resilience amid pressures like climate variability and land-use intensification.^[7]

Criteria for Inclusion and Ecological Character Changes

The ecological character of a Ramsar-listed wetland refers to the combination of its ecosystem components, processes, and benefits or services that define it at a particular point in time and space, including interactions among biological elements (such as species assemblages and habitats), physical and chemical features (like hydrology, geomorphology, and water quality), and socio-economic attributes. This concept, formalized in Ramsar Resolution IX.1 (2005), provides a baseline against which alterations can be assessed, emphasizing the need to detect deviations that impair the wetland's functionality or values. A change in ecological character constitutes any material alteration to this baseline, whether positive (such as restoration enhancing biodiversity or hydrological processes) or adverse (such as degradation from reduced water inflows, habitat loss, or pollutant accumulation).^[12] Adverse changes, the focus of the Montreux Record, typically arise from anthropogenic pressures including technological developments, pollution, agricultural expansion, or infrastructure projects that disrupt core ecosystem processes; natural variability alone does not qualify unless exacerbated by human factors.^[13] Contracting Parties are obligated under Article 3.2 of the Ramsar Convention to notify the Secretariat of such changes, but inclusion in the Record requires explicit demonstration of ecological impacts, often supported by monitoring data or expert assessments from the Scientific and Technical Review Panel.^[12] Inclusion criteria for the Montreux Record apply exclusively to designated Ramsar Sites where an adverse change in ecological character has occurred, is occurring, or is likely to occur, necessitating priority international attention to avert further deterioration or to facilitate restoration.^[13] Requests originate voluntarily from the responsible Contracting Party to highlight vulnerabilities and mobilize technical or financial aid, or occasionally from the Secretariat following credible reports from non-governmental organizations or observers, though party consent is mandatory; sites are not added unilaterally.^[13] The process involves submitting a detailed questionnaire outlining the site's Ramsar designation criteria, a summary of its ecological character, the nature and extent of changes (e.g., quantified losses in bird populations or wetland extent), and proposed remedial actions, with review by the Scientific and Technical Review Panel to ensure technical validity.^[14] Removal from the Record follows verified resolution of adverse changes, such as through successful rehabilitation, underscoring its role as a temporary alert mechanism rather than a permanent sanction.^[13]

Operational Framework

Process for Adding and Removing Sites

The process for adding a Ramsar site to the Montreux Record is initiated voluntarily by the Contracting Party in whose territory the site lies, typically when there is evidence of actual, occurring, or likely adverse change in the site's ecological character that warrants priority attention for conservation.^[13] Alternatively, the Ramsar Secretariat's Bureau may notify the Party of potential issues based on information received from partners, non-governmental organizations, or other sources, prompting the Party to consider inclusion.^[13] Upon initiation, the Bureau forwards a standardized questionnaire to the Party to gather details on the changes or threats, such as water shortages, pollution, or habitat degradation, with a flexible three-month response period.^[13] If the Party agrees, the completed questionnaire is reviewed by the Convention's Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP) for technical advice, which is then shared with the Party; the Party holds the final authority to approve addition, ensuring alignment with national priorities.^[13][15] Removal from the Montreux Record follows a similar consultative framework but emphasizes verification of resolved threats or successful restoration efforts, requested by the Contracting Party when the site's ecological character is deemed stable or restored.^[13] The Bureau issues a questionnaire to assess progress, which is evaluated by the STRP; this may include requests for additional data or recommendations for a site visit via a Ramsar Advisory Mission (RAM), an expert-led assessment invited by the Party to review on-ground conditions and management actions.^[13][16] RAM reports outline specific conditions or remedial steps required for removal, such as implemented habitat rehabilitation or threat mitigation, and upon STRP endorsement and Party confirmation, the Bureau effects the removal without further Conference of the Parties approval.^[16][15] In cases of irreparable damage, the Party may opt to delete the site entirely from the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance, distinct from mere Record removal, potentially requiring compensatory measures under Article 4.2 of the Convention.^[15] Throughout both processes, the mechanism remains non-binding and cooperative, with the Bureau facilitating coordination but ultimate decisions resting with the Contracting Party to respect sovereignty, though STRP and RAM inputs ensure technical rigor in evaluating ecological stability.^[13] As of recent assessments, removals have been infrequent, with only a handful of sites delisted since the Record's inception, often following targeted interventions informed by advisory missions.^[16]

Role of Ramsar Advisory Missions

Ramsar Advisory Missions consist of teams of international experts dispatched to Ramsar Sites upon request from Contracting Parties to deliver technical assessments and recommendations addressing threats or adverse changes in ecological character.^[17] Established through Recommendation 4.7 at the 1990 Ramsar Conference of the Parties, these missions prioritize sites listed on the Montreux Record, where ecological degradation has occurred or is imminent due to factors such as pollution, land conversion, or hydrological alterations.^[7] The Ramsar Secretariat coordinates the missions by defining terms of reference, selecting multidisciplinary experts (typically two or more), and facilitating collaboration with partners like the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).^[7] The operational process begins with a formal request from the Contracting Party's authorities, outlining site-specific concerns, followed by the Secretariat's preparation of a mission plan and expert team assembly.^[17] During the on-site visit, the team evaluates threats, engages stakeholders, and analyzes data to produce a draft report, which the host country reviews before finalization and public release.^[18] For Montreux Record sites, missions focus on diagnosing causes of ecological change, proposing restoration measures, and assessing feasibility for delisting upon resolution of issues, thereby supporting voluntary compliance with Ramsar obligations without enforcement powers.^[7] Reports often recommend actionable strategies, such as policy reforms or habitat rehabilitation, and may link to funding opportunities like the Ramsar Small Grants Fund.^[18] Since their inception in 1988, over 90 Ramsar Advisory Missions have been conducted, with a significant portion targeting Montreux Record sites to enhance management and facilitate removals—such as the 23 sites delisted between establishment of the Record and 2007 through implemented recommendations.^[17][7] Examples include missions to Panama's sites addressing pollution and encroachment (RAM63) and Mexico's Cabo Pulmo for tourism impacts (RAM74), demonstrating how missions provide independent, evidence-based insights to mitigate degradation.^[18] These voluntary interventions underscore the Convention's emphasis on cooperative technical support over punitive measures, though effectiveness depends on national implementation.^[7]

Sites and Case Studies

Overview of Listed Sites

The Montreux Record designates 46 Ramsar sites as of March 2025, where adverse changes in ecological character—defined as the combination of ecosystem components, processes, and services—have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur as reported by Contracting Parties under Article 3.2 of the Convention. These sites collectively cover 3,690,667 hectares and encompass a range of wetland types, including freshwater lakes, coastal lagoons, marshes, and deltas, often threatened by factors such as hydrological alterations from dams or drainage, pollution from agricultural runoff, invasive species proliferation, and habitat loss due to development.^[19] Inclusion aims to prioritize international assistance and monitoring without implying legal sanctions, serving as an early warning mechanism to prompt restoration or wise use practices. Among the listed sites, three are transboundary, underscoring the challenges of managing shared ecosystems across borders, such as those involving neighboring states in Europe and Central Asia.^[19] No sites have been removed from the Record since the 14th Conference of the Parties in 2018, indicating persistent issues in reversing ecological degradation despite advisory missions and national efforts. The distribution reflects global wetland vulnerabilities, with concentrations in regions facing intensive human pressures, though empirical data on outcomes varies by site-specific interventions.^[19]

Notable Examples and Regional Distribution

As of the latest available data, the Montreux Record includes 46 Ramsar sites spanning approximately 3.7 million hectares, with the majority concentrated in Europe and Central Asia (19 sites), followed by Asia (10 sites) and Africa (8 sites); fewer sites are listed in the Neotropics (6 sites), while North America has only 1 and Oceania none.^[19][4] This distribution reflects regional variations in wetland threats, with Europe facing intensive agricultural and urban pressures, Asia dealing with hydropower and pollution, and Africa confronting drought and habitat conversion.^[4] Notable examples include the Everglades National Park in the United States (North America), added to the Record on June 16, 1993, due to alterations in hydrological regimes from upstream water diversions, invasive species proliferation, and nutrient pollution, which have reduced native sawgrass marshes and increased algal blooms.^[20] In Europe, Doñana National Park in Spain was inscribed in 1990 following ecological shifts from excessive groundwater extraction for agriculture and tourism, leading to wetland drying and biodiversity declines in one of Europe's largest coastal wetlands supporting migratory birds.^[4] In Asia, Hawizeh Marsh in Iraq, added in 2001, exemplifies severe anthropogenic degradation; the marsh was systematically drained in the 1990s under regime-directed policies, reducing water coverage by over 90% and collapsing fish stocks and bird populations, though partial reflooding post-2003 has enabled some recovery monitored via Ramsar Advisory Missions.^[4] Similarly, India's Keoladeo National Park (added 1990) faces threats from water scarcity due to upstream diversions and invasive Prosopis juliflora, impacting its role as a critical wintering site for Siberian cranes and other waterfowl.^[4] These cases highlight common drivers like hydrological modification and invasion, prompting targeted interventions under the Convention.^[21]

Effectiveness and Impact

Empirical Evidence of Conservation Outcomes

The Montreux Record has facilitated conservation outcomes in select cases where listing prompted targeted interventions, leading to measurable ecological improvements and subsequent removal of sites. As of assessments in peer-reviewed analyses of Ramsar reporting mechanisms, 19 sites have been delisted following the resolution of adverse ecological changes, indicating instances of successful restoration efforts often supported by Ramsar Advisory Missions.^[22] These removals typically involved hydrological modifications, pollution controls, and biodiversity monitoring, though global-scale empirical evaluations remain sparse due to inconsistent reporting by contracting parties.^[23] A prominent example is Chilika Lake in India, inscribed on the Record in 1993 amid siltation, declining fish stocks, and reduced migratory bird populations. Post-listing hydrological interventions, including the excavation of a new mouth to the Bay of Bengal in 2000, reversed degradation: fish production surged from approximately 1,500 metric tons in the late 1990s to over 14,000 metric tons by 2002–2003, while migratory waterbird counts rose from fewer than 50,000 individuals in 1997 to exceeding 900,000 by 2002. Water exchange improved, salinity stabilized, and invasive species declined, enabling the site's removal from the Record in 2002—the first such Asian case—and earning it the Ramsar Wetland Conservation Award that year.^[24][25] Other documented successes include Nariva Swamp in Trinidad and Tobago, delisted after 2006 implementation of management plans that curbed agricultural encroachment and restored mangrove cover, stabilizing hydrological regimes and avian populations. Similarly, Stagno di Cagliari in Italy was removed in 2009 following wastewater treatment upgrades and habitat rehabilitation, which reduced eutrophication and boosted wetland bird diversity from critically low levels in the 1990s. In Algeria, two sites—Oasis de Ouled Saïd and El Kala complex—were delisted in 2009 after fencing, invasive species removal, and community-based monitoring restored native vegetation and water quality. These cases demonstrate causal links between Record-driven actions and quantifiable recoveries, such as enhanced biodiversity indices and ecosystem services.^[8][26] However, empirical data also reveal limitations: of over 50 sites historically listed, persistent challenges like inadequate enforcement have kept many on the Record, with slow delisting rates—averaging fewer than two per year since 1990—suggesting that voluntary mechanisms yield uneven results without binding commitments. Peer-reviewed governance analyses note that while Advisory Missions correlate with improvements in roughly 30% of visited sites, broader wetland loss continues unabated, underscoring the Record's role as a diagnostic tool rather than a guaranteed restorative framework.^[27][28]

Economic and Developmental Considerations

Inscription on the Montreux Record frequently stems from developmental activities that compromise wetland ecological character, such as aquaculture expansion, infrastructure construction, and resource extraction, resulting in diminished ecosystem services like fisheries and water regulation that underpin local economies.^[29] For instance, Chilika Lagoon in India was added in 1993 due to siltation from reduced freshwater inflow and unchecked shrimp aquaculture, which caused a fishery yield collapse to approximately 1,661 metric tons annually by the late 1990s, eroding livelihoods for over 150,000 fishers dependent on the lagoon.^[24] Hydrological restoration in 2000, including a new artificial inlet, reversed these declines, boosting fish landings to over 14,000 metric tons by 2002 and enhancing water quality, which restored the sector's contribution of 71% to the lagoon's total economic valuation estimated at millions of USD annually from capture fisheries alone.^[30][31] This case illustrates how addressing development-induced degradation can yield net economic gains, with post-restoration benefits exceeding intervention costs through sustained productivity.^[32] Developmental pressures also manifest in extractive industries threatening sites, as seen with Lake Natron in Tanzania, where proposed soda ash mining since the early 2000s risked altering the alkaline hydrology critical for lesser flamingo breeding—supporting a tourism and pastoral economy for local Maasai communities—prompting Ramsar Advisory Mission recommendations in 2008 to consider Montreux listing to prioritize conservation over industrial gains.^[33] The Tanzanian government halted large-scale extraction in August 2025, citing environmental risks that outweighed projected mining revenues, preserving biodiversity-dependent income streams estimated to sustain thousands of residents amid limited alternative employment.^[34][35] Similar tensions arise elsewhere, such as oil pipeline projects (EACOP and Tilenga) endangering Ramsar sites in Uganda and Tanzania, where civil society in 2025 urged Montreux inscription to highlight long-term costs of habitat loss—potentially billions in forgone ecosystem services like flood control and fisheries—against short-term energy development benefits.^[36] Empirical valuations underscore that Montreux Record interventions often favor sustainable development by quantifying trade-offs, with global wetland services valued at up to $47 trillion annually in avoided damages from disasters and resource provisioning, far surpassing typical conservation outlays.^[29] In Chilika, integrated management post-inscription balanced ecological recovery with community cooperatives, yielding diversified income from ecotourism alongside fisheries revival, demonstrating causal links between hydrological stability and economic resilience without forgoing growth.^[37] However, voluntary listing can deter immediate infrastructure investments, as parties weigh enforcement gaps against domestic development priorities, though data from restored sites indicate deferred degradation costs—such as fishery losses equaling 20-30% of regional GDP in affected areas—outweigh upfront conservation expenses.^[27][38]

Criticisms and Controversies

Limitations of Voluntary Mechanism

The Montreux Record's voluntary mechanism hinges on Contracting Parties' willingness to nominate Ramsar sites experiencing ecological changes or requiring assistance, without any mandatory reporting or listing obligations under the Ramsar Convention. This self-selection process often results in under-listing, as governments may avoid nominations to evade perceived international scrutiny or domestic political repercussions, despite official characterizations of the Record as a collaborative tool rather than a punitive blacklist. For instance, misconceptions persist that inclusion signals state failure, deterring participation even when sites face clear threats like pollution or habitat loss.^[39][40] Empirical evidence underscores this limitation: as of November 2022, only 46 sites were listed on the Record, representing less than 2% of the approximately 2,500 designated Ramsar wetlands worldwide, despite widespread reports of degradation across many unlisted sites due to factors such as urbanization and agricultural expansion. Low uptake reflects insufficient incentives or capacity in many parties, particularly developing nations lacking resources for monitoring and reporting, leading to unaddressed ecological declines that could benefit from international technical support.^[41][19] The absence of enforcement exacerbates these issues, as nominations trigger no binding requirements for remedial action; recommendations from associated Ramsar Advisory Missions are advisory only, relying on national goodwill for implementation. This non-coercive approach, while respecting sovereignty, has drawn criticism for rendering the mechanism ineffective in compelling timely interventions, with parties showing minimal enthusiasm and few additions in recent decades. In cases like transboundary wetlands, coordination failures further compound the problem, as upstream actions impacting downstream sites go unmitigated without obligatory cooperation.^[42][43][44] Overall, the voluntary framework limits the Record's role in systemic conservation, prioritizing diplomatic consensus over rigorous threat abatement and contributing to broader critiques of the Ramsar Convention's weak compliance mechanisms. Without mandatory triggers—such as automatic listing upon verified degradation—the tool fails to systematically flag or resolve urgent cases, allowing preventable losses in wetland functionality and biodiversity.^[42][45]

Political and Enforcement Debates

The Montreux Record's voluntary mechanism has sparked debates over its compatibility with national sovereignty, as Contracting Parties must explicitly consent to listing sites, preventing unilateral action by the Ramsar Secretariat even when ecological changes are notified under Article 3.2 of the Convention.^[46] This requirement reflects a deference to state control in international environmental law but undermines enforcement, as parties may withhold consent to avoid international scrutiny or economic repercussions from development restrictions.^[39] Critics argue that the absence of binding obligations or penalties renders the Record ineffective for compelling remediation, contrasting it with mandatory "in danger" listings under treaties like the World Heritage Convention.^[39] Enforcement challenges are exacerbated by the Record's reliance on cooperative tools, such as Ramsar Advisory Missions, which parties can decline, leading to prolonged ecological degradation without accountability.^[46] Empirical analysis from 1990 to 2018 reveals no site additions or removals since 2010, despite over 100 Article 3.2 notifications of adverse changes, highlighting a political reluctance to engage—particularly in regions like Asia and South America—due to fears of stigma or diminished policy flexibility.^[46] Proponents of reform suggest rebranding the Record as a collaborative platform with incentives like technical aid to encourage participation, while detractors view such enhancements as potential encroachments on sovereignty.^[46] A notable political flashpoint occurred in 2022 with Ramsar Convention Resolution XIV.20, which addressed Russian military actions' threats to Ukrainian wetlands, including 17 occupied Ramsar sites; adopted by vote (50 in favor, 7 against, 49 abstentions) amid geopolitical tensions, it bypassed some voluntary constraints by urging protection measures but remained non-binding, underscoring enforcement limits during conflicts where access for assessments is denied.^[39] Russia contested the resolution's terminology and scope as exceeding the Convention's mandate, illustrating how armed conflicts amplify debates over the Record's adequacy in transboundary or contested contexts.^[39] Overall, these dynamics reveal a tension between the Record's role in facilitating compliance through awareness and its structural inability to override political or security barriers.^[47]

Recent Developments

Updates to the Record Post-2020

Since 2021, the Montreux Record has experienced no additions or removals of Ramsar sites, as confirmed in successive reports from the Ramsar Secretariat and Standing Committee. This stability persists despite ongoing ecological pressures at listed sites, with the Record comprising 46 wetlands as of 2025.^[48] The absence of changes reflects the voluntary mechanism's reliance on Contracting Parties to report and resolve issues, often through Ramsar Advisory Missions, of which nine were active as of March 2025 to assess and recommend interventions.^[49] At the 14th Conference of the Parties (COP14) in 2022, delegates expressed concern over the slow pace of delistings, noting only three sites had been removed since COP13 in 2018, attributing this to insufficient implementation of restoration measures.^[50] Similarly, the Standing Committee's 62nd meeting in September 2023 reported no modifications during its review period, highlighting that while issues at some sites showed gradual improvement, the overall rate of resolution remained low without accelerated national actions or international support.^[51] Resolution XV.7, adopted in 2025, reiterated guidelines for site assessments and encouraged Parties to prioritize removals upon successful amelioration, such as through protection or habitat rehabilitation, but no such outcomes materialized post-2020 to alter the Record's composition.^[48] This lack of updates underscores persistent challenges in addressing threats like invasive species, hydrological alterations, and pollution, with the Secretariat urging enhanced monitoring to prevent future listings while noting the Record's role as an early warning tool rather than an enforcement instrument.^[49]

Responses to Global Challenges like Conflict and Climate Claims

The Montreux Record has been utilized to address wetland degradation amid armed conflicts, primarily through heightened international scrutiny and calls for protection, though its voluntary framework limits direct enforcement. During the Russia-Ukraine conflict starting February 24, 2022, military operations damaged or threatened multiple Ramsar sites in Ukraine, including the Azov-Black Sea coastline and Danube Delta areas, leading to the Ramsar Convention's adoption of Resolution XIV.11 in December 2022, which urged all parties to safeguard wetlands from irreversible harm and emphasized compliance with international humanitarian law. Despite advocacy for listing affected sites on the Record to prioritize assistance, no such inclusions occurred due to the mechanism's reliance on the responsible Contracting Party's cooperation, which was absent in occupied territories controlled by Russian forces. This case illustrates the Record's indirect role in mobilizing diplomatic responses rather than binding interventions.^[39][52] Resolution XII.6, adopted in June 2015, further encouraged Contracting Parties to report on Ramsar sites in conflict zones post-hostilities and consider Montreux Record inclusion for priority conservation, reflecting awareness of war's ecological toll but without mandatory obligations. In practice, such provisions have yielded limited empirical outcomes, as evidenced by Russia's October 2025 withdrawal from related environmental protocols, which undermined wetland protections during ongoing hostilities. These instances highlight systemic challenges in applying the Record to conflict-driven threats, where geopolitical barriers often supersede ecological priorities.^[53][54] For climate-related pressures, the Record has documented sites vulnerable to droughts, altered hydrology, and sea-level influences, enabling Ramsar Advisory Missions to recommend mitigations grounded in site-specific data. Algerian oases of Touggourt and El Golea, listed in the 1990s for water resource declines intensified by prolonged droughts, were delisted in September 2009 after hydrological restorations and management reforms restored ecological functions, averting further degradation without invoking unsubstantiated broader climate projections. In Europe, Spain's Doñana wetlands entered the Record in 1990 citing drought-exacerbated water quality issues, prompting interventions like improved irrigation controls that stabilized conditions by the early 2000s, though ongoing monitoring reveals persistent anthropogenic factors alongside weather variability. Such removals—only 48 sites total as of 2023—demonstrate the mechanism's utility for actionable responses when threats stem from verifiable hydrological shifts rather than generalized climate attributions.^[26][1][51] Critically, while Ramsar documents increasingly reference climate change as a threat category affecting 12 of 46 Record sites as of recent assessments, causal attributions often conflate natural variability, overuse, and policy failures with long-term trends, necessitating rigorous empirical scrutiny over alarmist claims. For example, peatland sites in temperate regions have leveraged Record status for guidance on carbon storage preservation, yet restorations succeeding via drainage reversals underscore local management as the primary lever, independent of global emission scenarios. This approach prioritizes evidence-based interventions, avoiding overreliance on predictive models prone to uncertainty in wetland resilience projections.^[3][55]