ENB @ Ramsar COP-10, Changwon, Republic of Korea; Highlights for 29 October 2008

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	10th Conference of Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands Changwon, Republic of Korea \| 28 October-4 November 2008


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Curtain Raiser/ 28 Oct - Tue
29 Oct - Wed
30 Oct - Thu
31 Oct - Fri
01 Nov - Sat
03 Nov - Mon
04 Nov - Tue & Summary
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Ramsar Delegates Begin Work

Ramsar COP 10 delegates met in plenary throughout Wednesday to address organizational matters and to hear reports on intersessional activities and statements by parties and observers. A special presentation was also made on wetland conservation and sustainable use in the Republic of Korea.

Above: Participants listened as Ramsar Standing Committee Chair Paul Mafabi, Uganda, presented the report of the Standing Committee.

Wednesday, 29 October
Plenary
L-R: COP 10 Vice Presidents Rejoice Mabudafhasi, South Africa, and Patrick van Klaveren, Monaco, Alternate President Kim Chan-woo and President Lee Maanee, Republic of Korea, Ramsar Secretary General Anada Tiéga and Deputy Secretary General Nick Davidson, and Rapporteur Tim Jones.
Outgoing COP 9 president Maria Mutagamba, Minister of Water and Environment, Uganda, greeted newly elected COP 10 President Lee Maanee, Minister of Environment, Republic of Korea.	Batilda Salha Burian, Tanzania, emphasized linking climate change and wetlands, also observing that 80% of diseases reported to WHO are environment related.	Moustafa Fouda, Egypt, urged addressing the language barrier for Arabic parties.
Ramsar Standing Committee Vice Chair John Bowleg, Bahamas.		Ghania Bessah, Algeria, supported a review of guidelines for Ramsar sites by the Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP).
Sudan noted the need to balance food security, water resources and biodiversity issues.	Ishtiak Khan, Pakistan, thanked the Korean government for their hospitality.	STRP Chair Heather MacKay presented her panel's report.
NGO Network Co-Chair Park In-ja delivered the Suncheon NGO Declaration.	Ramsar Secretary General Anada Tiéga noted that there are now 158 contracting parties, and 1802 Ramsar sites covering 168 million hectares.	Gerhard Sigmund, Austria, called for augmenting staffing capacity at the Secretariat.
Josphat Koli Nanok, Kenya, supported expansion of Ramsar sites.	Corina Lehmann, Argentina, noted that priority setting is the prerogative of parties.	Surasak Suparat, Thailand, supported inclusion of recommendations from the high-level Asian meeting.
Around COP 10
Local conference staff huddled after the day's plenary.		A tea ceremony demonstration took place outside the conference room.
Delegates in the main lobby of the Changwon Exhibition Convention Center (CECO).	In the evening, delegates attended a gala dinner hosted by Korea's Ministry of Land, Transportation and Maritime Affairs.