ENB @ Ramsar COP9, Kampala, Uganda; 8-15 November 2005

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	9th Conference of the Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands Kampala, Uganda \| 8-15 November 2005

Earth Negotiations Bulletin - ENB
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Curtain Raiser
09 Nov
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15 Nov & Summary
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Ramsar COP9 Delegates Discuss the Future

Delegates met in a morning Plenary session to consider administration and implementation matters, including the Convention's Strategic Plan 2003-2008 and its Work Plan 2006-2008, finance and budget issues as well as draft resolutions and recommendations. In the afternoon, Parties convened in regional meetings to prepare and caucus views for the upcoming sessions on administration, implementation and technical issues. The Finance Committee also met to address budget issues. Above: Delegates confer before the morning session.

Thursday, 10 November
Plenary

Commenting on the Strategic Plan, Egypt called for a clearer indication of the Convention's direction.	Andrea Repetti, Argentina, questioned the need to include defense and the military in priorities for action in implementing scientific and technical aspects of the Convention.	Mayumi Suzuki, Japan, requested a zero increase in the budget, but said it would be flexible if this went against consensus.
Subgroup on Finance of the Standing Committee Chair Trevor Swerdfager, Canada, introduced the Convention's financial report and proposed budget for the 2006-2008 triennium.	El Salvador noted that costs associated with COP10 are not reflected in the budget.	Austria emphasized the need for two-way communications between the STRP and its focal points.
Regional Groups
Asia Regional Group	Americas Regional Group	Europe Regional Group
Oceania Regional Group	Regional groups discussed topics from Draft Resolutions including water rights, designation and management of transboundary/transnational Ramsar sites, coordination between guidelines and national laws, the Convention's role in natural disaster prevention, and management of wetlands and waterbirds in response to avian flu.	Africa Regional Group
Side Event
A lunchtime side event, hosted by the Ramsar Convention's four International Organization Partners: BirdLife International, Wetlands International, IUCN and WWF, as well as the International Water Management Institute, discussed the role of wetlands management in poverty reduction, and financial mechanisms to encourage community efforts to protect and restore wetlands in developing countries.
Around COP9
Tony Slatyer, Australia, served as President in the absence of Ministers Otafiire and Jeje.	Japanese delegates posed with the Ramsar site certificate for Kabukuru-numa and the surrounding rice paddies, one of twenty Japanese wetlands added to the Ramsar list this week.	Happy Birthday to writer Changbo Bai of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin team at Ramsar COP9!