G.Info:State of the Environment Georgia - Kolkheti wetlands
Kolkheti Wetland - Ramsar Criteria
Criteria for designation of wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention
A wetland is identified as being of international importance if it meets at least one of the criteria set out below:
1. Criteria for representative or unique wetlands
A wetland should be considered internationally important if:
- (a) it is a particularly good representative example of a natural of near-natural wetland, characteristic of the appropriate biological region; (1a)
- (b) it is a particularly good representative example of a natural of near-natural wetland, common to more than one biogeographical regional; (1b)
- (c) it is a particularly good representative example of a wetland which plays a substantial hydrological, biological or ecological role in the natural functioning of a major river basin or coastal system, especially where it is located in a trans-border position; (1c)
- (d) it is an example of a specific type of wetland, rare or unusual in the appropriate biogeograpgical region. (1d)
2. General criteria based on plants or animals
A wetland should be considered internationally important if:
- (a) it supports an appreciable assemblage of rare, vulnerable or endangered species or subspecies of plant or animal, or an appreciable number of individuals of any one or more of these species; (2a)
- (b) it is of special value for maintaining the genetic and ecological diversity of a region because of the quality and peculiarities of its flora and fauna; (2b)
- (c) it is of special value as the habitat of plants or animals at a critical stage of their biological cycle; (2c)
- (d) it is of special value for one or more endemic plant or animal species or communities. (2d)
3. Specific Criteria Based on Waterfowl
A wetland should be considered internationally important if:
- (a) it regularly supports 20 000 waterfowl. (3a)
- (b) it regularly supports substantial numbers of individuals from particular groups of waterfowl, indicative of wetland values, productivity or diversity; (3b)
- (c) where data on populations are available, it regularly supports 1% of the individuals in a population of one species or subspecies of waterfowl.(3c)