Wetlands of International Importance

The Convention on Wetlands, signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, is an intergovernmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. There are presently 113 Contracting Parties to the Convention, with 965 wetland sites, totalling 70.5 million hectares, designated for inclusion in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance.

List of Refuge System Units designated as Wetlands of International Importance:

Name of Ramsar Site	Refuge System Lands Included	Significance: Criteria for Inclusion
Catahoula Lake	Catahoula NWR	Unique example of a lower Mississippi wetland community; the most important inland wetland for waterbirds and shorebirds in Louisiana.
Cache River - Cypress Creek Wetlands	Cache River NWR, Cypress Creek NWR	Convergence of four prominent physiographic provinces, unusually varied assemblage of species and natural communities in close proximity to one another, major importance to waterfowl, diverse assemblage of neotropical migrant birds.
Sand Lake NWR	Sand Lake NWR	An extremely good example of a large freshwater cattail marsh, critical nesting and staging habitat for a multitude of bird species and millions of individuals, hosts almost 50% of North America's population, and the world's largest nesting colony of Larus pipixcan.
Izembek Lagoon National Wildlife Refuge and State Game Range	Izembek NWR	Volume of waterfowl use; Diversity of waterfowl; Outstanding example of wetland type (largest eelgrass beds in N. Am.; Scientific Research; Practicality of conservation and managment.
Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge	Edwin B. Forsythe NWR	Public education; Scientific research; Endangered species; Waterfowl use; Practicality of conservation and management.
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge	Okefenokee NWR	Outstanding example of a regional wetland complex; Biological diversity; Endangered species; Scientific research; Public education; Practicality of conservation and management.
Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge	Ash Meadows NWR	Endangered species; Species diversity (large concentration of endiemics); Unique ecosystem (desert oasis); Scientific research.
Cache-Lower White Rivers Joint Venture Area	Cache River NWR White River NWR	Outstanding regional complex (bottomland hardwood ecosystem); Scientific research; Endangered species; Practicality of conservation and management; Species diversity.
Horicon Marsh	Horicon NWR	Endangered species; Volume of waterfowl; Outstanding example of wetland type (one of largest intact freshwater marshes in the United States).
Chesapeake Bay Estuary System	Eastern Neck NWR Blackwater NWR Martin NWR Mason Neck NWR Presquile NWR	Outstanding example of large estuarine complex; Public education; Fisheries values; Waterfowl use and diversity.
Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge	Pelican Island NWR	This site was the first national wildlife refuge designated by President Theodore Roosevelt, in 1903, as a"preserve and breeding grounds for native birds." In addition, the lagoonal waters of the Indian River have special importance as a nursery for juvenile endangered marine turtles.
Delaware Bay Estuary System	Bombay Hook NWR Prime Hook NWR Supawana Meadows NWR	Unique and expansive wetland system that provides a major staging areang shorebirds and waterfowl; Endangered species; supports important fisheries including world's largest population of spawing horseshoe crabs; Opporunities for public recreation.

Last updated: October 22, 2008