The International Legal Protection of the Ecosystems of Wetlands (to the 40th Anniversary of the 1971 Ramsar Convention)

The article reveals the importance of wetlands as specific foci of biodiversity as a stabilizer of climate, as a source of drinking water, as the habitat of rare, i.e. migratory, wild animals. The history of elaboration and adoption of the 1971 Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat is briefly analyzed. The obligations of States under the Ramsar Convention, the criteria for classification of wetlands in the category “wetlands of international importance”, the essence of the Montreux Record and of Ramsar advisory missions are disclosed. Specific instances of the practice of different states, when the inclusion of wetlands in the Montreux Record and dispatch of the Ramsar advisory missions led to the improvement of their ecological status. On the bases of Russian transboundary wetlands it is concluded that Russian national legislation should be further developed and improved.