International governance of water for wetland conservation

This chapter evaluates international water governance for the conservation of wetlands. It explores select water treaties to note that some are well-developed and effective, whilst others have gaps or are outdated. The Amazon basin serves as a key example, alongside other smaller case studies. In sum, the international governance of wetlands can be improved through broader accession to, and effective implementation of, framework water conventions; agreements better designed for the context-specific management of individual transboundary catchments; accelerated development of the law of transboundary aquifers; and more strategic application of the Ramsar Convention. The above governance measures must be supplemented by well-planned and basin-wide management, including inventory and monitoring systems; maintenance and restoration of basin connectivity and environmental flows; conservation of critical habitats; control of nonnative species’ invasions; incorporation of climate considerations into planning; and the decoupling of socio-economic development from increases in water consumption.