rrent status of the Bañados del Este and the apparent conflict between conservation and development in the zone, the existing plans for further investment in development activities which are likely to change the ecological character of the zone, proposals for conservation measures within the Ramsar site and compensatory measures outside, and proposals through which the Ramsar Convention and associated international institutions might provide technical and other assistance to Uruguay in order that it might more effectively fulfill its obligations under the Ramsar Convention.
The present report introduces the Ramsar monitoring procedure, summarizes the status and likely prospects for the Bañados del Este, makes preliminary suggestions on approaches which may provide lasting solutions to the conflicts that exist in the zone, and makes recommendations to the Ramsar Convention as to how the Convention might most effectively follow up on this initial mission with more substantive support to Uruguay.
The consultants would like to thank the Institute for the Preservation of the Environment for organising the mission to Uruguay, and the Laguna Merin Commission, the Environmental Commissions of the Congress and the Senate, the Society for the Study and Conservation of Birds, the Institute for Legal and Social Studies, the National Museum of Natural History, and the Department of Biology of the University for the opportunity to discuss with them the problems of the Bañados del Este.
In ratifying the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar Convention) each Contracting Party undertakes to "designate suitable wetlands within its territory for inclusion in a List of wetlands of international importance" (Article 2.1 of the Convention). Specifically, each Contracting Party is obligated to "designate at least one wetland to be included in the List" (Article 2.4) and "shall formulate and implement their planning so as to promote the conservation of the wetlands included in the List" (Article 3.1). Further, each Contracting Party "shall arrange to be informed at the earliest possible time if the ecological character of any wetland in its territory and included in the List has changed, is changing, or is likely to change, as the result of technological developments, pollution or other human interference. Information on such changes shall be passed without delay to the organisation or government responsible for continuing Bureau duties" (Article 3.2).
At the Third Conference of the Contracting Parties held in Regina, Canada, in 1987, the Conference approved a recommendation (C.3.9) on the importance of avoiding changes in the ecological character of sites listed under the Convention. The recommendation (Annex I) urges Contracting Parties "to take swift and effective action to prevent any further degradation of sites and to restore, as far as possible, the value of damaged sites". The recommendation further requests Contracting Parties in whose territory are located sites whose ecological character has been degraded or are threatened, "to report to the Convention Bureau the actions undertaken to safeguard these sites".
At the Fourth Meeting of the Ramsar Conventions Standing Committee, the members and observers considered the best way of promoting the implementation of Recommendation C.3.9. A "monitoring procedure" (Annex II) was adopted by the Standing Committee as a procedure to monitor Ramsar sites, and has been used since February 1988 by the Convention Secretariat. The present report is the fifth prepared under this procedure.
In addition to the obligation to maintain wetlands listed under the Convention, the Contracting Parties also undertake to promote the wise use of wetlands throughout their territory. In other words, the Parties specifically recognise that, in view of the range of environmental functions and services provided by natural wetland systems, these should be managed in order that such benefits can contribute most effectively to present and future needs of human society. I