Ramsar convention typology of wetlands

Abstract

The Ramsar Convention's typology of wetlands was adopted in 1990 along with an information sheet for describing Ramsar sites. The typology was loosely based on the Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of the United States and referred to the definition of wetlands adopted by the Convention in 1972. Given the breadth of the definition the classification covers a wider range of wetland types than many others. The typology comprises three broad groups of wetlands: Marine and coastal; inland, and human-made. Within each group, there are a number of types, totalling 42 in all. The purpose of the typology is to provide a broad framework to assist in the rapid identification of the main wetland habitats represented at each Ramsar site.