The RRC-CWA will Enhance the implementation of the Ramsar Convention in the region through training, research, advocacy and public awareness programmes.

Ramsar Convention  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 158 Contracting Parties to the Convention, with 1758 wetland sites, totaling 161 million hectares, designated for inclusion in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance.  Ramsar Regional Center in Central and West Asia As a bridge, Central and West Asia has always been very important to Europe and Asia. Today, it is well understood that the importance of this region is global, and includes commerce, energy, culture, and ecology as well.

Ramsar Sub regional Meeting for West and Central Asia, hosted by the Islamic Republic of Iran on 2-5 February 2002, recognized the special needs of the countries in the region in terms of training and research to meet the major challenges, including drought and other natural disasters, which have caused serious adverse impacts on wetlands and their dependent species, including water birds.
The 8th Conference of Parties to Ramsar Convention held in Valencia, Spain from 18 to 26 November 2002 agreed to create a Ramsar Regional Center for Training and Research on Wetlands in Western and Central Asia in Ramsar city, in Islamic Republic of Iran, by adopting Resolution VIII.41.

 Center Overall Goal
The RRC-CWA will Enhance the implementation of the Ramsar Convention in the region through training, research, advocacy and public awareness programmes.

Center Objectives:
Working to support the implementation activities of contracting parties for the effective management and conservation of wetlands, the objectives of the Center are to:

·        Build human capacity and engage in outreach

·        Promote scientific and technical cooperation and exchange of knowledge, including traditional knowledge,

·        Promote wise use of wetlands through research and sustainable management

·        Encourage accession of non contacting parties in the region.  Functions of the CenterIn fulfilling the objectives, the Center will :
1.      Coordinate and hold courses, seminars, workshops, conferences, meetings at national, regional and international levels in order to expand the knowledge of wetlands and about the Convention;

2.      Coordinate the establishment of a network to collect and disseminate information;

3.      Promote and coordinate scientific research and study in the region in order to expand knowledge of wetland functions and values, their biodiversity and indicators of ecological characteristics, and also regarding the economic valuation and management of the ecosystems with the purpose of prompting their sustainability and conservation, including through nomination of wetlands of international importance.

4.      Enter into agreements for technical cooperation, technology transfer and research with universities, research centers, government and non-government agencies and other Wetland Centers at local, regional and global level.

5.      Produce of information and bibliographical material where possible in a range of languages contributing to better knowledge of wetlands through printed and electronic means.

6.      Develop assistance and consultation activities aimed at the study and management of the wetlands;

7.      Facilitate a harmonized approach to scientific monitoring on wetlands and their components in the region, for processing, studying and exchanging relevant information to assist decision-making processes. 

8.      Encourage the countries in the region to establish wetland education centers.