Convention on Wetlands of International Importance

(CITES) signed at Ramsar (Iran), 1971; entered into force in 1975

Commonly referred to as the Convention on Wetlands or Ramsar Convention, this treaty provides for the protection and management of wetland habitats that are inscribed by individual member States on the international "Ramsar List". A broad approach is taken in determining the definition of the wetlands that fall under the treaty's aegis, such that they may "incorporate riparian and coastal zones adjacent to the wetlands, and islands or bodies of marine water deeper than six meters at low tide lying within the wetlands". This definition incorporates a range of habitats that are important for nesting and foraging of marine turtles.