On July 31, 2025, during the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP15) to the Ramsar Convention, the International Mangrove Center (IMC) was officially endorsed as a Ramsar Regional Initiative (RRI) for the period of 2026-2028. The certificate confirms that the IMC complies with all relevant requirements as a Ramsar Regional Initiative in accordance with Resolution XIV.7 and has been endorsed by the Conference of the Contracting Parties.
RRIs are collaborative networks and organizations formally endorsed by the Convention to facilitate cooperation and support implementation of the Convention's goals within specific geographic regions or on key thematic issues. The recognition was conferred at a special RRI certificate award ceremony, where Dr. Musonda Mumba, Secretary General of the Convention on Wetlands, presented the official certificate to Professor Bao Daming, Director General of the Interim Secretariat of IMC. During the ceremony, a total of 21 Ramsar Regional Initiatives from around the world took the stage to receive their official certificates of endorsement for the next triennial, symbolizing a strengthened global commitment to collaborative action for the world's wetlands.
Serving as an ecosystem-based RRI of the Convention, the IMC operates an independent, non-profit, and inter-governmental international organizations, dedicates to promote international cooperation and joint actions in mangrove conservation, restoration, and wise and sustainable use, and to strengthen the implementation of the Convention, and other relevant current and future environmental commitments, including but not limited to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the Paris Agreement, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development along with its Sustainable Development Goals.
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty established in 1971 that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. The COP15 of Ramsar, held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe from 23rd July to 31st July, has successfully convened contracting parties to address pressing challenges and set strategic priorities for wetland conservation.
