Thesis Statement, Abstract, & Outline

Thesis
Statement

Should the criteria of the Ramsar Convention of 1971 be used to designate the
Louisiana Coastal Zone Wetlands, specifically, Cameron Prairie, Sabine and Lacasseine
National Wildlife Refuges as a cluster site of “Wetlands of International Importance”?

Abstract

The Ramsar Convention of 1971 is an international treaty seeking to protect,
conserve and assist in the planning and management as well as wise use of the
world's wetlands. Designation of Louisiana’s diverse wetland areas, specifically
a cluster of National Wildlife Refuges in Southwestern Louisiana ensures a complete
approach to conservation management principles that seek to protect our valuable
wetland coastal habitats from disappearing.

The Loss of Louisiana Wetlands, to coastal erosion, global sea rise and over development
is a major environmental concern for the United States. These wetlands are home
to endangered and threatened animal and plant species as well as habitat to thousands
of birds, waterfowl, fish, reptiles, mollusks and mammals. The science, academic,
volunteer, political and legislative communities of the United States are working
to conserve the Louisiana Wetlands through a multitude of studies, projects and
programs aimed at preserving, protecting, restoring as well as recognizing the
value wetlands. The Coastal Zone of Louisiana has a multitude of diverse wetlands,
including freshwater swamps, hardwood and bottomland swamps, freshwater marshes,
brackish marshes and saltwater marshes that are home to valuable natural resources,
some of which are threatened by coastal erosion.

Ramsar encourages listing
of diverse wetland sites and in fact permits clustering of diverse sites for a
single listing as a wetland of international importance. National Wildlife Refuges
on the coast of Louisiana are recognized and in fact protected under current law
as ecosystems of importance to the country.

The Southwest Louisiana National
Wildlife Refuge Complex is an established public conservation entity comprised
of Cameron Prairie NWR, Sabine NWR, and Lacasseine NWR. The Ramsar Convention
outlines specific criteria for potential candidate wetland sites to meet for listing
to the Roster of Wetlands of International Importance and supports clustering
of wetland sites.

The Ramsar Information Sheet (RIS) is used to list the characteristics
of sites and the science that justifies any statements made regarding the qualities
of the nominated wetland sites. Administrative planning and management approaches
toward nominated sites are included in the RIS. The RIS provides a standardized
format or data sheet for recording information about the region. Data and information
collected on hydrological, biophysical, floral, faunal, social and cultural functions
and values are critical elements that determine eligibility for Ramsar listing.

The Federal government as well as the Louisiana state government supports international
wetland designation and are in fact established participants in the Ramsar Convention.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service administers the Ramsar Convention and recently
announced new U.S. sites for inclusion on the listing of Wetlands of International
Importance.

Louisiana hosts a Ramsar site at Catahoula Lake in Rapides Parish.
This site is an inland wetland, a National Wildlife Refuge and member of Ramsar
since 1991. The Louisiana Coastal Authority has recently produced a report outlining
the national and international importance of the Louisiana Coastal Wetlands to
the global economy and security of the world.

CONCLUDING POINT

The Ramsar Convention of 1971 should be applied to Louisiana wetlands, specifically
the wetlands of coastal zone, which represent some of the world's more diverse
wetland areas. The National Wildlife Refuges established on the Louisiana Coast
offer federal and state parties an opportunity to enlist Ramsar international
recognition and support in the complete planning and management effort of Louisiana's
wetlands. Wildlife habitat, as well as economic development and conservation
of the wetland's natural resources will be protected and recognized through
designation of the Louisiana Southwest National Wildlife Refuge Complex as wetland
sites of international importance.

OUTLINE

INTRODUCTION

• Thesis
  statement


• Why this topic


• Local Influence


• Timely Importance


• International Law Influence
  in Curriculum


• Planners and Managers


• Relationship to Landscape
  Architecture MLA 2004 Thesis on World Heritage Convention Similarities

REVIEW OF LILTERATURE

Wetland Definitions

• Descriptions


• International


• U.S.


• Local

Wetland Management

• History and Principles


• International Environmental
  Treaties


• Benefits


• Drawbacks


• Attitudes

U.S. Policy and Management

• Clean Water Act


• Section 404


• Farm Bill


• CWCPRA


• North America U.S. Wetland Status
  Acreage


• Data Locations Types

Louisiana
Situational Data

• Policy Establishment
  and Practice


• Conservation, Protection and Restoration


• Wetlands America Campaign


• Continental
  Shelf Money Dedication to WetlandsWetland


• Uses\Benefits Natural Commercial Recreational

OVERVIEW

Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance

• What is the Convention?


• When Proposed and Ratified


• What effects or results


• Who Participating


• Member States


• Countries Listing and standing


• Influence and Action in member states


• U.S. Participation


• Wetlands Day and Site Designation


• References and Citations in law and regulations

Why

• Need for International Participation in Wetland Management


• Should Louisiana Participate

Ramsar Brief guide to the Convention

• Mission of the Convention


• Management of Convention


• Selection Process for nominees

Ramsar Classification System for Wetlands

• Definitions and Characteristics


• Classes and Examples

Ramsar sites Wetlands of International Importance

• List Convention Statistics


• Description of Selected Sites

Louisiana Wetlands

• Wetland Major points of information regarding our wetlands overall
  
  
  
  • Habitat
    
    
    
    • Wildlife Birds
    
    
    • Endangered Species Estuaries
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • Geology\Geomorphology Development
    
    
    
    • Flooding and Water quality, Miss. River Watershed
    
    
    • Barrier Natural Disasters
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • Value
    
    
    
    • Commercial Fish\Oysters Oil\Gas\LOOP
    
    
    • Recreational Fish Fowl Parks
    
    
    • Cultural Fish\Shrimp\Trap Early Settlement Historical Louisiana
      Purchase
    
    
    • Bird Migration Flyway Monarch Butterfly Migration Flyway
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  

SCOPE

• Wetlands
  Ramsar Convention
  
  
  
  • Cluster nomination of Diverse Wetlands
  
  
  • Inclusion into Coastal zone management
  
  
  • Migratory Birds\Waterfowl Protection Tool
  
  
  
  


• Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge (NWR)
  Wetland Cluster Proposal
  
  
  
  • Cameron Prairie NWR Habitat Stats Site Management Principles Relevance
    to Ramsar
  
  
  • Lacasseine NWR Habitat Stats Management Relevance
  
  
  • Sabine NWR Habitat Stats Management
  
  
  • Relevance Rationale for cluster listing to Ramsar
  
  
  • Ramsar Citations Diversity of Proposed Sites Habitat Corridor
  
  
  • U.S. Policy Support Requires Public Land
  
  
  • Southwest NWR Complex Exists
  
  
  • Set Example for remainder of LCZ
  
  
  • TQM\BMP approach to wetland planning and management for Future Cluster
    Designation suggested sites
  
  
  • Enhance Preservation\Conservation\Restoration Efforts
  
  
  • Louisiana Hosts only one Inland Wetland Ramsar Site
  
  
  
  

Case Studies\Comparative Plans

• Catahoula NWR


• Everglades

METHODOLOGY

• Criteria for identifying Ramsar sites


• Ramsar Explanation of Guidelines


• RIS Form


• Wetland Types\Categories Locations


• Supporting Agencies (Possible Questionnaire Opportunity?)


• Criteria & Justification


• Louisiana RIS Submission


• Habitat Numbers Endangered Species


• Value National Shipping Oil\Gas\LOOP Local Economies Aqua culture Tourism


• Threats Hurricanes\Natural Disaster Coastal Erosion Sea level rise Subsidence
  Man-Made

Findings

• Relevance of Wetland Conservation and Protection


• Louisiana Wetlands Qualifications

CONCLUSION

• Benefits of Designation


• Int`l Environmental Law Local Application in Wetland Planning & Management

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Complete the RIS Application


• Submit Application for Inclusion


• Lobby Locally and Nationally for Designation

APPENDIX

• Completed RIS


• Maps


• Associated Docs (Formal Letters of Support)


• RIS Examples

REFERENCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY

LIST OF FIGURES

VITA