Julia Horrocks

November 27, 2006

An area of wetlands stretching over 11,000 miles in southern Sudan was recently certified and protected under an international treaty. The Sudd is now included in the Ramsar Convention List of Wetlands of International Importance.

The Ramsar Convention was signed in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, to promote "wise use" of wetlands and their resources. The List of Wetlands of International Importance includes 1,629 sites, protecting over 145.6 million hectares of wetlands and their inhabitants.

The Sudd is the largest wetlands area in Africa, and provides a wide range of ecological benefits to the region. It is home to a number of threatened African species, such as the Mongalla gazelle and the African elephant. The crowned crane, white stork, and black tern rely on the wetlands as a wintering ground, and migratory mammals depend on it during the dry season.

The Sudd also acts as a water filter for the area, and stabilizes the water flow. The Nuer, Dinker, and Shilluk people inhabit the wetlands area, and rely on the water system to maintain their current lifestyle.

This certification brings an additional benefit to the region. Officials from both sides of the north-south conflict recognize the importance of maintaining environmental protection, and are coming together to make sure that areas like the Sudd are protected. The Sudd is a symbol of efforts by both sides to work together on matters of national and international significance.

For more information, please see: http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article18435

The Ramsar Convention website is: http://www.ramsar.org/