The research questions

The project covers a series of related initiatives at global scale

• How can wetlands best be used and managed wisely for both conservation and multiple productive purposes and what new approaches are needed for taking water and water-related ecosystems into account for the sustainable use of water in agriculture?
• What information and guidance needs to be provided to the wide range of sectors and agencies involved in the planning, development and management of water resources, agriculture and wetlands, to enhance food production and the many other ecosystem services vital for future human well-being while minimising negative outcomes for wetland conservation?

Objectives

• To support the mission, strategic objectives and programme of work of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (and related conventions, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity) on the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through various types of partnerships, and formal participation in the Ramsar Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP), Standing Committee and other convention processes.
• To promote synergies between agriculture, wetlands and water resources management through the development, promotion for use and implementation through capacity building of globally relevant guidelines and syntheses of state-of-the-art knowledge on the joint management of different types of wetland-agriculture systems, impacted by the full range of water resources, agricultural and wetland policies, systems, and practices, for food production, poverty reduction, livelihoods support and environmental sustainability.
• To assess the status of wetland biodiversity in relation to water management in agriculture and fisheries, determine the consequences of different water management practices, and identify response options in support of the wise use of wetlands and their resources.

Methods

The existing formal mechanisms of the Ramsar Convention, the process established by the Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture, and new partnerships linking key experts and actors in the area of agriculture, wetlands and water resources management are all being used to achieve the main project objectives. Emerging research addressing agriculture, wetlands and water resources interactions and management will adopt an approach based on: the review and synthesis of case studies and knowledge gained on best practices, with dialogue and contributions sought from a range of experts in the water resources, agriculture and wetlands sectors; development of guidelines and analytical/management tools; and their refinement through field testing at a number of project sites covering a wide range of eco-regional settings and basin contexts.

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