5. Protecting biodiversity through examples

According to the Ramsar Convention (1971), wetlands are "areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six meters". The Water Act further specifies that they include "land, whether worked or not, that is usually permanently or temporarily flooded or waterlogged with fresh, brackish or salt water. Where vegetation exists, it is dominated by hygrophilous plants for at least part of the year". Alluvial or coastal plain marshes, estuaries, lagoons, peat bogs, lakes and ponds are therefore considered wetlands.