A geomorphic approach to global classification for natural inland wetlands and rationalization of the system used by the Ramsar Convention – a discussion

Abstract

Globally, the most widely used wetland classification is that adopted by the contracting parties of the Ramsar Convention, which is the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat. A review of the Inland Wetland component of this system shows that mixed criteria are used to separate the wetlands, and that not all natural inland wetlands have been addressed. A classification system using landform and hydro-period, which results in 13 primary geomorphically “non-emergent” types for natural wetlands, is proposed to describe the full variety of wetlands at a primary level around the globe, and is suggested to be incorporated as the first-tier of the Ramsar classification.

The proposed classification has been designed so wetlands can be described, classified and compared systematically. This paper attempts to reconcile the Ramsar Classification system with the proposed approach. The intention in this paper is not to displace the Ramsar Classification, but rather to indicate its inherent underlying geomorphic structure, and hence re-order its hierarchical framework. This adjustment to the existing classification system would highlight underlying similarities between wetlands so that global comparisons can be more readily made. It also has considerable advantages for a staged, systematic discrimination and classification of the vast array of differing wetlands globally.

The use of geomorphic and hydrologic elements as the primary and secondary divisions with the more commonly used Ramsar Classification terms as a tertiary division, provides a logical structure to compare and contrast wetlands globally.