Ramsar Sites - Wetlands of International Importance

The Convention on Wetlands, called the Ramsar Convention, is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. This spatial dataset contains the digital boundaries of Ramsar sites in Wales. In ratifying the Convention in 1976, the UK government accepted a commitment to promote the conservation of internationally important wetland sites within its territories.


Wetlands are vital for many types of birds particularly waterfowl and Wales have some prime sites that are essential to the survival of many wetland plants and animals. Wetland sites can be areas of marsh, fen, peatland or open water; natural or artificial; permanent or temporary; with water that is fresh, brackish or salty. They can also include shallow areas of sea. All Ramsar sites are also Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Wetlands of International Importance are identified by Natural Resources Wales (NRW), in collaboration with the UK Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), and designated by the First Minister for the National Assembly for Wales.


The Ramsars have been designated over a number of years, from 1976 to the present day, and are on-going. The data has been held digitally since mid1990s. The boundaries have been checked by NRW staff. Due to scale enlargement and different editions of map a certain degree of interpretation was required.

Identification

Identifier
NRW_DS98759
Alternative Title
  • Ramsar.LYR
  • Marine protected areas Ramsar.lyr
  • Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites)
  • Sites (Ramsar)
Metadata Language
English
Lineage

Originally produced as paper maps but with the progress to GIS later designations produced directly from digital capture. The data was derived from the designation paper maps that vary in scale from 1:50,000, 1:25,000 and 1:10,000. The present data is digitised to OS MasterMap. With the coming of GIS and its use in government departments and commercial companies mobilising the data in this way, advances the protection of these sites and the efficiency of decision making.
Additional Information

Please refer to Wetlands of International Importance - Ramsar Convention for reasons for capture of original designation. NRW has also created a subset of this dataset showing only those where relate to the marine enivronment. These are available on the Welsh Government marine planning portal.
Dataset Reference Date (Publication)
2022-11-28
Owner
  Natural Resources Wales (NRW) -
Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales
http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en
Originator
  Natural Resources Wales (NRW) -
Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales
http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en
 

Extent

Extent

Geographic Extent
Wales (WLS)
N
W
E
S
Map representing the geographic extent of the dataset


 

Vertical Extent

Medin Extent Keyword

benthic boundary layer
 
 

Distribution

Distribution

Format Type and Description
  • Geographic Information System ( )

    Specification

    ESRI Feature Class

Resource Locator
View and Download ( WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link )
Resource Locator
Web Mapping Service ( OGC:WMS )
 

Quality

Data quality

Quality Scope
Dataset
Conformity
Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services
Explanation

This dataset has not been assessed for conformance to the referenced INSPIRE regulation.
Degree
false
Lineage

Originally produced as paper maps but with the progress to GIS later designations produced directly from digital capture. The data was derived from the designation paper maps that vary in scale from 1:50,000, 1:25,000 and 1:10,000. The present data is digitised to OS MasterMap. With the coming of GIS and its use in government departments and commercial companies mobilising the data in this way, advances the protection of these sites and the efficiency of decision making.
 

Keywords

Keywords

GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0
Type
Theme

Citation

Date (Publication)
2008-06-01
Code
geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.httpinspireeceuropaeutheme-theme

Keywords

NRW Thesaurus
  • Fenland
  • Ramsar sites
  • marshland
  • geographical information systems (GIS)
  • waterfowl
  • Newport Wetlands Reserve (see also Gwent Levels Wetlands Reserve)
  • bird habitat
Type
Theme

Citation

Date (Publication)
2025-01-08
Code
geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-keywords

Keywords

SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary
Type
Theme

Citation

Date (Publication)
2024-06-19
Code
geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.rdf+xml

Keywords

NRW SMNR Keywords
  • Natural Resources (Incl. Features and Processes) (SMNR)
  • Marine (SMNR)
  • Coastal Margins (SMNR)
  • Water Quality (SMNR)
  • Regulating Services (SMNR)
  • Cultural Services (SMNR)
  • Animals, Plants and Other Organisms (SMNR)
  • Sustainable Management of Natural Resources (SMNR)
  • Ecosystem Services (SMNR)
  • Provisioning Services (SMNR)
  • Sea and Coast (SMNR)
  • Physical Geography (Physiography) (SMNR)
  • Management Areas (SMNR)
  • Soil and Land (SMNR)
  • Freshwater and Wetlands (SMNR)
  • Ecosystem (SMNR)
Type
Theme

Citation

Date (Publication)
2024-06-26
Code
geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-smnr-keywords
 

Spatial Reference System

Code
British National Grid (EPSG::27700)
 

Content

Content Information

NRW Profile

Custom Elements

 

Constraints

Constraints

Limitations on Public Access and Use

Restriction type
Other restrictions
 

Access Constraints Directive

Limitations
no limitations
 

Access Constraints Text

Other constraints

There are no access restrictions on this data. NRW may release, publish or disseminate it freely.
 

Use Constraints

Use constraints type
Other restrictions
Other constraints

© CNC/NRW All rights Reserved. Contains Ordnance Survey Data. Ordnance Survey Licence number AC0000849444. Crown Copyright and Database Right. Data may be re-used under the terms of the Open Government Licence providing it is done so, acknowledging both the source and copyright of the owners. It is the recipient's responsibility to ensure the data is fit for the intended purpose.
 

Attribution Statement

Other constraints

Contains Natural Resources Wales information © Natural Resources Wales and Database Right. All rights Reserved. Contains Ordnance Survey Data. Ordnance Survey Licence number AC0000849444. Crown Copyright and Database Right.
 

Licence

Other constraints
Open Government Licence
 
 
 

Metadata

Metadata

File Identifier
4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-3938373539 XML
Metadata Language
English
Resource type
Dataset
Metadata Date
2026-03-03T12:00:37.914Z
Metadata Standard Name
NRW
Metadata Standard Version

1.0

pointOfContact
  Natural Resources Wales (NRW) -
Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales
http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en
 
 

Publishing Body

Access the portal