Today the Grasslands Ecological Area of Merced County, California was designated a Wetlands of International Importance under The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance. The Grasslands Ecological Area -- long known to Californians for its value to wildlife, particularly waterfowl -- is the largest contiguous wetland area remaining in the Central Valley. The Grasslands Ecological Area consists of over 160,000 acres of wetlands in federal, state, and private ownership. The San Luis and Merced National Wildlife Refuges are both contained in the Grasslands Ecological Area.
Fish and Wildlife Service Director Steve Williams announced the new Wetlands of International Importance including the Grasslands Ecological Area in conjunction with World Wetlands Day, celebrated annually on February 2nd. "The new designations are tributes to local citizens and their partners who recognized the value of protecting these ecological treasures," Williams said. "The continued loss of wetlands worldwide poses a serious threat to both wildlife and people; on the ground partnerships are pivotal to efforts at home and abroad to stem this loss.International recognition raises the visibility of a wetland and provides economic benefits to local communities through increased tourism and recreational opportunities," Williams said.
The Grasslands Ecological Area is composed of federal wildlife refuges, state wildlife management areas, a state park, and nearly 200 privately owned parcels, most of which are waterfowl hunting clubs. The Service, California Department of Fish and Game, Grassland Water District, conservation groups, and the private landowners work cooperatively in the Grasslands Ecological Area to manage the wetland complex to achieve a common goal -- enhancing the wildlife population in the Central Valley.
"Grasslands was recognized as a wetland of international importance because it is a magnificent cooperative effort of nearly 200 landowners, agencies, and conservation groups -- all working together to meet the habitat needs of over 550 wildlife and plant species," according to Kim Forrest, Manager of the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge Complex. "Grasslands and Californias Central Valley is the waist in the hourglass of the Pacific Flyway," according to Forrest. "It is a worldwide resource, essential for the vast bird population that uses the Pacific Flyway, from the Arctic Ocean to the tropics."
Right now, near the height of its season, the Grasslands Ecological Area is host to more than 1,000,000 waterfowl and shorebirds, including huge flocks of sandhill cranes, Ross geese, snow geese, green-winged teal, mallard, American widgeon, gadwall, northern pintail, white-faced ibis, and many others. Aside from waterbirds, there are 29 threatened and endangered species. Visitors to the Grasslands Ecological Area are welcomed daily and can easily see the impressive flocks of waterbirds at federal and state wildlife refuges.
A Wetlands of International Importance is designated by the only world wide convention of wetlands, commonly known as the Ramsar Convention after its place of adoption in Iran in 1971. The two other new Ramsar sites declared today in the U.S. are: the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve in Californias southwest corner; and the Kawainui and Hamakua Marsh Complex wetland on the of Oahu in the State of Hawaii. The new designations bring the total number of Ramsar sites in the United States to twenty-two covering more than three million acres.
The Ramsar Convention is the only international agreement dedicated to the worldwide protection of a particular type of ecosystem. Currently there are 144 member nations working together to coordinate wetland conservation efforts. Because many wetland habitats span international boundaries and many wetland species are migratory, Ramsar countries recognize the importance of supporting wetland management, research and education, outreach and training programs beyond their own borders. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Department of State are the administrative authorities for this Convention in the U.S., and it is this treaty that serves as the cornerstone for the Services International Wetlands Program. The qualifying criteria to be a Ramsar site are based on the wetlands distinguishing characteristics and its ability to support valued species or key wildlife populations
For more information on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service International Wetlands Program, visit: http://international.fws.gov/ramsar/ramsar.htm.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 545 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 63 Fish and Wildlife Management offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands and helps foreign and Native American Tribal governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to State fish and wildlife agencies.
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For more information about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, visit our home page at http://www.fws.gov. For photographic opportunities, contact Jack Sparks (209/826-3508).
