Subject: canal estates" > >Greetings, > >As part of the "hot topics" series launched on World Wetlands Day as part of >the Bureau?s Wise Use Resource Center, Bill Phillips of the bureau is looking >for information on the subject of "canal estates". I enclose the text put on >the Ramsar Web site a while ago, describing the sort of thing he is seeking, >and I encourage everyone who can contribute something on the topic to contact >us directly here at the Bureau. Please DO NOT reply directly to the Ramsar >Forum unless your message would have universal appeal. > > >The first subject we are investigating under the "Hot Topics" banner is >Canal Estates (or Marinas as they are variously referred to in different >parts of the English-speaking world). Specifically, we are talking about >those >situations where artificial canal systems are constructed to accommodate >housing estates, holiday resorts or similar developments. In many cases the >areas chosen for these are wetlands, and the question we are asked is "what >impact do these constructions have on the wetland system in the short, medium >and long term?" It's easy merely to say they are environmental disasters! >But we want to locate those studies that have looked at the impacts of canal >estates/marinas and which can help to form a better picture of the situation. > >There does seem to be a growing impression, around the world, that the >proliferation of these developments should be better controlled in the >long-term interests of biodiversity conservation and the maintenance of >ecosystems that are producing food and economic benefits for human >populations. It also seems that the technology of designing artificial canal >systems so that they flush more frequently, etc., is constantly advancing, >and we are keen to know what these advances are. So is it true that the local >economic return and other social benefits that these developments claim to >have is justified in terms of the environmental impacts? > >In some parts of the world, governments have banned canal estate developments >(the State Government of New South Wales in Australia is a case in point), >and where this has occurred we would like to know how such a legislative >approach was put in place and on what science such an action was based. > >In summary, then, we are trying to locate any information which can help us >all to understand where the truth lies on the canal estates/marinas question. >Please note >that we are not requesting statements of opinion or attitude towards canal >estates/marinas. Our intention is to locate the science on the subject, not >to >conduct a global poll on what people think of them. We are very keen to >obtain >references to studies that have scientific rigour and have taken a >dispassionate >view of the "fors" and "againsts " of canal estates/marinas. When we think we >have enough material to work from, a new topic will be advertised and a >report >will be produced on our findings about canal estates/marinas and subsequent >hot topics. > >Please direct any information you may have on the Canal Estates "Hot Topics" >question to the Deputy Secretary General, Dr. Bill Phillips here at the >Ramsar Bureau (e-mail, post, fax coordinates just below). > > >Thanks much, > >Robin Reilley Hydrologist RAMSARII@hq.iucn.org > > > >Ramsar Convention Bureau, Rue Mauverney 28, >CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland (tel +41 22 999 0170, fax +41 22 999 0169, >e-mail ramsar@hq.iucn.org). Web http://iucn.org/themes/ramsar/m/cfa.htmlml > >Dwight Peck, Executive Assistant fpr communications >E-mail dcp@hq.iucn.org > > > >