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
>
>
>
>