The Ramsar Convention or the Convention on wetlands of international concern, mainly as habitats of marsh birds, was adopted on January 2nd, 1971 in Ramsar, Iran. Its prime objective was to »conserve wetlands and provide for their acceptable use at the national level and to implement, through international cooperation, the principles of sustainable development«. Each contracting party obliged itself to respect and carry out the following four major activities:

•    to inscribe the wetlands (that fulfilled the stipulated standards) on the List of wetlands of international concern and to maintain their ecological character;
•    to include the preservation of wetlands in the national development programmes, and to plan a comprehensive management of catchments by respecting the principles of sustainable use;
•    to support the conservation of wetlands in its territory by proclaiming protected areas, and to support expert training of researchers and wetland managers;
•    to collaborate with other contracting parties in the areas of adjacent wetlands and hydrological systems, as well as in joint development projects in the wetlands.

The Ramsar Convention has been ratified by over 100 countries. Slovenia joined the Ramsar family in 1992, and in the very ensuing year the Sečovlje salt-pans were inscribed on the List of wetlands of international concern.

In memory of the Ramsar Convention's adoption, February 2nd has been declared World Wetlands Day.