A brief description of the Ramsar Convention and the type of convention that it is will be given here. Also, the history of Akiyoshidai's world-recognized groundwater system will be explained.
With growing recognition of the importance of wetlands, swamps, tidelands, and other wetlands, an "International Conference on the Conservation of Wetlands and Waterfowl" was held in 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar along the Caspian Sea coast, where "The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat" was adopted (taking effect in December 1975). Later, this convention came to be called the "Ramsar Convention," named after the location of the international conference where the convention was adopted.The Ramsar Convention was the first agreement established between governments that focused on the conservation and wise use of natural resources. Working under the key words "waterfowl habitat conservation" in particular, the convention placed emphasis on the preservation and wise use of wetland ecosystems and biodiversity, and established measures that each of the participating countries should implement.
As of November 6, 2005, 147 countries (1,524 sites) worldwide were signatories of the Ramsar Convention.
In October 1980 Japan became a signatory of the convention. By that time, thirteen sites in Japan, including the Kushiro Marsh and Lake Biwa, were already registered. In November 8-15, 2005, at the ninth Conference of the Parties, held in the Ugandan capital of Kampala in East Africa, a total of twenty sites were newly registered, including the Akiyoshidai Plateau groundwater system, giving Japan a total of 33 wetlands registered with the convention.