The GIS & Maps section provides thematic maps and an interactive WebGIS system displaying spatial information on Ramsar sites.
The WebGIS is an internet-based map server that hosts a world base map, and additional map layers including the point locations of all Ramsar Sites. All available official boundaries of Ramsar Sites are provided if available. You can zoom to regional, country and site level and additional products such as the official Ramsar site map and/or management plan are provided if available in digital format. At site level there is also a link back to the Ramsar Sites Database.
To use the WebGIS you may need to download a Flash Player to enable navigation of the map. The Ramsar sites are also viewable in Google Earth including a link back to the Ramsar Sites Database. It is envisaged to have the current WebGIS replaced by Google Earth. Point and polygon data of the Ramsar sites will be provided through Google Earth including links to the Ramsar Sites Database, the official Ramsar Site maps, relevant external resources and other datasets.
Thematic maps include a core set of maps such as maps of the world and each region showing the current distribution of the Contracting Parties and Ramsar sites or global distribution maps of Ramsar Sites with wetland types which have been identified as being under-represented (e.g. coral reefs). Additional maps will be developed and added during 2008. The maps are updated at least every three months to maintain its currency.
Polygon data of the Ramsar sites boundaries has been made available to download after registration (see Download GIS datasets).