Convention Text

Watercourse states shall, individually and, where appropriate, jointly, protect and preserve the ecosystems of international watercourses.

What is an ‘ecosystem’?

An ecosystem is…

- ‘…a dynamic complex of plant, animal, and micro-organism communities and their non-living environment interacting as a functional unit’ (Article 2, UN Convention on Biological Diversity (adopted 5 June 1992, entered into force 29 December 1992) (1992) 31 International Legal Materials 822)

- ‘a system of plants, animals and micro-organisms together with the non-living components of the environment’ (Experts Group on Environmental Law, Legal Principles and recommendations (WCED 1987))

A water-related ecosystem is…

- ‘ an ecosystem such as a forest, wetlands, grasslands and agricultural land that plays a vital role in the hydrological cycle through the service it provides’ (UNECE, Recommendations on Payments for Ecosystem Services in Integrated Water Resources Management (UNECE 2007), 2)

	Video: L Boisson de Chazournes Provisions on environmental protection in the UNWC, and their interaction with analogous articles in Multilateral Environmental Agreements
	Video: Alistair Rieu-Clarke Provisions of the UNWC regarding the protection of ecosystems

Download Fact Sheets

Scope of the Convention #2

No Significant Harm Rule

Protection and Preservation of Ecosystems