Commemoration of the Designation of the San Francisco Bay/Estuary as a Wetlands of International Importance

Floor Speech

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues Leader PELOSI and Representatives ESHOO, GARAMENDI, HONDA, HUFFMAN, LEE, MCNERNEY, GEORGE MILLER, SPEIER, and SWALWELL to commemorate the designation of the San Francisco Bay/Estuary as a Wetland of International Importance on February 2, 2013 by the Convention on Wetlands, also known as the ``Ramsar Convention''.

The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty adopted in 1971 and signed by the United States in 1987. This treaty provides a voluntary framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands, their resources, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance benefit from increased conservation status and recognition, and are part of an international conservation network that encompasses flyways and other migratory routes.

The San Francisco Bay/Estuary is the largest estuary on the Pacific Coast of the United States, encompassing approximately 1,600 square miles and is critically ecologically important, accounting for 77 percent of California's remaining perennial estuarine wetlands. It also provides for a host of social and economic values through ports and industry, agriculture, fisheries, archeological and cultural sites, recreation, and research. Unfortunately, the San Francisco Bay/Estuary today faces numerous threats and challenges from invasive species, development, pollution, sediment shortfalls, disease, disturbance to wildlife, and climate change.

The San Francisco Bay/Estuary has broad support for its conservation and restoration from a large number of federal, state, public, private organizations, and citizens who act to conserve its values. Their conservation efforts continue to pioneer strategies that are modeled, adapted, and adopted by others across the nation and beyond.

The San Francisco Bay/Estuary met or exceeded all nine Ramsar criteria on multiple counts, which refer to biodiversity measures and the presence of rare or unique wetland types, and has undoubtedly earned the global distinction of a dedicated Ramsar Wetland of International Importance:

Mr. Speaker, we ask our colleagues to join us in commemorating the designation of the San Francisco Bay/Estuary as an official Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, pay tribute to the dedicated stewards and activists who have worked to preserve this unique ecosystem, and support critical efforts to ensure the health and protection of the San Francisco Bay/Estuary.

Source