[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 63 (Tuesday, May 7, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E605]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




COMMEMORATION OF THE DESIGNATION OF THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY/ESTUARY AS A 
                  WETLANDS OF INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 7, 2013

  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.

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