Part 2: Create Report and Compare Wetland Characteristics

In any step, click the Show me link to reveal extra information. If you prefer a printout of the full set of instructions for this part, choose Print from the File menu.

Step 1-
Select Variables and Create Report

  1. Using one country name at a time, you can generate a report about all the RAMSAR wetland sites in that country, or request a specific wetland by name. In our example, we'll look for a RAMSAR wetland in the country of Mauritania. To generate the report go to Wetlands International.
  2. In the left-hand navigation bar, choose "Ramsar Sites" then "Search the Ramsar Sites Database."
  3. Enter Mauritania in the Country field and click "Search"

  4. We'll use Parc National du Banc D' Anguin for this example. Click the Summary description link in that row to read about this park.

  5. Return to the table of Mauritania's wetlands by clicking your browser's "back" button.
  6. Click the Site Overview link to examine the list of variables that you can include in a report about this park.
    You and your club members decide that a report that includes the following items will give you enough information about the sites to help you choose one.
  7. Click the check box before each of the following items.
    • Area of Ramsar Site
    • Date of Designation
    • Predominant Wetland Type(s)
    • Wetland Type
    • Wetland Type Category
    • Persistence of Water
    • Salinity
    • Soil Type
    • Land Uses Inside Site
    • Land Uses Outside Site
    • Noteworthy Fauna Values
    • Noteworthy Flora Values
    • Socio-Cultural Values
    • Threats From Outside Site
    • Threats In Site
  8. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click the Report Checked button.
  9. To save the report, choose File > Save As... in your browser. Another option for saving the report is to make and save a "screen-grab" of it.
    • On a Windows system, press Alt and Printscreen at the same time to save the report window to the computer's clipboard. Open a new document in a word processing or picture application and choose Edit > Paste.
    • On a Macintosh, press shift-command-4 (command key=apple key)and drag a box over the report window. This will save the image, in a file named Picture1.png, on your desktop.

Step 2-
Compare Characteristics to Understand Each Site

  1. Beginning in the 4th column of the report (after the default entries), examine the values in each column and try to visualize what each wetland site is like. Within the chart, click the links for codes and other entries to see an expanation of their meanings.
  2. Compare the characteristics of the wetland sites to answer the following questions.
    • What differences would you expect between sites with permanent versus seasonal Persistence of Water?
    • Which Land Uses and Socio-Cultural values do you think might interfere with the Noteworthy Fauna (animals) and Flora (plants) at each site?
    • What differences might you expect to find between sites that have been designated as Ramsar sites for different lengths of time? For instance, how might a site that has been designated for only 10 years compare to one that has been on the list for 20 years?
    • Which wetland site do you think is in the most danger and why?
    • Of the threats to each site, which can humans control? Which site do you think humans could do the most to help preserve?
With a partner or in a small group, discuss the characteristics of the wetlands and your answers to the questions above.

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