Side event details

Objective: To reflect on the use of the Online Reporting System (ORS) for the Ramsar Convention and other relevant conventions over the past decade, present the modernized ORS launched in October 2024, and discuss the integration of DaRT into the ORS.
Potential speakers: The Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, UNEP, UNEP-WCMC, Parties, the EU, potentially other MEAs attending the COP that use ORS (like ITPGRFA or CMS).

Moderator: UNEP, Emilie Vauchel.

Expected outcomes: Participants will gain insights into the new features of the modernized ORS, which will be available to Ramsar Contracting Parties for the preparation of their COP16 National Reports. They will explore the link between the ORS and the UNEP DaRT tool for synergistic reporting, including the benefits of cross-linking MEA national reports and alignment with the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).
Relevance to COP15 discussions: COP15 Doc. 23.3 and Doc. 23.4.

Background: As of 21 March 2025, 112 COP15 National Reports have been submitted by the 172 Contracting Parties and made publicly available by the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. National Reports are key to monitoring the implementation of the Convention and progress on its Strategic Plan between COPs, highlighting priorities and challenges. They also feed into the Global Implementation Report, the Secretary General’s report on the global implementation of the Convention, which is presented at each COP. The content of the national reports may also be relevant to reporting obligations under other MEAs.

Challenge and Solution: Parties are encouraged to use the ORS to prepare their National Reports. The ORS was developed by UNEP-WCMC in 2014 and has been used by other biodiversity-related conventions such as CMS and AEWA. The upgrade of the ORS and the integration of DaRT into the ORS was achieved in October 2024 through the EU-GPGC project “Scaling Up Actions to Realize Synergies for Biodiversity”, managed by UNEP with technical support from UNEP-WCMC. Through enhanced usability, data integration, and user experience, the new ORS is expected to improve the process, timeliness and quality of national reports for the Parties and the Secretariat. It will also provide opportunities for greater harmonization of reporting templates across the biodiversity-related conventions.

Programme:
Part I: Reflections and evolution of the ORS
1.1 Origins and purpose: Launched by UNEP-WCMC in 2014, to streamline the process of national reporting by Parties (UNEP-WCMC)

1.2 Experiences and lessons learned: Use of the ORS for National since 2014 (Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands)

1.3 Approach to upgrading: User-driven approach to best meet the needs of Parties (UNEP and UNEP-WCMC)

Q&A session 1

Part II: Advancing the ORS – Upgrades and Future Prospects
2.1 Technical Enhancements: Presentation of the ORS enhancements guided by consultations with the Secretariat and Party representatives (UNEP-WCMC)

2.2 Strengthened Connectivity: Link between DaRT and the ORS, support the preparation of MEA reporting (UNEP)

2.3 Onboarding and transition: Updated ORS for COP16 National Reports (Secretariat and UNEP-WCMC)

Q&A session 2.