36427-MINAET of January 25, 2011, so that henceforth they read as follows:
"Article 3. The head of the Ministry of Environment and Energy shall have a National Advisory Council on Wetlands, which shall be composed of the following authorities:
- a)The head of the Vice-Ministry of Water, Seas, Coasts, and Wetlands of the Ministry of Environment and Energy or their representative, who shall preside.
- b)National Coordinator of the Administrative Authority of the Ramsar Convention, hereinafter called the Convention.
- c)Governmental National Coordinator of the Commission on Education and Public Awareness (CECOP) of the Convention.
- d)Non-Governmental National Coordinator of the Commission on Education and Public Awareness (CECOP ONG) of the Convention.
- e)National Coordinator of the Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP) of the Convention.
- f)The Director of the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) or their representative.
- g)The Director of the Environmental Management Center of the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) or their representative.
- h)The Executive President of the Costa Rican Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture or their representative.
- i)The Executive President of the National Institute for Innovation and Transfer in Agricultural Technology or their representative.
- j)A representative of the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA).
- k)A representative of the Center for Research in Marine Sciences and Limnology of the University of Costa Rica (CIMAR).
- l)The Director of Biological Sciences of the National University, or their representative.
- m)A representative of the National Commission for Indigenous Affairs (CONAI).
- n)Two representatives from non-governmental organizations in the environmental sector that develop projects related to wetlands.
- o)The coordinator of the National Wetlands Program, who shall coordinate actions and ensure the implementation of the agreements of the National Advisory Council on Wetlands. They shall also serve as the Secretary of the committee.
The term of office for the designated members shall be four years, except for the National Coordinators, who shall be designated for the duration of their appointments in their representative positions before the Convention.
For the designation of the representatives of non-governmental organizations, the Minister of Environment and Energy shall issue a public call, by any written, radio, or digital means, to legally constituted non-governmental organizations that develop projects related to wetlands, so that they accredit a representative through a note from their respective legal representative. From those who apply, the Minister, based on accredited experience and projects developed related to the subject, shall select the two representatives.
The National Advisory Council on Wetlands may integrate, in an advisory capacity, persons it deems appropriate for its proper functioning. The Council shall decide, by unanimous agreement of its members, the designation and term of appointment of such advisors." "Article 4. The National Advisory Council on Wetlands shall have the following functions:
- a)Advise and support the Minister of Environment and Energy and the other governmental entities responsible for its administration, in the promotion, education, planning, sustainable development, and wise use of wetlands.
- b)Support the CECOP national coordinators to promote the development and execution of national and local communication, education, awareness, and participation programs and action plans aimed at the wise and sustainable use of wetlands.
- c)Collaborate with governmental bodies in the search for financial and logistical resources for the conservation and wise use of wetland areas.
- d)Support actions for the national implementation of the Convention in Ramsar Sites and other wetland ecosystems and coordinate actions with the Convention Secretariat through the national coordinator and the Administrative Authority and other international entities on wetland matters.
- e)Promote the identification of wetlands and support their inclusion in the List of Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar List) with the prior designation of the Administrative Authority.
- f)Arrange technical assistance from experts for the preparation of National Reports for the Conference of the Contracting Parties so that the national coordinator compiles them.
- g)Coordinate the assistance of experts for advisory services on wetlands through the STRP National Coordinator, for the preparation of technical documents on various aspects related to the subject.
- h)Collaborate with the National System of Conservation Areas and the National Wetlands Program through the justification mechanisms and the Management Guidance Procedure, in the case of inclusion or exclusion of Ramsar sites from the Montreux Record, should changes in ecological characteristics occur, which must be communicated to the Convention by the Administrative Authority.
- i)Follow up on the implementation of the Resolutions and Recommendations adopted by the Ramsar Conference of the Contracting Parties.
- j)Others that the Minister of Environment and Energy may assign on the matter."