The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is a global intergovernmental agreement to protect and manage all the world's wetlands. It was adopted by the Convention on Wetlands Mission on 2 February 1971 at Ramsar, Islamic Republic of Iran. The core principle of the convention is: “the conservation and sustainable use of all wetlands through local, regional and national action and international cooperation as a contribution to the achievement of sustainable development throughout the world.” The Republic of Uzbekistan joined the Ramsar Convention in 2001. On the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan there are about ten reservoirs that are of great importance as gathering places for waterfowl and birds living near water (the main reservoirs are Dengizkul, Sudochye, Arnasay, Tudakol, Achinsky Bays, Karakyr).