The Ramsar Convention encourages the designation of sites containing representative, rare or unique wetlands, or wetlands that are important for conserving biological diversity. Once designated, these sites are added to the Convention's List of Wetlands of International Importance and become known as Ramsar sites.

The Ginini Flats Wetlands in Namadgi National Park is the only Ramsar site in the ACT.

The Ginini Flats Wetland Complex is the largest intact Sphagnum bog and fen community in the Australian Alps. It was first listed as a Ramsar wetland of international importance in 1996. In designating a wetland as a Ramsar site, countries agree to establish and oversee a management framework aimed at conserving the wetland and ensuring its wise use.

Boundary supplied to Commonwealth for RAMSAR purposes. Original boundary updated in 2013 to reflect new extended boundary based on recent information, and transformed to GDA2020 MGA Zone 55 in 2024 (from GDA1994 MGA Zone 55)

Ginini Flats Ramsar site boundary description

The boundary lies 10 metres east of the eastern road edge of the Mount Franklin Road, starting at point A on the map (latitude 35° 32’ 01.69” south, longitude 148° 46’ 35.55” east).

From point A it follows the Mount Franklin road maintaining its position 10 metres from the eastern road edge in a north easterly, then north westerly direction (circumventing mount Ginini, which lies to the west) to the ACT border at point B (at the point nearest to latitude 35° 31’ 17.91” south, longitude 148° 46’ 04.85” east).

From point B the boundary diverts in a northerly direction along the boundary of the ACT, to the most north westerly point of the Ramsar site, still on the ACT border, point C (at the point nearest to latitude 35° 30’ 54.21” south, longitude 148° 46’ 0.99” east).

From that point the boundary diverts in an easterly direction from the ACT border and runs 10 metres inside the wetland ridgeline to point E (latitude 35° 31’ 03.277” south, longitude 148° 47’19.39” east), through point D (latitude 35° 30’ 57.66” south, longitude 148° 46’46.16 east). The boundary crosses Ginini Creek roughly halfway along the northern border, at point D.

From point E, the boundary heads in a winding but generally southerly direction, paralleling the ridgeline until reaching the most south eastern point of the Ramsar site, point H (latitude 35° 32’ 15.93” south, longitude 148° 47’ 13.90” east) and crossing to the southern tip of the boundary at point I (latitude 35° 32’ 17.88” south, longitude 148° 47’06.72” east). Near point I the boundary crosses an unnamed tributary of Stockyard Creek.

Between points E and F the ridgeline boundary changes from the Ginini Flats ridgeline to the Cheyenne Flats ridgeline (still part of the wetlands complex) near point G (latitude 35° 31’ 21.17” south, longitude 148° 47’ 42.78” east).

From points G to H the boundary continues in a southerly direction to Point H at the most south easterly point of the boundary.

From point I the boundary then heads in a north westerly direction to point J (latitude 35° 32’ 14.04” south, longitude 148° 46’ 45.59” east). At point I the boundary crosses an unnamed tributary of Stockyard Creek. From point J the boundary continues on in a straight line to meet the starting point 10 metres off the eastern road edge of the Mt Franklin road (latitude 35° 32’ 1.695” south, longitude 148° 46’ 35.55” east, point A), thus encompassing the southern end of Cheyenne Flats.

Geographic Coordinates are in degrees, minutes, seconds, referenced to the Geocentric Datum of Australia 1994 (GDA94).