Resolution No. 1287 of the Cabinet of Ministers validating the Regulation on the procedure for granting wetlands the status of wetlands of international significance.

This Regulation establishes the procedure for granting wetlands the status of wetlands of international significance in accordance with the criteria of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, mainly as waterfowl habitat. The status of wetlands of international significance can be granted to valuable natural complexes of swamps, floodplains and forests, as well as waterbodies - natural or artificially created, permanent or temporary, standing or flowing, fresh, brackish or salty, including marine water areas located within the territories and objects of the nature reserve fund, lands of the water and forest fund of Ukraine. The status of wetlands of international importance can be granted: (a) for typicality, rarity or uniqueness - natural or semi-natural (artificial) types of wetlands of the biogeographical region; (b) for species of plants and animals that are under threat of extinction worldwide: habitats of vulnerable species, endangered species and ecological groups; particularly valuable as an environment for maintaining biological diversity of the region; particularly valuable as a habitat for plant and animal species at critical stages of their life cycle; (c) according to the regular presence of wetland birds: places of regular stay of more than 20,000 specimen of wetland birds; places of regular stay of at least 1 percent of the biogeographic population of one species or subspecies of waterfowl; and (d) according to the state of the ichthyofauna: particularly valuable as an environment for maintaining a certain ratio of fish species, their age structure, which generally determines the value of wetlands, their biological diversity; important spawning, grazing or wintering grounds of local fish species, which are crucial for maintaining their populations.