Aquatic ecosystems form a fundamental part of the Earth’s biosphere, providing critical services such as water purification, biodiversity support, nutrient cycling, and livelihood opportunities for millions of people. However, these ecosystems are under severe threat from overexploitation, pollution, climate change, and unsustainable development. Recognizing the global importance of aquatic ecosystems, international initiatives have been designed to conserve and manage these fragile systems. Two of the most significant international efforts in this regard are the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Both initiatives aim to safeguard aquatic ecosystems, though their approaches, frameworks, and scope differ in several aspects. Examining these two initiatives highlights how international cooperation has shaped aquatic ecosystem governance and where challenges remain in ensuring effective conservation outcomes. The Ramsar Convention, signed in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, is the first and the only international treaty focused specifically on wetlands, which include lakes, rivers, swamps, marshes, peatlands, mangroves, and even coral reefs. Its primary objective is to halt the worldwide loss of wetlands and to ensure their conservation and wise use. The convention is based on three central pillars: designating wetlands of international importance, ensuring their effective management, and promoting international cooperation in managing shared wetland systems. Countries that become signatories commit to identifying at least one site of international significance to be included in the Ramsar List. These sites are then expected to be managed under principles of sustainable use and conservation. One of the greatest strengths of the Ramsar Convention lies in its ability to raise the global profile of wetlands. By 2025, the convention has over 170 contracting parties and has designated more than 2,500 Ramsar sites covering over 250 million hectares. Such a vast network of protected areas demonstrates the global recognition of wetlands as biodiversity hotspots and critical providers of ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration, groundwater recharge, and habitat