The Convention on Wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty adopted on 2 February 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar, on the southern shore of the Caspian Sea. The original emphasis of wetland conservation was the provision of habitats for waterbirds. However, over the years, the Convention has broadened its scope to cover all aspects of wetland conservation and wise use, recognizing wetlands as ecosystems that are extremely important for biodiversity conservation and for the well-being of human communities. The Depositary receives, reviews, and accepts the instruments of accession of each county member of the treaty, and provides the official text of the Convention in the six UN official languages. UNESCO serves as Depositary for the Convention, but the Ramsar Convention is not part of the United Nations or UNESCO system of environment conventions and agreements.