Ramsar Contracting Parties, or member states, will gather to assess the progress of the Convention and the sustainable use of wetlands to date, share knowledge and experience on technical issues, and plan their own and the Secretariat’s work for the next triennium. The slogan for the conference is “Wetlands: home and destination”, following the Standing Committee's decision to focus the COP on wetlands, tourism and recreation. The 11th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention (Ramsar COP11) will be held in Bucharest, Romania at the Palace of Parliament, Romania, from 6 – 13 July 2012, with the 44th meeting of Standing Committee planned for 4 July 2012, and an additional day of regional meetings on 5 – 6 July, as requested by many Contracting Parties.