• Preamble and overview
• 12 Action Themes
• Text on the First Action Plan / Texte du premier Plan d'action
• Project list

Preamble and overview

This Action Plan was the basis for the short-term implementation of the Strategy. It identifies the actions to be undertaken between 1996 and 2000. At the end of this period, there was a review leading to the initiation of a new Action Plan for a further five-year period. The Action Plan used the mechanisms laid down in the Strategy. The actions in the Plan were targeted towards the 20 year Strategic Aims and Objectives, and strove to incorporate the Strategic Principles in all relevant economic and social sectors.

In 1996, the Strategy Council and its Executive Bureau commenced implementation of the 12 Action Themes of the first Action Plan, and endorsed the organisations to lead each of these Action Themes. The terms of reference of these lead organisations was to co-ordinate and oversee the implementation of their specified Action Theme and its projects over the period of the Strategy work programme, and to report progress to the Strategy Council, including through its Bureau (formerly the Executive Bureau).

The first five year Action Plan specifically set out to remedy the deterioration in the state of the key biological and landscape systems, and to strengthen the coherence of these systems. Particular focus for this period was on integrating Pan-European priorities into national policy and initiatives based on the national biodiversity strategies, programmes and plans each government were set up to implement the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Action Plan stimulated the development of national ecological networks and the realisation of a Pan-European Ecological Network in 10 years. In addition, focus was on promoting sustainable use of the natural environment's economic resources in all regions of Europe. Maximum use was made of unique opportunities being offered by current social, political and economic developments in Europe on the national and international level.

Within the 1996-2000 period, the Action Plan consisted of 12 action themes: 4 addressing issues of Pan-European importance, 6 addressing priority landscapes and ecosystems, and 1 introducing action for threatened species. The prioritisation of these issues, landscapes, ecosystems and species for the 1996-2000 period was based on an analysis of Europe's Environment: The Dobrís Assessment report.

Action Themes

Action Themes in the first Action Plan, each of which was coordinated by one or more organizations.

The second Rolling Work Programme of the strategy was formally adopted in the 6th Council and a substantially revised version was adopted in the 7th Council in January 2003.