| Title |
Secretariat/focal point |
Aims |
| CONVENTIONS AND LEGAL
INSTRUMENTS |
| GLOBAL |
| Convention on Biological
Diversity |
UNEP |
The conservation of biological diversity,
the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing
of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. |
| Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Washington Convention) |
CITES Secretariat |
To regulate the trade in
endangered species of wild fauna and flora. |
| Convention concerning the Protection
of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (World Heritage Convention) |
UNESCO |
To protect cultural and
natural heritage of outstanding universal value through, among other
things, the listing of World Heritage Sites. |
| Convention on Wetlands of
International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar Convention) |
Ramsar Convention Bureau |
To ensure the conservation
of wetlands, especially those of international importance, by fostering
wise use, international cooperation and reserve creation (among other
means). |
| Convention on the Conservation
of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (Bonn Convention) |
Bonn Convention Secretariat |
To provide a framework for
the conservation of migratory species and their habitats by means
of, as appropriate, strict protection and the conclusion of international
agreements. |
| Agreement on the Conservation
of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (under Bonn Convention) |
Bonn Convention Secretariat |
The conservation of African-Eurasian
migratory waterbirds through coordinated measures to restore species
to a favourable conservation status or to maintain them in such a
status. |
| PAN-EUROPEAN |
| Convention on the Conservation
of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention) |
Council of Europe |
To maintain populations
of wild flora and fauna with particular emphasis on endangered and
vulnerable species. |
| European Cultural Convention |
Council of Europe |
Cultural heritage convention
for Europe. |
| European Convention on Architectural
Heritage |
Council of Europe |
To provide governments with
the basis to safeguard Europe's architecture and landscapes. |
| European Convention on Archaeological
Heritage |
Council of Europe |
To provide governments with
the basis to safeguard Europe's archaeology and landscapes. |
| Draft European Landscape
Charter |
Council of Europe |
Draft charter to ensure
the effective conservation of European landscapes. |
| REGIONAL |
| Directive and Resolution
of the Council of the European Community on the Conservation of Wild
Birds (Wild Birds Directive) |
European Commission DG XI |
To protect wild birds and
their habitats, such as through the designation of Special Protection
Areas (SPAs). |
| Directive on the Conservation
of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora (Habitats Directive) |
European Commission DG XI |
To conserve fauna, flora
and natural and semi-natural habitats of importance in the EU, including
through the designation of the Natura 2000 network of Special Areas
for Conservation (SACs). |
| Agri-Environment Regulation
(2078/92/EEC) |
European Commission DG VI |
Provides for Set Aside and
ESAs. |
| Helsinki Convention (1974,
1992) |
Helsinki Convention Secretariat |
To protect the Baltic marine
environment against all forms of pollution. |
| Alpine Convention (1991) |
Commission Internationale
pour la Protection des Alpes (CIPRA) |
To conserve and manage the
Alpine region in a sustainable way. |
| Baltic Sea Joint Comprehensive
Environmental Action Programme (under Helsinki Convention) |
Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) |
To improve the quality of
the Baltic Environment, such as by the designation of marine and coastal
protected areas. |
| Bucharest Convention on
the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution, 1992 |
UNEP/UNDP |
To protect the Black Sea
against pollution. |
| Convention for the Protection
of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic |
Oslo-Paris Commission |
To prevent pollution of
the North-East Atlantic. |
| Convention for the Protection
of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution (Barcelona Convention) |
UNEP |
To protect the Mediterranean
Sea against pollution. |
| Mediterranean Action Plan
(under Barcelona Convention) |
UNEP |
To improve the quality of
the Mediterranean environment implementing the Barcelona Convention,
1976, including through a protocol on Specially Protected Areas. |
| MedSPA (under Barcelona
convention) |
UNEP |
To provide special protection
for endangered Mediterranean species and habitats vital for their
conservation. |
| INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMMES |
| GLOBAL |
| World Conservation Strategy
and the subsequent Strategy for Sustainable Living (Caring for the
Earth) |
IUCN/UNEP/WWF |
To provide a strategic conservation
framework and practical guidance to all nations to (1) maintain essential
ecological processes and life support systems; (2) preserve genetic
diversity; and (3) ensure the sustainable utilization of species and
ecosystems. |
| Agenda 21 |
UNCED |
Outline priorities and guidelines
towards sustainable development to be implemented at the national
level. |
| Man and Biosphere Programme |
UNESCO |
To develop within the natural
and social sciences a basis for the rational use and conservation
of the resources of the biosphere, through such measures as the creation
of a worldwide network of Biosphere Reserves. |
| PAN-EUROPEAN |
| European Conservation Strategy |
Council of Europe |
To provide governments with
the basis for developing policies to safeguard and manage natural
resources. |
| European Ecological Network
(EECONET) |
|
To develop a Europe-wide
ecological network for the conservation of nature. |
| Environment Programme for
Europe |
UNECE, EU, UNEP, IUCN |
To prepare the intergovernmental
environmental programme for Europe, following Dobrís and Lucerne. |
| European Nature Conservation
Year (ENCY) 1995 |
Council of Europe |
To develop a public awareness
campaign in 1995 on "conservation outside protected areas". |
| European Network of Biogenetic
Reserves |
Council of Europe |
To conserve representative
examples of Europe's habitats, biocenoses and ecosystems through a
network of biogenetic reserves. |
| IUCN Parks for Life: Action
for Protected Areas in Europe |
IUCN |
To ensure an adequate, effective
and well managed network of protected areas in Europe. |
| REGIONAL |
| Fifth Environmental Action
Programme (1992) |
European Commission DG XI |
The EU's programme of policy
and action on environment and sustainable development. |
| CORINE Information System |
European Environment Agency |
EU system to develop a database
on European environment, including for nature conservation. |
| Environmental Action Programme
for Central and Eastern Europe (1993-1995) |
Task Force established by
Ministers with EU, OECD, World Bank, and EBRD |
Endorsed by the Ministerial
Conference Lucerne 1993 to promote environmental protection measures
in central and eastern Europe. |
| Ecological Bricks for our
Common House of Europe Initiative |
c/o European Ecological
Movement, Global Challenges Network |
To promote the establishment
of 18 transboundary protected areas. |
| Green Lungs of Europe (1993) |
Institute of Sustainable
Development |
Based on Poland's experience,
to create sustainable development zones in Belarus, Estonia, Latvia,
Lithuania, Poland, Russia and Ukraine. |
| Environment Programme for
the Danube River Basin |
Task Force for the Programme |
To conserve the Danube River
Basin. |
| Black Sea Action Plan |
UNEP, UNDP, World Bank |
Environmental protection
programme for the Black Sea region. |
| Ministerial Conference on
the North Sea |
Danish Ministry of the Environment |
To protect the North Sea
ecosystem. |
| MEDPAN |
European Investment Bank/World
Bank |
To strengthen links between
managers of protected areas. |
| MedWet |
European Commission DG XI |
To conserve Mediterranean
wetlands. |
| Mediterranean Technical
Assistance Programme (METAP) |
World Bank/European Investment
Bank |
2nd Phase of European Programme
for the Mediterranean, to reverse present environmental degradation. |
| Nicosia Charter (1990) |
European Commission |
To provide closer cooperation
on sustainable development in the Euro-Mediterranean region, including
nature conservation.
|
| Arctic Initiative |
Working group on the Conservation
of Arctic Flora and Fauna |
To prepare a common Arctic
Environmental Protection Strategy. |
| Nordic Arctic Conference |
c/o Nordic Council of Ministers |
Environmental protection
of the Arctic region. |
| Danube River Basin Global
Environment Facility (GEF) Programme (1991) |
World Bank |
Environmental protection
for the Danube River. |
| Danube Delta Biodiversity
GEF Project |
World Bank |
To protect the Danube Delta
ecosystems. |
| Agreement on the Protection
of the Rhine against Chemical Pollution |
International Commission
for the Protection of the Rhine (ICPRP) |
To protect the Rhine from
chemical pollution. |
| Ministerial Declaration
on the Sixth Trilateral Governmental Conference on the Protection
of the Wadden Sea |
The Common Wadden Sea Secretariat |
To coordinate the conservation
of the Wadden Sea. |
