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the Clearing-House for the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy
European regional action

Regional action within Europe relating to the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy is presently focused through three governmental processes:

  1. that under the Convention on Biological Diversity;
  2. that under PEBLDS as part of the "Environment for Europe" ministerial process; and
  3. that under the European Union.

Recognition of the value of the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy was addressed by the first and the second Intergovermental Conference "Biodiversity in Europe", resp. in Latvia and Budapest.

In addition, reporting on the state of biodiversity and the state of the environment in Europe is prepared by the European Environment Agency for the "Environment for Europe" ministerial conferences, as the report "Europe's Environment: the Dobris Assessment", which formed the basis for the justification for priority actions under the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy, now succeeded by the Second Assessment.

Central and Eastern European Region

Main focus by the countries of the region Central Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia has taken two paths which are closely linked. Within the CEE region the formal focal points for national Government European parties in the Convention on Biological Diversity have repeatedly stressed the importance of the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy for their region. They regard the Pan European Strategy as the regional response to the Convention on Biological Diversity, and re-inforced this statement at the COPIV in Bratislava in May 1998 in document UNEP/CBD/CEE/3/2. In addition, under the "Environment for Europe" Ministerial process an Environmental Strategy for Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia has been prepared.

1. Convention on Biological Diversity in the CEE

CBD CEE Regional Meeting for the Baltic Countries (Tallinn, 1994). The UNEP Workshop on the practical implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity in the Baltic Countries (Tallinn, October 16-18, 1994). CBD CEE Regional Meeting (Lessidren, 1994). The Lessidren Statement recommendations of 27 June 1995 stated under point 8 on regional co-operation amongst others: Establishing in the spirit of global partnership, the co-operative relations with other European countries for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, including joint action for the identification and conservation of key ecosystems, habitats and species of natural and cultural importance, and of economic value, and develop appropriate incentives, sub-regional strategy and action plans for their conservation; and also support the adoption of the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy to be presented at the Ministerial Conference 'Environment for Europe' at Sofia (Bulgaria) in October 1995. CBD CEE Regional Meeting for the Baltic States (Hiiumaa, 1994). Workshop on status and implementation of the CITES and the Convention on Biological Diversity in the Baltic States (Hiiumaa, 26-29 June 1996). CBD CEE Regional Meeting (Bratislava, 1996). Regional Meeting on the Convention on Biological Diversity in Central and Eastern European Countries: Implementation of the Convention and preparation for the Third Meeting of the Conference of the Parties Bratislava, Slovakia (30 September - 2 October 1996). The Bratislava Statement reaffirms full commitment to the Pan-European Strategy on Biological and Landscape Diversity as a co-ordinating framework for implementing the Convention at regional level. Agreed to recommend the following to COP-3 Point 9. UNEP and the Council of Europe should be invited to prepare a report on the implementation of the Pan-European Strategy on Biological and Landscape Diversity, for consideration at COP-4. The donor community should further support the implementation of the CBD and the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy. CBD CEE Regional Meeting (Almaty, 1998). The Almaty conclusions and recommendations in document UNEP/CBD/COP/4/Inf.4 state under: Point 9: Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy Emphasised the great importance of the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy for the CEE region for implementing the objectives of the Convention and recommended:
  1. that the 4th meeting of COP recognise the Strategy as an important tool for regional implementation of the CBD, together with other existing regional strategic initiatives;
  2. that parties who participate in the "Environment for Europe" Ministerial Conference (Aarhus, June 1998) pay greater attention to, and increase their active involvement in, the Pan-European Strategy, thereby further recognising its value for the implementation of the Convention in Europe.

2. Environmental Action Programme in the CEE and biodiversity

Prior to the 1995 pan-European "Environment for Europe" Ministerial Conference in Sofia, Bulgaria, high level officials from Central and Eastern Europe set up the Sofia Initiatives. By intensifying the sharing of positive experiences, the Sofia Initiatives are intended to broaden and deepen successful initiatives in the region. The four areas of work identified under the Sofia Initiatives reflect a general consensus among CEE countries and are recommended as priorities for both east-east and east-west co-operation. Biodiversity was regarded as a priority in the CEE and as one of the four Sofia initiatives.The main goal to set up for the Biodiversity Initiative was to link together the Environmental Action Plan for the CEE countries (EAP) which was adopted at the Lucerne Conference in 1993 and the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy which was adopted at the Sofia Conference in 1995. Main focus is towards the Central European Countries of the CEE region.The project is planned in a modular structure, including the following main objectives:
  1. Promote the development of a common CEE Biodiversity Policy;
  2. Promote the development of a "Showcase Project Network";
  3. Establish the Secretariat for Biodiversity Initiatives;
  4. Develop an electronic information network on biodiversity issues.

Progress to date is to be found in the REC website.

 

European Union

The European Union has ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity was signed by the European Community at UNCED in 1992 and ratified on 21 December 1993. The 15 member states of the European Community are also contracting parties to the CBD and all endorsed the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy at the 'Environment for Europe' Ministerial Conference at Sofia, Bulgaria (1995). Ilona Graenitz, MEP, in a report to the European Parliament stated 'the Strategy is an original piece of work in that it is essentially devoted to the coordinated implementation of existing international agreements and strategies; as such it could create a useful framework for action'. (GLOBE 1996) On 4th February 1998, the European Commission adopted a Communication on a European Community Biodiversity Strategy. This strategy aims to anticipate, prevent and attack the causes of significant reduction or loss of biodiversity at the source. This helps both to reverse present trends in biodiversity reduction or losses and to place species and ecosystems, including agro-ecosystems, at a satisfactory conservation status, both within and beyond the territory of the European Union (EU). The Communication was presented as 'a model case for integration of environmental policies into key policy areas'. Point 14 of the EU Biodiversity Strategy specifically supports the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy and states: 'The Community Biodiversity Strategy is an element of the 5th Environmental Action Programme "Towards Sustainability" and must be viewed also in the context of the obligations to integrate environmental concerns into other sectoral policies, in accordance with article 130R (2) of the Treaty. It is in line with the strengthened commitments to sustainable development contained in the Amsterdam Treaty, which establishes that "environmental protection requirements must be integrated into the definition and implementation of Community policies and activities in particular with a view to promoting sustainable development". The strategy also takes into account a number of Council conclusions and the relevant objectives from the Pan-European Landscape and Biological Diversity Strategy.'

After the publishing of the Biodiversity Strategy the European Commission published now the Action Plans on Biodiversity:

Biodiversity Action Plan - Introduction
Biodiversity Action Plan for the Conservation of Natural Resources
Biodiversity Action Plan for Agriculture
Biodiversity Action Plan for Fisheries
Biodiversity Action Plan for Development and Economic Co-operation

For more information visit the following web page: http://biodiversity-chm.eea.eu.int/convention/cbd_ec/strategy/BAP_html

In May 2000 the European Commission launched the European Community Clearing-House Mechanism in support of the CBD/CHM.

For further information about European Union activities in support of the Strategy see the EC national report .


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Last modification: 19 July 2003