This Strategy presents an innovative and proactive approach to stop and reverse the degradation of biological and landscape diversity values in Europe. Innovative, because it addresses all biological and landscape initiatives under one European approach. Proactive, because it promotes the integration of biological and landscape diversity considerations into social and economic sectors.

The Strategy reinforces the implementation of existing measures and identifies additional actions that need to be taken over the next two decades. The Strategy also provides a framework to promote a consistent approach and common objectives for national and regional action to implement the Convention on Biological Diversity.

CHAPTER 1 OVERVIEW

1.1 Introduction

Europe's biological and landscape diversity is one of our greatest riches. It is a heritage passed down to us over thousands of years and linked to other natural systems worldwide. We have a shared responsibility to pass this heritage on to future generations as a diverse and sustainable system. Europe's natural diversity is in decline, however, the decline is rapid and continuing. Across the continent, valuable and characteristic habitats are suffering serious damage; this has led to decline in the diversity, number and range of a wide variety of species, habitats and landscapes.

Traditional man-made landscapes, as well as natural and semi-natural habitats of European importance such as coastal zones, marine areas, wetlands, forests, mountain areas and grasslands, are under threat; so are many wild plant and animal species. The most obvious issues are changes in land use, and reduction in area of natural and semi-natural habitats, with their resulting fragmentation.

1.2 Justification

Many important initiatives have already been taken to conserve Europe's natural heritage, but - in spite of efforts by government bodies, non-governmental organizations and individuals - the biological and landscape diversity of Europe continues to decline at a rapid rate. An analysis of gaps in existing nature conservation initiatives and mechanisms indicates that they will be better used when:

• a coherent framework is set up to mobilize all existing initiatives towards the one goal of conserving biological and landscape diversity throughout Europe;



• key factors contributing to the deterioration of biological diversity and landscape diversity are recognized, addressed or influenced.

Full analyses of existing mechanisms are listed in Annexes 1a -1b-1c.

Recent political and social developments in Europe offer a number of unique opportunities to act in favour of the conservation of biological and landscape diversity. Throughout the continent agricultural practice is changing; former military, industrial and agricultural land is becoming available and has a potential for nature conservation; international cooperation is increasing in all areas, and there is growing public awareness and concern for biological and landscape diversity issues.

To conclude, it is recognized in the European context that:

• conserving Europe's natural heritage is a basic necessity for securing sustainable development in Europe;



• conserving Europe's natural heritage is a shared responsibility of all European countries and regions and a task which can only be successfully undertaken in a Pan-European context;



• Pan-European cooperation would strengthen the effectiveness of national action under the Convention on Biological Diversity;



• the issue of landscape diversity is as yet not adequately integrated into mechanisms aimed at protecting and enhancing the natural environment;



• public attitude, awareness and understanding of conservation issues is a very effective safeguard for maintaining biological and landscape diversity;



• far-reaching political and economical changes over the past decade require new answers to new challenges in land use and use of natural resources;



• sustainable management of the natural environment as an economic resource is a prerequisite for continued economic and social development and prosperity in Europe;



• the threats to biological and landscape diversity require urgent action that both integrates and builds on existing national and international activity;



• the decline in Europe's natural environment has been caused by economic and social action, and thus the integration of conservation considerations into socio-economic policy is a prerequisite for restoring and maintaining biological and landscape diversity;



• by facilitating local initiatives towards sustainable development, involving all land users, a new balance may be achieved in rural areas between social and economic dynamics and ecological stability.

These considerations have led the Council of Europe, in cooperation with other national and international organizations, both governmental and non-governmental, to take the initiative to develop the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy.

1.3 The Strategy

The Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy is a European response to support implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Strategy was proposed in the Maastricht Declaration Conserving Europe's Natural Heritage (1993), and builds on the Bern Convention, the European Conservation Strategy (1990), the Dobrís and Lucerne Ministerial Conferences (1991, 1993), UNCED (1992), and other existing initiatives and programmes. The Strategy aims to strengthen the application of the Bern Convention in relation to the Convention on Biological Diversity, following the Monaco Declaration.

The Strategy introduces a coordinating and unifying framework for strengthening and building on existing initiatives. It does not aim to introduce new legislation or programmes, but to fill gaps where initiatives are not implemented to their full potential or fail to achieve desired objectives. Furthermore, the Strategy seeks to more effectively integrate ecological considerations into all relevant socio-economic sectors, and will increase public participation in, and awareness and acceptance of, conservation interests.

1.4 Vision for the future of Pan-European biological and landscape diversity

The Strategy's vision for the future is to achieve conservation and sustainable use of biological and landscape diversity for the whole continent of Europe and all its regions within 20 years, and will seek to ensure that:

• the threats to Europe's biological and landscape diversity are reduced substantially, or where possible removed;



• the resilience of European biological and landscape diversity is increased;



• the ecological coherence of Europe as a whole is strengthened;



• public involvement and awareness concerning biological and landscape diversity issues is increased considerably.

These aims should be achieved within 20 years. To achieve them, the Strategy seeks to ensure that:

• full use is made of existing legal, administrative and socio-economical mechanisms at the international, national, regional and local level;



• action is taken at the appropriate level, whether Pan-European, regional, national or local;



• management practices enhance and strengthen the resilience of biological and landscape diversity;



• adequate scientific, technical and financial resources are made available;



• appropriate arrangements are made for monitoring the implementation of the Strategy;



• the emphasis is on measures and activities with broad applications or results.

Because of the urgent need to deal with certain pressing problems, the Strategy should be implemented through a series of five year Action Plans. The Action Plans address the issues that are considered most pressing and important. They make optimal use of opportunities as they occur over the next 20 years by prioritising the themes that need to be addressed at the European level and the ecosystems, landscapes, species and regions that require priority attention.

CHAPTER 2 STRATEGY 1996-2016

2.1 Purpose of the Strategy

The Strategy encourages a more concerted and therefore more efficient use of existing policy, initiatives, mechanisms, funds, scientific research and information to maintain and enhance European biological and landscape diversity.

The main challenge to be addressed by the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy is to encourage conservation and sustainable use of the natural environment.

Exploitation of the natural environment is the major cause of deterioration of biological and landscape diversity. The economic potential of the environment will continue to be used in the future and conservation efforts will only be successful if socio-economic factors are taken into account.

Based on the findings of Europe's Environment: The Dobrís Assessment, the Strategy addresses the strengths and weaknesses of existing initiatives, and promotes practical action where there is a lack of suitable instruments, or where existing mechanisms are not implemented to their maximum potential.

2.2 Pan-European aims and objectives

The Strategy's vision for the future is to achieve conservation and sustainable use of biological and landscape diversity for the whole continent of Europe and its territories within 20 years, and specifically to seek to ensure the following aims:

1. Threats to Europe's biological and landscape diversity are reduced substantially, and, where possible, removed.



2. Resilience of European biological and landscape diversity is increased.



3. Ecological coherence of Europe as a whole is strengthened.



4. Full public involvement in conservation of biological and landscape diversity is assured.

The Strategy sets out to achieve the following objectives over this period:

1. Conservation, enhancement and restoration of key ecosystems, habitats, species and features of the landscape through the creation and effective management of the Pan-European Ecological Network.



2. Sustainable management and use of the positive potential of Europe's biological and landscape diversity through making optimum use of the social and economic opportunities on a local, national and regional level.



3. Integration of biological and landscape diversity conservation and sustainable use objectives into all sectors managing or affecting such diversity.



4. Improved information on, and awareness of, biological and landscape diversity issues, and increased public participation in actions to conserve and enhance such diversity.



5. Improved understanding of the state of Europe's biological and landscape diversity and the processes that render them sustainable.



6. Assurance of adequate financial means to implement the Strategy.

2.3 Priorities for action

Actions to implement the Strategy could take place throughout all nations of Europe, with Pan-European action aiming to cover as many of the cultural and political regions as possible. It is anticipated that full account will be taken of cultural diversity, regional identity and regional economy in implementing the Strategy, and that optimal use will be made of opportunities offered by regional and cultural variation to maintain and enhance biological and landscape diversity.

The Europe's Environment: The Dobrís Assessment report identifies seven geographical regions in Europe: Boreal, Baltic, Central, Atlantic, East, Alpine and Mediterranean, these are mainly based on biogeographic factors such as climate, soil and vegetation. In implementation of the Strategy, action could take place throughout all these regions, but particular attention will be paid to ecosystems, land/seascapes and species that are of Pan-European importance. These are identified as:

• ecosystems: coastal and marine ecosystems, rivers, inland wetlands, grasslands, forests, and mountains.



• land/seascapes: tundra, taiga, uplands, bocages, open fields, steppe and arid landscapes, and cultural heritage landscapes.



• species: flagship species, and species and populations threatened and at risk of extinction throughout Europe or its regions.

Within the consecutive five year Action Plans, specific ecosystems, landscapes and species will be prioritized, to address urgent threats, or to make full use of opportunities that occur.

The Convention on Biological Diversity (Articles 6b, 7c, 10a and b, and 14) and the European Union's Fifth Environment Action Programme identify the key sectors impacting on the natural environment as being agriculture, forestry, fisheries, energy, industry, transport and tourism. Action to implement the Strategy should focus on these sectors, and in addition also on structural and regional policy, water management, defence, and rural and urban planning.

In the next 20 years, the Strategy seeks to strengthen biological and landscape diversity considerations in all social and economic sectors by striving to:

Agriculture: Recognize the vital role of agriculture for the management of landscapes and semi-natural habitats as well as for maintenance of biological diversity and support this role in decision-making processes; stimulate wise management of agricultural land, including organic farming methods; reduce the use of fertilizers and pesticides as much as possible.

Defence: Integrate biological and landscape diversity objectives into defence policy, to avoid areas of high natural value as much as possible and prevent or mitigate negative impacts of military activities on landscapes, in order to promote sound forms of land use.

Energy and Industry: Integrate ecological considerations into general policies in this field and into the choice of localities for industrial activities, to make industrial and energy policies, including the abatement of emissions of hazardous substances, where possible, supportive of biological and landscape diversity policy.

Forestry: Better integrate the strategic principles into forest management, and thus further enhance indigenous tree species, set aside forest areas to develop naturally, harmonize afforestation policies with nature conservation and landscape policies, and allow the wise use of fertilizers and pesticides where appropriate.

Hunting and Fisheries: Integrate biological and land/seascape diversity objectives into hunting and fishery policies in such a way that these activities and nature conservation can coexist, taking into account the sustainability of the resources, the minimization of by-catches as regards fisheries and the adverse impacts of fisheries and hunting on benthic, pelagic and other wildlife communities.

Structural and Regional Policies: Make policies for the conservation of biological and landscape diversity mutually supportive with structural and regional policies, especially in the field of rural economy and extensive agriculture, thus changing the mainstream of fund-assisted development to sustainable development.

Tourism and Recreation: Integrate nature and landscape conservation objectives into tourism and recreation policies and stimulate their ecological sustainability, in order to improve the economic basis of ecologically sound forms of land use and prevent significant damage to biological and landscape diversity.

Transportation: Integrate biological and landscape diversity considerations into transport policies and infrastructure development, avoiding areas of high value as much as possible; prevent or mitigate the negative impacts of infrastructure works and transportation activities on landscapes and ecosystems.

Urban and Rural Planning: Integrate different interests bearing on the planning of rural areas and urban planning in such a way that natural and landscape values are safeguarded, especially in areas with high biological and landscape diversity value and in the wider countryside.

Water Management: Integrate objectives for conservation of biological and landscape diversity objectives into all aspects of water management, including reducing discharges and run-off of polluting substances.

2.4 Strategic principles

The Strategy is based on the application of the following principles through all sectors using or having an influence on natural resources, to achieve the conservation and sustainable use of biological and landscape diversity:

1. The Principle of Careful Decision Making: decisions relating to the Strategy are made on the basis of the best available information, and as far as possible and appropriate, adopt economically and socially sound measures that act as incentives for the conservation and sustainable use of biological and landscape diversity.



2. The Principle of Avoidance: introduction of appropriate procedures requiring environmental impact assessment of projects that are likely to have significant adverse effects on biological and landscape diversity, with a view to avoiding such effects and, where appropriate, allow for public participation in such procedures. This would include projects concerning introduction into the natural environment of exotic species, or of the release of genetically modified organisms.



3. The Precautionary Principle: action to introduce appropriate procedures to avoid or minimize potentially adverse impact of activities on biological and landscape diversity, ought not be postponed if the causal link between those activities and the impact has not yet been fully confirmed.



4. The Principle of Translocation: those activities that are exceptionally harmful to biological and landscape diversity, and cannot be avoided, will, where possible or practicable, be relocated to areas where they will cause less impact.



5. The Principle of Ecological Compensation: the harmful effects of physical changes in areas with high biological and landscape diversity value which cannot be avoided, must be balanced by compensatory conservation measures by the user.



6. The Principle of Ecological Integrity: the ecological processes responsible for the survival of species should be protected and the habitats on which their survival depends maintained.



7. The Principle of Restoration and (Re)Creation: where possible biological and landscape diversity should be restored and/or (re)created if it can be demonstrated by reference studies that the original state could be re-established where practicable, and thereby adopting measures for the recovery and rehabilitation of threatened species and for their reintroduction into their habitat under appropriate conditions.



8. The Principles of Best Available Technology and Best Environmental Practice: as defined by the Paris Commission regarding activities that affect biological and landscape diversity. Both access to and transfer of technology are essential elements for the attainment of the Strategy, and where possible to provide and/or facilitate access for, and transfer to others of, technologies that are relevant to the conservation and sustainable use of biological and landscape diversity.



9. The Polluter Pays Principle: costs of measures to prevent, control and reduce damage to biological and landscape diversity shall be borne by the responsible party, as far as possible and as appropriate.



10. The Principles of Public Participation and Public Access to Information: creating sufficient and active public support for measures regarding biological and landscape diversity by involving public and private landowners, the scientific community, and other individuals and civic groups using land and sea resources in decision-making processes, through media, and the inclusion of these topics in education programmes.

2.5 Strategic and operational framework

The legal basis for implementing action under the Strategy is found in existing and widely accepted international agreements and treaties such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Convention on Desertification, the Convention on Climate Change, the Bern Convention (which in the Monaco Declaration was indicated as the main instrument for implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity in Europe), the Bonn and Ramsar Conventions, and the EU Habitats and Birds Directives.

The Strategy will seek to achieve its aims by:

• facilitating and supporting the exchange of experience on, and creation or further development of, National Biodiversity Strategies, Action Plans and Programmes as stipulated by the Convention on Biological Diversity, and promoting a consistent approach and common objectives in all countries of Europe;



• using all other existing international and national legislation and policy, such as the EU Natura 2000 Programme, sectorial policy including agricultural, fisheries, transport, regional development and social policies, and implementing fully the EU Fifth Environmental Action Programme;



• facilitating, supporting and promoting the implementation of the existing international agreements and treaties.

The Strategy will also use a range of other mechanisms, in order to change how society thinks and works in relationship to biological and landscape diversity:

• international and national market and trade policy, which affects the sectors using the natural environment as a resource, including price support;



• multilateral or bilateral funds, used either directly for nature conservation, or for measures in other social and economic sectors interacting with the natural environment;



• fiscal policy, which can either stimulate or discourage the use of energy and natural resources;



• financial policy, which can promote sustainable economic benefits in different sectors;



• initiatives and programmes, aiming to preserve and strengthen regional cultural identity and traditions;



• public awareness/participation, such as education, training and public awareness campaigns, appropriate use of the mass media, and public-private-partnership in land ownership and land management.

The Pan-European Ecological Network will be the operational framework within which many of the strategic and priority actions will be taken. It is both a physical network through which ecosystems, habitats, species, landscapes and other natural features of European importance are conserved, and a coordinating mechanism through which the partners in the Strategy can develop and implement cooperative actions. It will build on a variety of existing initiatives, including Natura 2000, the European network of Biogenetic Reserves, the EECONET concept, the Bern Convention, the Bonn Convention, and the many national and regional ecological networks already under development.

2.6 Actors to be mobilized

Main actors who will be involved in the implementation of the Strategy will include:

• national authorities (local, regional and national governmental authorities);



• bilateral donors;



• international organizations and financial institutions;



• organizations and associations active in the economic sectors, and private enterprise;



• research community (research institutes, universities, researchers and scientists);



• information dissemination organizations (including museums, zoos and botanic gardens and other ex-situ gene depositors), as well as the educational systems at every level;



• private and public landowners;



• non-governmental organizations (including nature conservation and environmental protection bodies at the local, national and international level);



• public (grassroot and citizen groups, consumer organizations, churches and religious groups/orders, recreational and sports associations);



• indigenous and native peoples of the regions of Europe.

2.7 Structure for Action Plans

The Strategy is intended to operate within a 20-year period, setting a broad and consistent framework for achieving the Strategic aims and objectives and giving guiding principles for action. Actions are to be implemented by dividing the Strategy into five year Action Plans which stimulate conservation and sustainable use activities and ensure concerted and integrated action by international and national actors.

The Action Plans are to provide a framework which contributes to a common European response to the Convention on Biological Diversity and in particular the National Biodiversity Strategies.

The Action Plans identify the fundamental actions towards the realization of each set of five year goals. These actions can be fully elaborated into projects which can be undertaken by international agencies, government authorities, economic sectors or NGOs as separate, individual or stand-alone activities, either because they fall within the National Biodiversity Strategies, within their own existing work programmes or actions can be initiated in direct response to the Strategy Action Plan. By thus linking in to existing initiatives and work programmes, a coherent spectrum of projects is executed, fitting within the framework of the Strategy.

Projects developed within the framework of the Action Plans will be innovative, proactive, cross-sectorial, achievable within a five year time frame and acceptable to/involving the public. Project outlines will incorporate concrete activities, time frame, funding mechanisms, costs and actors, and instruments including incentives. The opportunity should be taken to examine existing sources of funding with a view to supporting the implementation of the Action Plans.

Prioritization into Action Plans will be based on the following criteria:

1. Need to address urgent issues.



2. Possibility to take advantage of unique opportunities.



3. Potential to ensure concrete action and produce results within a set time frame.



4. Need to undertake activities in a structured and coordinated sequence.

CHAPTER 3 ACTION PLAN ON BIOLOGICAL AND LANDSCAPE DIVERSITY

3.1 Introduction

The first Action Plan was recently revised and resulted in the Rolling Work Programme, which is listed below.

The following modifications where made:

• Retained the Aims of the PEBLDS as the overarching strategic goals for the European region and combined the objectives of the PEBLDS with the objectives of the CBD Strategic Plan (in the European context) and, in that way focused the work programme and eliminated any overlaps or duplication.
• Dropped the existing programme element and sub-element headings as it was possible to fit all activities under the new integrated goals and objectives.
• Noted when an activity contributed to the implementation of a thematic or cross-cutting programme of the CBD, but grouped activities according to their objective rather than the CBD programme under which they may fit.

Please click here to view the full text of the Rolling Work Programme.

CHAPTER 4 REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT OF THE STRATEGY

The successful implementation of the Strategy depends on regular review of progress and will be the occasion for dialogue between the actors involved in the Strategy. The review procedure is divided into four parts. It would be coordinated by the Council of Europe which will report progress to the Environment for Europe ministerial conferences, and under its auspices a Pan-European Task Force on Biological and Landscape Diversity should be established in 1996.

The Task Force will seek representation from countries party to the Council of Europe, other European countries, international organizations including the European Union, United Nations bodies such as UNDP, UNECE, UNEP, UNESCO and FAO, the World Bank, donors and international NGOs.

4.1 Monitoring of the extent to which targets are being met

The Action Plans transform the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy into tangible results with targets of both a quantitative and qualitative character. Both types of targets need to be measured against pre-agreed indicators, and this periodic measurement is the substance of the monitoring process. The governmental parties adhering to the Strategy and the private or public actors responsible for its implementation should adopt a consistent approach for monitoring actual achievement. To the extent possible, use should be made of existing indicators and monitoring programmes. The actors should therefore ensure that projects contain monitoring programmes which identify: specific parameters to be monitored; methods and time scales; and output specifications.

Through the Task Force, the parties and actors would be responsible for ensuring proper communication and consultation within their respective areas of responsibility for particular actions engaged in under the Strategy.

4.2 Reporting

The review process could be institutionally localized in the Council of Europe, with regular assemblies of the governmental parties adhering to the Strategy, where other actors could assure the operational coordination in association with relevant Convention and Directive Secretariats and Committees, focusing on the Convention on Biological Diversity, Bern Convention and Habitats Directive. With regular meetings of the Council of Ministers, and existing Council of Europe Directorates, the parties adhering to the Strategy and the actors undertaking specific actions could have the opportunity to report on progress.

4.3 Updating of actions

The review process should be the occasion to examine progress or difficulties, review and amend the Strategy Action Plans, and to initiate new actions. Regular meetings of the Committees of Ministers, governmental parties adhering to the Strategy and the private or public actors would facilitate the updating of Action Plans.

Although the principle of updating allows flexibility in the means by which to pursue the objectives of the Strategy, and the specific actions, it must not be a substitute for the assessment of the Strategy, which should be a regular opportunity to review the objectives and to redefine the targets.

4.4 Assessment

Assessment of the effectiveness of the Strategy should take place both during the course of the regular periods for Action Plans and at the end of its term of reference, in the latter instance the assessment acts as a guide for future programmes to maintain and enhance Pan-European biological and landscape diversity.

The Environment for Europe Conferences of Environment Ministers will offer the opportunity to present the achievements of the Strategy and each of the five year Action Plans.

GLOSSARY ABBREVIATIONS

BSAP

Black Sea Action Plan

BSP

Biodiversity Support Program of USAID

CAP

Common Agriculture Policy of the European Union

CBD

Convention on Biological Diversity

CDCC

Council for Cultural Cooperation of the Council of Europe

CDPE

Steering Committee for the Protection and Management of the Environment and Natural Habitats

CEE

Central and Eastern Europe

CIPRA

Commission Internationale pour la Protection des Alpes

CIS

Commonwealth of Independent States

CITES

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

CORINE

Information system on the Co-ordination of Information on the Environment

CSCE

Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe

DECS

Directorate of Education, Culture and Sport

DELA

Directorate of the Environment and Local Authorities of the Council of Europe

DG

Directorates General of the European Commission

EAGGF

European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund

EAP

Environmental Action Plan for Central and Eastern Europe

EBRD

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

EC

European Commission

ECNC

European Centre for Nature Conservation

ECU

European Currency Unit

EEA

European Economic Area

EEA

European Environment Agency

EEC

European Economic Community

EECONET

European Ecological Network

EFTA

European Free Trade Association

EIA

Environmental Impact Assessment

EIB

European Investment Bank

ENCY

European Nature Conservation Year 1995

EP

European Parliament

EPE

Environment Programme for Europe

ESA

Environmentally Sensitive Area

ESF

European Social Fund of the European Union

EU

European Union

EUCC

European Union for Coastal Conservation

FAO

Food and Agriculture organization of the United Nations

FIFG

Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance

FSU

Former Soviet Union

GATT

General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade

GEF

Global Environment Facility

HELCOM

Helsinki Commission

ICPRP

International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine against Pollution

IUCN

IUCN - The World Conservation Union (The International Union for the Conservation of Nature)

LIFE

L'Instrument Financier pour l'Environnement, funding mechanism of the European Union

MAB

Man and Biosphere Programme of UNESCO

MARPOL

International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships

MedWet

Mediterranean Wetlands programme of the European Union

METAP

Mediterranean Technical Assistance Programme

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty organization

NGO

Non-Governmental organization

OECD

organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

PE-S-ST

Protection de l'Environnement - Spécialiste - Stratégie of the Council of Europe

PE-S-ZP

Protection de l'Environnement - Spécialiste - les Zones Protégées of the Council of Europe

PHARE

Trade Agreement of the European Union and Central and East Europe (Poland and Hungary: Assistance to the Restructuring of the Economy)

REC

Regional Environmental Centre

SAC

Special Area of Conservation under the Habitats Directive

SDF

Social Development Fund of the Council of Europe

SPA

Special Protected Area under the Birds Directive

TACIS

Trade Agreement of the Commonwealth of Independent States and European Union

UK

United Kingdom

UNCED

United Nations Conference on Environment and Development

UNCSD

United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development

UNDP

United Nations Development Programme

UNECE

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

UNEP

United Nations Environment Programme

UNESCO

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural organization

USAID

United States Aid Programme

WTO

World Trade organization

WWF

World Wide Fund for Nature