The Bern Convention is a binding international legal instrument in the field of nature conservation, covering most of the natural heritage of the European continent and extending to some States of Africa.

Over forty years ago, an innovative legal text was adopted to protect Europe’s wild plants and animals. The Council of Europe’s Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (1979), or Bern Convention, was the first international treaty to protect both species and habitats and to bring countries together to decide how to act on nature conservation.

The Bern Convention turned 40 on 19th September 2019, and to mark the occasion, a special website was made in which 40 stories depicting the work of the Convention through colourful images and narratives are displayed. You can access the website here.



- Group of Specialists on the European Diploma for Protected Areas - 24 February 2021 (video-conference)