The Bureau of the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats held its second annual meeting from 18 to 19 June 2025 in Strasbourg.
The agenda of this meeting included the reporting on the 134th ministerial session of the Committee of Ministers, held in Luxembourg on 14 May 2025. The progress on the Convention's Programme of Activities for 2025-2026 was also reviewed, along with the finance and development of the Bern Convention, with monitoring of the receipt of voluntary contributions. The Bureau also examined the activities undertaken since its last meeting, with attention given to the work progressing on Reporting under Resolution No.8 (20212) on the conservation status of species and habitats, and the joint meeting with the CMS MIKT on the Illegal Killing of Birds and the Group of Experts on the Conservation of Wild Birds.
The Bureau then focussed on recent activities relating to the European Diploma for Protected Areas, notably the celebrations of the Diploma's 60th anniversary, which included the Awarding ceremony of the European Diploma to the Regional Park Gallipoli Cognato, and the Roundtable of Managers which enjoyed the participation of attendees from holding areas throughout the Diploma holding network and adopted a Granada Declaration.
The Bureau was also informed of the successful re-launch of the Group of Experts on Large Carnivores.
The Bureau examined several case-files submitted by complainants, reporting alleged violations of the Convention and was informed of new complaints received by the Convention Secretariat in recent months.
More information, including the full agenda of the meeting, is available on the web page dedicated to the meeting.
