On 5-8 December 2017, Contracting Parties to the Bern Convention gathered in Strasbourg for the 37th annual meeting of its Standing Committee. Experts and NGO representatives joined national delegates to discuss the outcomes of activities implemented throughout 2017, in particular on the control of invasive alien species, the eradication of illegal killing of birds, the relation between biodiversity and climate change, the conservation of amphibian and reptile species and the management of protected areas.

The Standing Committee furthered assess six open and possible case-files under the Convention and sought solutions to the issues at stake, in view of supporting the national authorities’ efforts to act within their obligations under the Convention.

The Committee discussed the contribution of the Convention to the achievement of the World Aichi Biodiversity Targets and Sustainable Development Goals through the implementation of its Programme of Work 2016-2017, planned the Convention’s action for the next biennium 2018-2019 and held initial discussions on the Convention’s future strategic orientations post 2020.

The webpage of the meeting can be accessed from here.