Back The 15th Meeting of the Group of Experts on Protected Areas and Ecological Networks

The 15th Meeting of the Group of Experts on Protected Areas and Ecological Networks

The 15th Meeting of the Group of Experts on Protected Areas and Ecological Networks took place from 7 to 8 October 2025 in Bar, Montenegro.

This event was organised in close collaboration with the authorities of Montenegro and gathered representatives from Contracting Parties to the Bern Convention, observer organisations and independent experts.

The meeting strategically focused on advancing the Group’s contribution towards the achievement of the Bern Convention’s Strategic Plan and Vision 2030, particularly in relation to the Emerald Network.

Discussion focused on the status of the Emerald Network in the different countries with the aim of supporting contracting Parties in designating new protected sites and better protecting the existing ones.

Additionally, the group discussed and preliminary adopted a new Emerald Network Standard Data Form (SDF), a key tool to foster data collection of Emerald Network sites, and was informed about criteria for assessing negative changes in the Emerald Network.

The meeting addressed the status of the Emerald Network in Montenegro and concluded with an on-site visit to Lake Skadar, the biggest officially nominated candidate site to the Emerald Network in Montenegro.

For detailed information, including the agenda and working documents, please consult the meeting’s official webpage.

Bar, Montenegro 7-8 October 2025
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Highlights

The work of the Bern Convention contributes to the implementation of the Council of Europe Strategy on the Environment and Action Plan by addressing the triple planetary crisis of pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss through multilateral cooperation.