Bern Convention Newsroom

11th meeting of Group of Experts on Climate Change and Biodiversity
The Group of Experts on Biodiversity and Climate Change will meet online on 23 May 2022. The Group will discuss whether its mandate is still adapted to the current challenges, examine the findings of a survey on the progress in the implementation by Contracting Parties of Recommendation No. 206...
Launch of Emerald Network Barometer and National Summary Dashboards of the first reporting under Resolution No. 8 (2012)
The Bern Convention is pleased to announce that new digital tools of the Emerald Network and of the reporting under Resolution No. 8 (2012) have been launched in cooperation with the European Environment Agency (EEA). The Emerald Network Barometer provides an overview of the Emerald Network in...
1st meeting of the Bureau of the Bern Convention in 2022
The Bureau to the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention held its first meeting of 2022 on 6-7 April by video-conference. The Bureau assessed progress in the implementation of the Convention’s Programme of Activities for 2022/2023 and the state of preparation of the thematic expert group...
Group of Specialists annual meeting on the European Diploma for Protected Areas
The Group of Specialists on the European Diploma for Protected Areas held its annual meeting on 23-24 February 2022 by video-conference. The Group assessed the lessons learned from the advisory visits which took place virtually or in hybrid set up last year. Linked to this, the Group discussed...
Bern Convention adopts a Vision for the next decade
At the recent annual Standing Committee meeting of the Bern Convention, a landmark moment occurred when for the first time ever the Committee agreed to adopt a Vision for the Bern Convention for the period to 2030. The Vision, led by the slogan “Healthy nature for healthy people”, states that “By...
1st meeting of the Bureau of the Bern Convention in 2021
The Bureau to the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention held its first annual meeting of 2021 on 14-15 April by video-conference. The Bureau assessed progress in the implementation of the Convention’s Programme of Activities for 2021 and the state of preparation of the thematic expert group...
2nd ordinary meeting of the Bureau of the Bern Convention in 2021
The Bureau to the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention held its second ordinary meeting of 2021 on 15-16 September by video-conference. The Bureau assessed progress in the implementation of the Convention’s Programme of Activities for 2021 and the state of play of the work and meetings of...
12th meeting of the Group of Experts on Protected Areas and Ecological Networks
The Group of Experts on Protected Areas and Ecological Networks held its 12th meeting on 5-6 October online. The Group examined the outcomes of the survey carried out among Contracting Parties on the reporting under Resolution No. 8 (2012) on the conservation status of species and habitats,...
41st Standing Committee meeting
The Bern Convention held its 41st Standing Committee meeting from 29th November to 3rd December 2021, once again online due to the ongoing pandemic and travel-related restrictions. Contracting Parties, experts, NGO representatives, international observers and others discussed the outcomes of...
Emerald Network biogeographical evaluation on habitats and species including birds for Georgia
An Emerald Network biogeographical evaluation for habitats and all species and including birds for Georgia will take place online on 15 and 16 December 2021. The meeting will convene representatives from the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, national and...
The Bern Convention participates in the World Forum for Democracy to answer the question: can democracy save the environment?
The World Forum for Democracy is a unique platform organised by the Council of Europe in the city of Strasbourg, where political decision-makers and activists debate solutions to key challenges for democracies. The Bern Convention has developed its #VoicesOfNature Campaign during this year,...
Online advisory missions held for Kresna Gorge (Bulgaria) and Polonina Borzhava (Ukraine)
Following on from the online advisory mission held in relation to Mavrovo National Park (North Macedonia) in May, the Bern Convention held two more missions in recent weeks, once again organised fully online due to the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions, and the urgency to review these cases. The...
Launch of the review on European plant strategy, 2011-2020
The Bern Convention is delighted to announce the launch of "A Review of European progress towards the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation”, an important text analysing the last ten years of efforts towards better flora conservation across Europe, elaborated by the Convention’s esteemed...
10th Meeting of the Group of Experts on the Conservation of Amphibians and Reptiles
The 10th meeting of Group of Experts on the Conservation of Amphibians and Reptiles took place online on the 28th of September. The main objective of the meeting was to review currently implemented national conservation initiatives, the status of species and progress made to prevent and control...
Call for tenders for consultancy services
“Spread the word!” - The Bern Convention has launched a call for tenders for the provision of consultancy services within the framework of its programmes of activity. The Bern Convention is seeking consultants for the following three areas of work: Contribution to standard setting and cooperation...
14th Meeting of the Group of Experts on Invasive Alien Species
Over the past 26 years, the Council of Europe has been supporting Bern Convention Contracting Parties in designing and implementing control measures for invasive alien species (IAS), with the aim to reduce their negative impact on native biodiversity in Europe. The Group of Experts on Invasive...
Joint Meeting on Eradication of Illegal Killing, Trapping and Trade in Wild Birds and publication of the Scoreboard
The Joint Meeting of the Bern Convention Network of Special Focal Points on Eradication of Illegal Killing, Trapping and Trade in Wild Birds (IKB) and the CMS Intergovernmental Task Force on Illegal Killing, Taking and Trade of Migratory Birds in the Mediterranean (MIKT) took place virtually from...
Bern Convention conducts its first ever “virtual” independent advisory mission of a case-file
In spite of the ongoing pandemic, threats to nature continue, and the monitoring mandate of the Bern Convention, which includes “on-the-spot appraisal” (OSA) visits within the case-file and European Diploma for Protected Areas (EDPA) systems, remains a key priority. In that regard, it was...
Bern Convention launches Voices of Nature communication initiative
The Bern Convention has launched a new online campaign, #VoicesofNature which promotes the connection between wildlife and people. The campaign website showcases stories of natural heritage conservation, human rights protection and democratic participation around Europe. Through the protection of...
European Diploma for Protected Areas: Call to constitute a pool of independent experts
The European Diploma for Protected Areas is a prestigious international award granted since 1965. It recognises natural and semi-natural areas and landscapes of exceptional European importance for the preservation of biological, geological and landscape diversity and which are managed in an...

- 11th meeting of Group of Experts on Climate Change and Biodiversity - 23 May 2022 (online meeting)