Bern Convention Newsroom
New biennial reporting on exceptions under Article 9 of the Bern Convention
Bern Convention is launching the 2023-24 biennial reporting under Article 9 in the new Online Reporting System (ORS), updated in cooperation with UNEP-WCMC. Biennial Reports Launching the new ORS allows transitioning to a technically sustainable online platform, improving the users’ friendliness...
International Day for Biological Diversity 2026
On the International Day for Biological Diversity marked on 22 May, the Chair of the Bern Convention Standing Committee, Carl Amirgulashvili, has made the following statement: The International Day for Biological Diversity is a moment to recognise that the future of our planet is shaped not only...
1st Meeting of the Bureau of the Bern Convention in 2026
The Bureau of the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats held its first annual meeting from 7 to 9 April 2026 in Strasbourg. During this important gathering, Bureau members focused on key issues related to the Convention’s financial...
Annual meeting of the Group of Specialists on the European Diploma for Protected Areas
The Group of Specialists on the European Diploma for Protected Areas (EDPA) held its annual meeting on 18 March 2026 in Strasbourg. EDPA Specialists examined the annual reports on the compliance of the Diploma holding areas with the conditions attached to the award, monitored the situation of...
4th Meeting of the Working Group on the Implementation of the Strategic Plan for the Bern Convention for the period to 2030
The fourth meeting of the Working Group on the Implementation of the Strategic Plan for the Bern Convention for the period to 2030 was held online on 4 March 2026. Representatives of the Contracting Parties and observers reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the Strategic Plan as a means of...
Launch of a new reporting cycle on Resolution No. 8 (2012)
The Bern Convention Secretariat, in cooperation with the European Environment Agency (EEA), is launching the second reporting cycle on Resolution No. 8 (2012) covering the period 2019–2024. Reporting will be possible through the new Resolution No. 8 (2012) portal, published in Reportnet 3. All...
45th meeting of the Standing Committee
Bern Convention Standing Committee concludes 45th meeting with key decisions for European wildlife and habitat conservation The 45th meeting of the Standing Committee of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention) took place in Strasbourg from...
7th Meeting of the ad hoc Working Group on Reporting back-to-back with a training course on reporting under Resolution No. 8 (2012)
The 7th Meeting of the ad hoc Working Group on Reporting, held back-to-back with a training course on reporting for non-EU Contracting Parties, took place on 19–20 November 2025 at the headquarters of the European Environment Agency (EEA) in Copenhagen, Denmark. In view of the launching of the...
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...
3rd Meeting of the Bureau of the Bern Convention in 2025
The Bureau of the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats held its third annual meeting from 16 to 18 September 2025 in Strasbourg. Bureau members met to discuss several items related to the financial and strategic development of the...
On-the-spot appraisals (OSAs) in Greece
On 17-20 June 2025 two on-the-spot-appraisals (OSAs) took place in Laganas Bay, Zakynthos Island, and in Thines Kiparissias, in the Peloponnesus peninsula, Greece. The OSAs related to two open case files, respectively Open File 1986/8 Greece Recommendation No. 9 on the protection of Caretta...
2nd Meeting of the Bureau of the Bern Convention in 2025
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...
The Group of Experts on Large Carnivores held its meeting from 10 to 11 June 2025 in Strasbourg
The Group of Experts on Large Carnivores held its meeting from 10 to 11 June 2025 in Strasbourg. The agenda for this meeting included a presentation on the Bern Convention's previous work related to large carnivores, as well as reports from the Parties and Observers on national-level conservation...
Celebrating 60 Years of Protecting Europe’s Natural Heritage: The Granada Declaration
This week, the Bern Convention marked the 60th anniversary of the European Diploma for Protected Areas—a flagship initiative of the Council of Europe that recognises and supports exceptional protected areas of European importance. The anniversary conference took place in Granada and brought...
International Day for Biological Diversity 2025
The Bern Convention celebrates the International Day for Biological Diversity (22 May) and its 2025 theme, “Harmony with nature and sustainable development”. The IDB 2025 campaign seeks to focus the world’s attention on the linkages between the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals...
60th anniversary of the European Diploma for Protected Areas
2025 marks the 60th anniversary of the European Diploma for Protected Areas, a prestigious international award granted since 1965 by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. It recognises natural and semi-natural areas and landscapes of exceptional European importance for the...
Joint Meeting of CMS MIKT and Bern Convention on IKB, held back-to-back with the meeting of the Bern Convention Group of Experts on the Conservation of Wild Birds
The Joint Meeting of the Bern Convention Network of Special Focal Points (SFPs) on Eradication of Illegal Killing, Trapping, and Trade in Wild Birds, and the CMS Intergovernmental Task Force on Illegal Killing, Taking and Trade of Migratory Birds in the Mediterranean (MIKT) took place from 13-15...
1st meeting of the Bureau of the Bern Convention in 2025
The Bureau of the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats held its first annual meeting from 8 to 10 April 2025 in Strasbourg. The agenda of this meeting included a presentation of the progress made by the Working Group overseeing...
Modification of wolf protection under the Bern Convention enters into force
As of today, 7 March 2025, the modification of wolf protection under the Bern Convention enters into force. On 6 December 2024, the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention adopted a proposal submitted by the European Union to modify the protection status of the wolf (Canis lupus) from "strictly...
Bern Convention Standing Committee approves EU proposal to modify wolf protection
The Council of Europe’s Bern Convention Committee has adopted an EU proposal to modify the status of wolf (Canis lupus) protection from “strictly protected fauna species” (Appendix II) to “protected fauna species” (Appendix III). The final decision will be published on Friday 6 December. The...
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.
