The Bern Convention held its 43rd Standing Committee meeting from 27th November to 1st December 2023 in Strasbourg.
Contracting Parties, observers, NGO representatives and experts discussed the outcomes of activities implemented throughout 2023, and those planned for next year.
Activities undertaken during the year included progress in the fields of combating illegal killing of birds, conservation of amphibians and reptiles (notably of marine turtles), ruddy duck eradication and lynx conservation; not to mention the progress achieved in actions related to the Emerald Network of Areas of Special Conservation Interest, and ongoing business of the European Diploma for Protected Areas.
The Committee also importantly discussed strategic developments of the Convention including in relation to a possible new financial mechanism and on recent and upcoming developments of the Council of Europe in relation to environmental issues such as decisions taken following the Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Council held on 16-17 May 2023 in Reykjavík, Iceland.
Most notably, it adopted a Strategic Plan for the period to 2030 (see News).
The Standing Committee was also the occasion to assess progress on case-files linked to complaints submitted by citizens and NGOs for alleged breaches of the Convention; and notably saw 2 recommendations adopted for specific sites following on-the-spot appraisals.
The webpage of the meeting including adopted texts can be accessed here.
