On the 1st December 2023, a landmark moment occurred when the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention adopted a Strategic Plan to 2030. Although plans and targets had existed over the Convention’s 44-year existence, it is the first time that such a comprehensive and streamlined text with goals, indicators and targets has been put together, and it follows the example of other environmental institutions which have recently adopted strategies, notably the European Commission’s Biodiversity Strategy 2030 and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework 2030/2050 (GBF).
The Strategic Plan follows the adoption in 2021 of the Vision for the Bern Convention for the period to 2030 and its 4 goals:
- GOAL 1: The area, connectivity, integrity and resilience of natural and semi-natural ecosystems is increased, including through protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures covering at least 30% of the land and of the sea areas.
- GOAL 2: The conservation status of threatened species is improved, the abundance of native species has increased, and human-induced extinctions have been halted.
- GOAL 3: The contributions of wild flora and fauna and their natural habitats to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment are valued, maintained and enhanced.
- GOAL 4: Sufficient resources are available and are used efficiently to achieve all goals and targets in the Plan.
A Recommendation was also adopted alongside the Strategic Plan to guide its implementation, including through mid-term and end-term reviews.
The full text of the Press Release may be found here.
