Side Event
The Pan-European Ecological Network and protected areas : a major instrument for implementing the CBD in Europe
Organizer
Council of Europe
Date and Time
15 February 2008 13:15 - 14:45
Meeting
Second meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Protected Areas (WGPA 2)
The Pan-European Ecological Network (PEEN) provides the governments of the countries of the Pan-European Region with a political framework for action at all levels – local, regional, national and international – enabling them to provide sustainable socio-economic development in their respective countries, by conserving the biological and landscape diversity on which such development is largely based. As such, the PEEN may represent a major instrument for implementing the CBD’s Work Programme on Protected Areas and contribute to the struggle against the loss of biological and landscape diversity in Europe. The countries of the Pan-European Region have already made major, tangible progress since the launching of the PEEN process in 1995 (3rd Ministerial Conference “Environment for Europe”, Sofia). These achievements contribute to ensure greater consideration for biological realities in their policies, legal systems and institutions. By 2010 these achievements must be reinforced to complete the implementation of PEEN. The countries should reinforce their shared vision of sustainable development in Europe and encourage a practical debate within civil society and foster the local-level relations involved in sustainable development in Europe, notably the local authorities and the private sector. This side event intends to provide the participants of the WGPA-2 with information on the development of the PEEN and the work of the Council of Europe in the field of ecological networks and protected areas. This information aims in particular at: 1. presenting the concept and the first results of 12 years of work of the launching and implementation of the Pan-European Ecological Network (PEEN). The Secretariat will present at this occasion, the publication, “Pan-European Ecological Network: taking stock” which was officially submitted to the 6th Ministerial Conference, “Environment for Europe”, Belgrade, 10-12 October 2007. The Ministers welcomed this publication during the Conference and supported the further development of PEEN; 2. informing the participants on the future activities of the Council of Europe in the field of ecological networks and protected areas. The Secretariat will present the project of organising a conference on this topic in 2009, as a contribution to the regional implementation of the CBD Working Programme on protected areas in Europe. Contact Person Person title: Ms First Name: Hélène Last Name: Bouguessa Job title: Principal Administrative Assistant Phone: + 33 88 41 22 64 E-mail: helene.bougessa@coe.int