Context and Rationale

The conservation of biological diversity and the sustainable use of its components are the core objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Reliable data and robust assessments are essential for informing conservation action and measuring progress towards biodiversity objectives.

Target 4 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) aims to halt human-induced extinction of known threatened species and to support the recovery and conservation of species, including through urgent management actions to reduce extinction risk and safeguard genetic diversity by 2030. Target 21 of the KMGBF is the “knowledge, data, and capacity for biodiversity” target. It is essentially the information backbone of the entire framework.

The reporting exercises under Resolution No. 8 (2012) of the Bern Convention and Article 17 of the EU Habitats Directive both cover the 2019–2024 reporting period, providing complementary assessments of the conservation status of European species and habitats. Data were collected in 2025 for the Article 17 reporting exercise and in 2026 for reporting under Resolution No. 8. Together, the results offer a very unique opportunity to identify trends, assess conservation challenges and successes, and support evidence-based decision-making for species and habitat conservation across Europe.

The Bern Convention Strategic Plan towards 2030 and the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 have been developed in coherence with related global and regional biodiversity strategies. They provide a clear and substantive pan-European contribution to the KMGBF, including Targets 4 and 21, and align closely with its Monitoring Framework and associated indicators. This alignment enhances comparability and supports the integration of regional reporting into global biodiversity assessments.

This is particularly important in view of the first global report on collective progress in implementing the KMGBF, offering an opportunity to showcase the contribution of pan-European knowledge systems and reporting on the conservation status of species and habitats.

Objectives of the side event

•  Present recent data on the status and trends of species and habitats at the Pan-European level by country and by biogeographical region;
•  Present success stories on nature conservation;
•  Highlight the experiences and value of pan-European collaboration in advancing species and habitats conservation
•  Present a shared methodology with the EU to analyse the conservation status of European highly valuable habitat types featuring aligned data standards and reporting system to ensure data quality and comparability);
•  Have a first glance at the compilation of data on conservation status within the Emerald Network sites and outside Emerald sites;
•  Analyse data gaps and weaknesses and present ways to improve data quality and assist countries in implementing effective conservation measures;
•  Compile data on pressures and threats jeopardising specific conservation measures for habitats (Bern Convention Resolution No. 4 (1996)) and species (Bern Convention Resolution No. 6 (1998));
•  Support the implementation of the Bern Convention Strategic Plan towards 2030.

Suggested Speakers:

• Bern Convention

• EEA

• One or more representatives from the following countries, which can present concrete examples of successful conservation practices:

• Iceland (Salmon)
• Ireland
• Norway (Arctic)
• The UK (Lady’s-slipper orchid)
• Switzerland (Castor)