« CURRENT EVENTS»

EXPERT COMMITTEES FROM THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL
ON ECO-NETWORKS HOLD JOINT MEETING

On October 4-6, 2001, in Istanbul, two committees of experts from the European Council met to discuss the creation of a Pan-European Eco-Network and of an Emerald Network of Areas of Special Conservation Interest.

Well-known in Russia, the Pan-European Ecological Network was developed within the framework of the Pan-European Strategy on Landscape and Biological Diversity, while the Emerald Network is the creation of the Bern Convention on European Wildlife and Natural Habitats Conservation.

The need to hold a joint meeting of these two related committees had long been apparent: it was originally discussed at the first session of the Committee on Eco-Networks. The meeting helped to determine the principle of integration of the two most important European conservation systems. Areas of special conservation interest defined during the implementation of the Bern Convention now also refer to the Pan-European Eco-Network Key Natural Areas. Although Moldavia and Ukraine are the only countries in the CIS to have ratified the Bern Convention so far, other states have the right to participate in its activities, particularly in setting up the Emerald Network. In 1999, for example, the All-Russia Scientific Research Institute for Nature did a pilot project to set up an Emerald Network in a region of Russia.

Meeting participants listened to progress reports by member-state representatives on setting up the Pan-European Ecological Network and the Emerald Network. The report from Russia was prepared by deputy head of the Department for Protected Natural Areas (Ministry of Natural Resources) V.A. Pischelev and BCC Wildlife Network Program Coordinator N.A. Sobolev.

The Last Intact Forest Landscape in Northern European Russia, a book by A. U. Yaroshenko, P. V. Potapov and S. A. Turubanova, was presented and given to the Secretariat as proof of successful achievements related to key forest areas of the Great Eurasian Natural Massif.

The European Center for Nature Conservation (ECNC) showed the first draft of a Map of the Pan-European Ecological Network (PEEN) for Central and Eastern Europe. In the course of discussions, participants identified a number of flaws that the maps’ authors promised to correct.

Belgium’s Nature Conservation Institute presented a survey of ecological restoration projects. The document (its archived text comprises approximately 900 kilobytes) is available at the BCC and can be sent by e-mail on special request.

The Royal Natural Sciences Institute, also of Belgium, presented a Palaearctic biota classification for areas of Russia and Ukraine.

Belgium’s WWF presented the Emerald Network Bulletin. It is available on request (please write to: Sjen@wwfepo.org).

The meeting approved the draft work program for setting up the Pan-European Network in 2002. The program includes: the next session of the Pan-European Eco-Network Expert Committee; the work of experts; the awarding of European Council Diplomas to protected natural areas; and the setting up of a Pan-European Ecological Network in CIS countries. This last enterprise is not covered by the European Council’s budget; therefore, PEEN member-states will be asked to contribute 20,000 euros each to its financing.

Meeting participants also discussed preparations for the 6^th Meeting of the Convention on Biodiversity (2002) and the Conference of Ministers on Environmental Matters in Kiev (2003). They drafted a declaration for the Kiev Conference and planned to prepare information materials as well.

Vija Buša of Latvia was elected Chair of the Expert Committee for Setting Up the Pan-European Ecological Network, and Henri Jaffeux of France deputy chair. Antal Sànta of Hungary was elected Chair of the Emerald Network Expert Committee, and Marie-Christine van Klaveren of Monaco deputy chair.

N. A. Sobolev,
Biodiversity Conservation Center

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