Bern Convention
Content and Structure
The Bern Convention is a binding international legal instrument in the field of nature conservation, covering most of the natural heritage of the European continent and extending to some States of Africa. The Convention was open for signature on 19 September 1979 and came into force on 1 June 1982. Fifty countries and the European Union have already signed up to the Convention and are committed to promoting national conservation policies, considering the impact of planning and development on the natural environment, promoting education and information on conservation, and coordinating research. It is particularly concerned about protecting natural habitats and endangered species, including migratory species.
Briefly, the convention has three main aims, which are stated in Article 1:
- to conserve wild flora and fauna and their natural habitats
- to promote cooperation between states
- to give particular attention to endangered and vulnerable species including endangered and vulnerable migratory species.
The Convention aims to ensure conservation of wild flora and fauna species and their habitats. Special attention is given to endangered and vulnerable species, including endangered and vulnerable migratory species specified in the appendices.
The Parties undertake to take all appropriate measures to ensure the conservation of the habitats of the wild flora and fauna species. Such measures should be included in the Parties’ planning and development policies and pollution control, with particular attention to the conservation of wild flora and fauna. The Parties undertake to promote education and disseminate general information concerning the need to conserve species of wild flora and fauna and their habitats.
The Convention establishes a Standing Committee in which the Parties are represented by their delegates. The Committee's principal task is to monitor the provisions of this Convention in the light of development of the wild flora and the assessment of its needs. For this purpose, the Standing Committee is especially competent to make recommendations to the Parties and amendments to the appendices where these protected species are specified.
Duties of Contracting Parties
All countries that have signed the convention must
- promote national conservation policies
- promote measures against pollution
- promote educational and informative measures
- co-ordinate efforts to protect migratory species
- establish legislative and administrative measures