The Bern Convention adopts a Strategic Plan to guide its progress towards the 2030 conservation targets.
2023 From November 27 to December 1, the 43rd session of the Committee of the Berne Convention (full name: Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Environment) was held in Strasbourg. During the session, the convention's standing committee adopted the 2030 strategic plan.
Tatevik Zurker, national coordinator of the Convention "On the Protection of European Wildlife and Natural Environment" and Karen Aghababyan, national coordinator of the Agreement "On the Protection of African-Eurasian Migratory Water Birds" participated in the meeting.
Although the Convention has implemented many programs and targets during the Convention's 44-year history, this is the first time that the Convention has come up with such a comprehensive and simplified text, clearly presenting goals, indicators and targets, while following other environmental institutions that 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 has been in development for 3 years, but due to the Covid 19 pandemic and the finalization of the Global Biodiversity Framework, it was delayed. Now the member states of the Standing Committee have expressed their willingness to work together to implement the strategic plan both at the local and pan-European levels.
The strategic plan follows the Committee's adoption in 2021 of the Berne Convention on Vision 2030 and its 4 goals:

• GOAL 1: Increase the area, connectivity, integrity and resilience of natural and semi-natural ecosystems, including conservation measures in protected areas and other productive areas covering at least 30% of terrestrial and marine areas.
• GOAL 2: To improve the conservation status of threatened species, promote the presence of native species and stop the extinction of species due to anthropogenic impacts.
• GOAL 3: Wildlife and their natural habitats are conserved and enhanced by providing a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment.
• GOAL 4: Sufficient resources are available and effectively used to achieve all strategic plan objectives.

The Chairperson of the Standing Committee, Mrs. Merike Linamagi, noted that work on the implementation of the Strategic Plan will now begin, and the Berne Convention will monitor the progress made and how the various instruments can assist the parties in its implementation.
The Secretary of the Berne Convention, Mr. Michael Poutisser, noted that the adopted strategic plan will facilitate cooperation between the parties to the Berne Convention and ultimately help to better protect biodiversity in Europe and beyond.
Along with the strategic plan, recommendations were also adopted to guide its implementation, including mid-term and final reviews. In 2024, a working group consisting of the Parties and observer organizations will be formed, which will monitor the progress of the strategic plan implementation.