15th Meeting of the Carpathian Convention Working Group on Biodiversity
15th Meeting of the Carpathian Convention Working Group on Biodiversity took place in Vienna, Austria from 17-18 June 2024, focusing on advancing conservation and sustainable use in the Carpathian region.
Established in 2003 and ratified in 2006, the Carpathian Convention unites seven countries – Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Ukraine – in a concerted effort to protect the Carpathian region and promote sustainable development
Hosted by the Ministry of Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology of Austria, the meeting was opened with remarks from Harald Egerer, Secretary of the Carpathian Convention, who warmly addressed the attendees and emphasised the importance of open discussions.
The meeting featured presentations and open dialogue between member nation representatives, observers and more, with discussions and updates on ongoing projects as well as future initiatives.
Among the key presentations was in relation to the LECA Project, an EU funded initiative which supports the coexistence and conservation of Carpathian large carnivores. Martin Duľa of Mendel University provided a presentation on recent LECA activities, with CIC Project Coordinator Thomas Paulic in attendance at the meeting to provide technical support.
The CIC is an associate partner in the project, emphasising the cooperation of hunters and other stakeholders in the management of large carnivores in the region. The project focuses on transboundary monitoring, poaching prevention and conflict mitigation, with updates given on pilot areas throughout the Carpathian biosphere and stakeholder platforms to tackle issues such as wolf populations and conflicts.
Other notable highlights included progress updates on the Carpathian Biodiversity Framework, which looks to implement the Global Biodiversity Framework in the Carpathians with integration ongoing into national biodiversity strategies, and the NaturaConnect Project which aims to build a resilient ecological network across Europe.
The Biodiversity Working Group Meeting highlighted the ongoing commitment and collaboration among Carpathian nations as the Convention continues to provide a crucial platform to ensure the protection of the region.
The CIC reiterates the importance of ensuring hunter and sustainable use participation at such meetings, as well the need to leverage their expertise and know-how to support cross border monitoring and management activities.
