Framework convention on the protection and sustainable development of the Carpathians

Mission

The Framework Convention on the Protection and Sustainable Development of the Carpathians (Carpathian Convention) provides the framework for cooperation and multi-sectoral policy coordination, a platform for joint strategies for sustainable development, and a forum for dialogue between all stakeholders involved.

In 2001, UNEP/ROE was requested by the Government of Ukraine to service a regional co-operation process aimed at the protection and sustainable development of the Carpathians, a major transboundary mountain range shared by the seven countries of the region.

In response to this request, UNEP-ROE promoted an Alpine-Carpathian Partnership and serviced five negotiation meetings of the Carpathian countries.

At the Fifth Ministerial Conference “Environment for Europe” (Kyiv, May 2003), ministers of the environment of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovak Republic and Ukraine signed the Framework Convention on the Protection and Sustainable Development of the Carpathians, designed to be an innovative instrument to ensure protection and foster sustainable development of this outstanding region and living environment, situated in the heart of Europe.

UNEP-ROE has been requested to acts as the interim secretariat of the Carpathian Convention. On 1 May 2004, the Office of UNEP Vienna - Interim Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention has been opened.

At present all countries have ratified the Convention.

In June 2008 during the Second Conference of the Parties held in Bucharest the Protocol on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biological and Landscape Diversity to the Carpathian Convention was signed.

In May 2011 in the course of the Third Meeting of the Conference of the Parties the Protocol on Sustainable Forest Management and the Protocol on Sustainable Tourism were signed.

Thematic priorities

Activities, which are ongoing or planned for the next few years, include:

• Creation of a Carpathian Network of Protected Areas, establishment of a Working Group on Biodiversity;
• Establishment of a Working Group on Sustainable Tourism, possible elaboration of a joint strategy / Protocol on Sustainable Tourism;
• Co-operation with the Danube Protection Convention / ICPDR, participation in the development of UNDP/GEF submission on integrated water resource management and sustainable local development in the Tisza River Basin;
• Preparation of a Carpathian Environment Outlook including a Tisza River Basin Environmental Assessment;
• Guide to implementation of the Carpathian Convention at the local level, legal and institutional assessment;
• Participation in FAO-led project Sustainable Agriculture and Rural development in Mountains project;
• Support to stakeholder participation and access to environmental information;
• Active participation in the International Mountain Partnership, and its diverse related thematic and regional initiatives.

Cooperation with Ukraine

First Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Carpathian Convention (COP1) took place in Kyiv, Ukraine, 11 - 13 December 2006.

The COP1 established a Carpathian Convention Implementation Committee as a Subsidiary Body of the Convention. The Committee established six working groups responsible for managing the projects and activities in the sphere of cultural heritage, sustainable tourism, sustainable agriculture, rural development and forestry, biological and landscape diversity, sustainable transport, industry and energy.

In May 2008 the Regional Workshop on Renewable Energy for the Carpathian Countries was held in Lviv, which allowed to create the energy partnership in the framework of the Carpathian Convention.

Ukraine is the depositary country of the Carpathian Convention and Protocol on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biological and Landscape Diversity to the Carpathian Convention.

In May 2011 during the Third Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP3) Ukraine signed the Protocol on Sustainable Forest Management.

The delegation of Ukraine consisting of the officials from the Ministry of Environmental Protection, Ministry of Foreign Affaires, State Forest Administration and Chernivtsy Region Administration took part in the meeting.

For further information about the Convention, please, contact the Secretariat:

United Nations Environment Programme - Vienna

Interim Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention

UNEP Vienna - ISCC

Room: JOE 25

Vienna International Center

PO Box 500

A 1400 Vienna

Austria

Tel: (+ 43 - 1) 26060- 4545

Fax: (+ 43 - 1) 26060 - 7 - 4545