15th Meeting of the Working Group on Biodiversity

MEETING AGENDA

MEETING REPORT

WG BIODIVERSITY WORK PLAN 2024 – 2026

The 15th Meeting of the Carpathian Convention Working Group on Biodiversity was held 17 -18 June 2024 in Vienna, Austria.

The meeting addressed a variety of key topics crucial for advancing the implementation of the Carpathian Convention and its Protocol on Biodiversity. Among these, the meeting focused on the following subjects:

• implementation of the Action Plan on conservation of large carnivores and ensuring ecological connectivity in the Carpathians, including the implementation of the LECA project on supporting the coexistence and conservation of Carpathian Large Carnivores (more information about the ongoing project work will be shared before the meeting), as well as the conservation of the Carpathian lynx based on the recent decisions of the CMS COP14 (find attached the related CMS COP14 Decisions).
• implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework in the Carpathians via the adopted at the Carpathian Convention COP7 Carpathian Biodiversity Framework, as well as the process of streamlining it into being revised national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs) of the Carpathian counties (see the Guidance Document for Streamlining the Carpathian Biodiversity Framework into National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans and its Annex I: Table with example policy actions relevant for the Carpathians for more information on the process).
• implementation of various projects and activities relevant for the work of the Carpathian Convention Working Group on Biodiversity, including, among others, a short consultations session on the activities of the NaturaConnect project on building a resilient ecological network of conserved areas across Europe for nature and people (more information in this respect will follow in due course).

For more information about the topics discussed at the WG Biodiversity meeting, please consult the meeting agenda and documents below.

MEETING PRESENTATIONS

1. Inputs from Science for the Carpathians (S4C) – recommendations based on Forum Carpaticum 2023 relevant for the WG Biodiversity | Agnieszka Wypych, Jagiellonian University/S4C

2. Carpathian Convention COP7 – mandate of the WG Biodiversity and preparation of the WG Biodiversity Work Plan 2024 – 2026 | Klaudia Kuraś, Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention

3. LECA project – Supporting the coexistence and conservation of Carpathian Large Carnivores – project updates | Martin Duľa, Mendel University in Brno/Project Lead Partner

4. LECA project, presentation of draft thematic guidance on monitoring, poaching investigation, conflict prevention | Martin Duľa, Mendel University in Brno/Project Lead Partner (continuation)

5. Conservation of the Carpathian lynx in West and Central Europe – IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group | Jochen Krebühl, Lynx Institute – Lynx Institute

6. Carpathian Biodiversity Framework and streamlining the national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs) | Klaudia Kuraś, Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention

7. Global Biodiversity Framework – importance of the regional approaches for its implementation | Jamal Annagylyjova, CBD Secretariat

8. Updates on biodiversity activities from the Slovenian Presidency of the Alpine Convention and the Alpine Biodiversity Board | Blanka Bartol, Slovenian Ministry for Natural Resources and Spatial Planning, and Claire de Kermadec, PSAC

9. Implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework in Austria | Gabriele Obermayr, Ministry of Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology, Austria

10. Implementation of the Alpine Biodiversity Protocol in Austria | Gerald Gimpl, Ministry of Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology, Austria

11. LIFE Carpathian Strategic Nature Project – project idea as a unique opportunity for the Carpathians | Klaudia Kuraś, Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention and Dorothea Palenberg, Blue! advancing european projects

12. Carpathian Network of Protected Areas: updates on activities and outlook | Andrea Kurta, Piatra Craiului National Park

13. Tourism Research for Biodiversity Conservation – Experiences from the Carpathian Protected Areas | Karolina Taczanowska, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna

14. Carpathian Wetland Initiative: updates on activities and outlook | Adriana Kušíková, Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak Republic

15. EUSDR PA6: updates on activities and outlook | Florian Ballnus, EUSDR PA6 Coordinator (online)

16. Scientific Network for the Caucasus Mountain Region (SNC-mt): information on activities and possible cooperation | Nina Shatberashvili, SNC-mt, Georgia

17. ForestConnect project on climate-smart forest connectivity for large carnivores in the Balkan-Carpathian-Dinaric region | Elisabeth Wiegele, Carinthia University of Applied Sciences, Austria

18. BioLine project on restoration of biodiversity and connectivity for ecological management of powerline corridors in Danube – Carpathian region | Rasto Rybanic, SOS/BirdLife, Slovakia

19. TRANSNATURE project on unveiling the dynamics of transboundary biodiversity governance in Europe to enhance biodiversity protection | Federica Cittadino, Eurac Research, Italy

20. CentralMountains project on strengthening governance models for sustainable development of mountain areas in Central Europe | Isidoro De Bortoli, Eurac Research, Italy 

21. NaturaConnect project workshop on Building a resilient ecological network of conserved areas across Europe for nature and people

• Update on NaturaConnect developments | Hildegard Meyer, World Wildlife Fund – Central Eastern Europe

• Connectivity Guidelines | Ana Ceia Hasse, CIBIO

• The Concept of Systematic Conservation Planning | Jutta Beher, IIASA

• Toward a map of integrated Blue and Green Infrastructure in the Danube-Carpathian region | Georg Gruber, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna

MEETING DOCUMENTS

Large Carnivores:

• Action Plan on conservation of large carnivores and ensuring ecological connectivity in the Carpathians
• LECA project on supporting the coexistence and conservation of Carpathian Large Carnivores
• Proposal for a Concerted Action for the Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx) Proposed for Listing on Appendix II of the CMS Convention 
• Proposal for the Inclusion of the Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx) in Appendix II and Balkan Lynx (Lynx lynx balcanicus) in Appendix I of the CMS Convention

Carpathian Biodiversity Framework:

• Carpathian Biodiversity Framework
• Guidance Document for Streamlining the Carpathian Biodiversity Framework into National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans and its Annex I: Table with example policy actions relevant for the Carpathians for more information on the process
• Background note for the moderated discussion on the implementation of the Carpathian Biodiversity Framework
  

• Protocol on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biological and Landscape Diversity (Biodiversity Protocol) 
• Terms of Reference for the Carpathian Convention Working Group on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biological and Landscape Diversity (updated)
• WG Biodiversity Work Plan 2021 – 2023
• WG Biodiversity Work Plan 2024 – 2026

Follow-up Documents:

• Recommendations and Inputs from the Science for the Carpathians
• Annex 1 – NaturaConnect Workshop – Report
  

The 15th meeting of the Carpathian Convention WG Biodiversity was kindly hosted by the Ministry of Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology of Austria.