For the purposes of this Protocol:

(a) “Biological diversity” means the variability among living organisms which includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems;

(b) “Border area” means an area remaining under the jurisdiction of the respective Party in the proximity of the state border with another Party, where activities undertaken on one side of the state border are, depending on the nature of the particular activity, likely to have direct or indirect and adverse or positive environmental impact on the other side of the state border;

(c) “Carpathian Network of Protected Areas” means a thematic network of cooperation among protected areas in the Carpathians;

(d) “Conservation” means a series of measures required to maintain the natural habitats and the populations of species of wild fauna and flora at a favourable conservation status;

(e) “Conference of the Parties” means the Conference of the Parties to the Carpathian Convention.

(f) “Degraded habitat” means a habitat reduced in quality or value of ecological functions by various impacts such as pollution, unsustainable use of resources, invasive alien species, etc.;

(g) “Ecological network” means a system of areas which are ecologically and physically linked, consisting of core areas, corridors and buffer zones;

(h) “Endangered species” means species in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant proportion of their range;

(i) “Endemic species” means species native and unique to a defined place or region;

(j) “Invasive alien species” means non-native species introduced deliberately or unintentionally outside their natural habitats, where they become established, proliferate and spread in ways that cause damage to their receiving environment;

(k) “Landscape” means an area, as perceived by people, whose character is the result of the action and interaction of natural and/or human factors;

(l) “Landscape diversity” means the variability among landscapes;

(m) “Native species” means indigenous species to a given region or ecosystem;

(n) “Natural habitat” means the terrestrial or aquatic area distinguished by geographic, abiotic and biotic features where an organism or population naturally occurs;

(o) “Observer” means observer defined under the Article 14 paragraph 5 of the Carpathian Convention

(p) “Parties” means Parties to this Protocol;

(q) “Protected area” means a geographically defined area which is designated and managed to achieve specific conservation objectives;

(r) “Restoration” means the return of an ecosystem or habitat to its original structure, natural composition of species, and natural functions;

(s) “Semi-natural habitat” means a habitat that has been modified and maintained by human activities, but still holds species that occur naturally in the area;

(t) “Sustainable use” means the use of components of biological diversity in a way and at a rate that does not lead to the long-term decline of biological diversity, thereby maintaining its potential to meet the needs and aspirations of present and future generations;

(u) “Transboundary protected area” means an area composed of two or more protected areas located within the territories of two or more Parties, adjacent to the state border, each remaining under jurisdiction of respective Party.