Establishment within the Council of Europe of a permanent system of co-operation in matters concerning the protection of nature in Europe

Recommendation 284 (1961)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

Assembly debate, on 27th April 1961 (6th Sitting) (see Doc. 1266, Report of the Cultural Committee). Text adopted by the Assembly on 27th April 1961 (6th Sitting).

The Assembly,

1. In conformity with the invitation of the Committee of Ministers, as contained in their Communication to the Assembly dated 12th December 1960, in which the Committee expressed the hope that the Assembly would co-operate with them in the study and implementation of new projects of European interest suitable for collective action;

2. Having regard to the substantial inroads being made on the countryside by increasing industrial and urban development;

3. Aware of the need in Europe for effective action to preserve the character of its landscape and to protect its fauna and flora;

4. Recognising that, with due regard to the considerable efforts already being made at national and international level, such action will be greatly facilitated in Europe if carried out multilaterally, as a joint endeavour;

5. Noting in particular the valuable work now being done by UNESCO, FAO, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), the International Committee for Bird Preservation (ICBP), the International Hunting Council (CIC) and other international organisations, and stressing the importance of working in the closest possible collaboration with them,

Recommends that the Committee of Ministers examine, in the light of the Report of the Cultural Committee (Doc. 1266) :

1 the desirability of establishing within the framework of the Council of Europe a permanent system of co-operation in order to :

a preserve the landscape, especially areas of outstanding natural beauty ;

b promote the establishment of new nature reserves and national parks;

c work generally for the conservation of nature and natural resources and for the protection of fauna and flora;

2 the advisability of organising this co-operation through a permanent Committee of Experts which would, inter alia :

a exchange information with existing organisations working for similar objectives;

b maintain an up-to-date record of legislation already in force, at national and international level, relating to these matters, and prepare further conventions and legislation where deemed necessary;

c create in the mind of the public a greater sense of awareness of the existence of these problems in Europe and of the urgent need for effective measures to solve them;

d assist the Committee of Ministers in examining such recommendations as the Assembly may transmit to it in this connection ;

3 the possibility of creating a specialised Institute in Vienna as outlined in the report (Doc. 1266) for the purposes mentioned in paragraph (1) and/or to assist the Committee of Experts mentioned in paragraph (2);

Recommends that the Committee of Ministers consider convening an ad hoc Committee to assist them in determining the best way to achieve the objects set out in paragraphs (1) (a), (b) and (c) above, bearing in mind the suggestions contained in paragraphs (2) and (3);

Recommends further that the Committee of Ministers should implement these proposals on the basis of a partial agreement, if this were found to be necessary.