Conservation of European wildlife

Recommendation 1033 (1986)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

Assembly debate on 22 April 1986 (3rd Sitting) (see Doc. 5543, report of the Committee on the Environment, Regional Planning and Local Authorities). Text adopted by the Assembly on 22 April 1986 (3rd Sitting).

Thesaurus

The Assembly,

1. Having regard to the Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats, which was signed in Berne on 19 September 1979, entered into force on 1 June 1982 and has now been ratified by fourteen member states of the Council ofEurope, by Finland and by the European Economic Community ;

2. Taking note of the work of the standing committee of the convention and stressing the importance it attaches to the regular exchange of views between the standing committee and the Sub-committee on the Environment of its Committee on the Environment, Regional Planning and Local Authorities ;

3. Having regard to the information supplied by governments of the Contracting Parties as well as by various non-governmental organisations ;

4. Having regard to the work in progress on this matter in the European Parliament ;

5. Noting that since the entry into force of the convention appropriate legislation has been enacted in most member states, but that in some countries it is not always effective or enforced ;

6. Concerned that the cause of conservation has not enjoyed adequate priority in member states,

7. Shares its disappointment with those of its members who for years have been pressing quite emphatically for urgent action to promote conservation ;Recalls that the convention is open to non-member states of the Council of Europe, and welcomes with particular satisfaction :

7.1 the interest shown by certain Africancountries and the publication of a relevant Council of Europe booklet ;

7.2 Finland's ratification of the convention,hoping that other states will follow this example ;

8. Calls on the standing committee of the convention to take a more firm and urgent view of the need for progress introducing positive recommendations, since reliance upon quiescent platitudes is leading to a further and probably grave decline of Europe's natural inheritance ;

9. Recommends that the Committee of Ministers ask the standing committee responsible for following the application of the convention to present identified needs and to assess clear failures at its next meeting, and to issue immediate advice as to the action which is necessary to secure the protection of those sites and species which are immediately imperilled, and to provide a copy of its assessment to the Parliamentary Assembly.