The Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (known as the “Bern Convention”) is a pioneering instrument of international law for the preservation of biodiversity in Europe, signed by 50 States and the European Union. Its purpose is to ensure the conservation of wild flora and fauna and their natural habitat. It ensures the protection of endangered and vulnerable species listed in the annexes.
Its financing relies on a dozen voluntary contributors only, even though the European continent, like the rest of the world, is facing an accelerated loss of biodiversity and threats to natural environments. By 2030, the decline in biodiversity is likely to lead to a collapse of wildlife and habitats, degrading human health and well-being and weakening the ecological balance of our planet. The need for co-operation on a pan-European scale to educate new generations, to combat environmental pollution, and to better protect Europe's flora and fauna has never been greater.
One of the options to ensure the financial and institutional stability of the Bern Convention is to develop a draft Protocol of Amendment to the Convention, establishing a mechanism of mandatory financial contributions. The implementation of a long-term solution should go hand in hand with more voluntary contributions to the new Bern Convention Fund, to ensure that the Convention has the necessary resources to carry out its work program.
The Parliamentary Assembly could make recommendations to ensure sustainable and equitable funding to strengthen the Council of Europe environmental treaty benefit and thus concretely guarantee the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.