THE MOUNTAIN DIMENSION OF COOPERATION Carpathian Biosphere Reserve, Transcarpathia, Ukraine Photo: Vian / Wikimedia Commons Carpathian Convention as a governance mechanism in the mountainous region Klaudia Kuraś UN Environment Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention 09/11/2018, Brussels, Belgium
The Carpathians at glance Largest, longest, most twisted and fragmented mountain range in Europe Providing essential ecosystem goods to communities in seven countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Ukraine) Over 50% of the territory natural and seminatural forests
The Carpathians harbour of extraordinary natural and cultural heritage
The Carpathian Convention A framework Convention for cooperation and multi-sectoral policy coordination Adopted on 22nd May 2003 Entered in force on 4th January 2006 Ratified by all the seven Carpathian countries A platform for joint strategies for sustainable development A forum for dialogue between all stakeholders involved Goal: Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development of the Carpathian Region
Institutional Structure Carpathian Convention Carpathian Convention Implementation Committee WG Biodiversity WG Climate Change WG Sustainable Forest Management WG Sustainable Tourism WG SARD WG Cultural Heritage and Traditional Knowledge WG Sustainable Transport Carpathian Network of Protected Areas (CNPA) Protocol on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biological and Landscape Diversity in place Protocol on Sustainable Tourism in place Protocol on Sustainable Forest Management in place Protocol on Sustainable Transport in place Protocol on Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development in place Protocol on Cultural Heritage and Traditional Knowledge in progress
means better connected Carpathian region with transport infrastructure that takes nature conservation into account. aims to contribute to safer and environmentally-friendly road and rail networks in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, and Ukraine http://www.interreg-danube.eu/approved-projects/transgreen means restoration and managing ecological corridors in the Carpathian being implemented in in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Ukraine http://www.interreg-danube.eu/approved-projects/connectgreen
Better recognition of the Carpathian region at the EU level?
Legal framework, financing programmes, macroregional strategies at the EU level Alpine Convention 1991 Helsinki Convention 1992 Danube River Protection Convention 1994 Adriatic and Ionian Initiative 2000 Carpathian Convention 2003 Interreg IIIB Alpine Space Programm 2001 2006; Interreg IVB Alpine Space programme 2007-2013; Interreg Alpine Space 2014-2020 Baltic Sea Region INTERREG IIC Programme 1996-1999 Baltic Sea Region INTERREG III B Neighbourhood Programme 2000-2006 South Baltic Cross-border Co-operation Programme 2007 2013 Central Baltic INTERREG IV A Programme 2007-2013 Interreg South Baltic Programme 2014-2020 Interreg Danube Transnational Programme 2014-2020 Interreg Adriatic- Ionian programme 2014-2020? EU Strategy for the Alpine Region 2015 EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region 2009 EU Strategy for the Danube Region 2010 The EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region 2014?
Thank you for your attention! Klaudia Kuraś UN Environment Vienna Office Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention Klaudia.kuras@un.org www.carpathianconvention.org https://www.unenvironment.org/