16th Meeting of the Working Group on Biodiversity
13 -14 May 2025 | Veselí nad Moravou, Czech Republic
The 16th Meeting of the Carpathian Convention Working Group (WG) on Biodiversity will be held 13 -14 May 2025 in Veselí nad Moravou, Czech Republic.
The meeting will address a variety of key topics crucial for advancing the implementation of the Carpathian Convention and its Protocol on Biodiversity. It will specifically explore the following subjects:
- Large carnivore conservation, including updates on relevant projects and the Carpathian lynx strategy
- Cooperation with and implementation of international frameworks, including, among sessions, a workshop on developing the Carpathian LIFE Strategic Nature Project (SNaP) for implementing the Carpathian Biodiversity Framework
- Cooperation with relevant projects and networks
- Cooperation with Ukraine
For more information about the topics to be discussed at the WG Biodiversity meeting, please consult the meeting agenda above and background documents and links below.
MEETING PRESENTATIONS
LARGE CARNIVORE CONSERVATION IN THE CARPATHIANS:
1. LECA project: Supporting the coexistence and conservation of Carpathian Large CArnivores – Martin Dul’a, Mendel University in Brno / Project Lead Partner
2. LIFE WILD WOLF project – Miroslav Kutal, Mendel University in Brno
3. ForestConnect project: Towards a Climate-smart Forest Connectivity for Large Carnivores in the Balkan-Carpathian-Dinaric Region – Polona Zakrajšek, Carinthia University of Applied Sciences
4. Conservation of the Carpathian lynx in West and Central Europe – Jakub Kubala, Technical University Zvolen
COOPERATION WITH AND IMPLEMENTATION OF RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL FRAMEWORKS
5. Updates and Outlook from the EU Strategy for the Danube Region Priority Area 6 – Florian Ballnus, EUSDR PA6 Coordinator
6. Presentation of the Alpine Convention Biodiversity Board: Engagement on the EU Nature Restoration Law – Claire de Kermadec, Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention
7. Presentation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Mountain Programme of Work – Jamal Annagylyjova, CBD Secretariat
8. Implementing the Carpathian Biodiversity Framework: Presentation and Workshop of the Carpathian LIFE Strategic Nature Project (SNaP) – Carpathian Convention Secretariat, Dorothea Palenberg, Blue! Advancing european projects, and Zbigniew Niewiadomski
COOPERATION WITH OTHER RELEVANT NETWORKS AND PROJECTS
9. Updates and Outlook from the Carpathian Network of Protected Areas (CNPA) – Mircea Verghelet, Piatra Craiului National Park / CNPA
10. Updates and Outlook from the Science for the Carpathians (S4C) – Joanna Zawiejska, University of the National Education Commission, Kraków / S4C
11. Updates and Outlook from the Carpathian ESD Expert Network – Tamara Mitrofanenko, Carpathian Convention Secretariat
12. Updates and Outlook from the Carpathian Wetland Initiative (CWI) – Natália Kubicová, State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic / CWI
13. Presentation of the NaturaConnect project: Building a resilient ecological network of conserved areas across Europe for nature and people – Hildegard Meyer, World Wildlife Fund Central and Eastern Europe
COOPERATION WITH UKRAINE
14. Presentation of the Secretariat’s Initiatives for Supporting the Ukrainian Carpathians – Tamara Mitrofanenko, Carpathian Convention Secretariat
15. Presentation on the Peace Park initiative between Ukraine and Romania – Gabriel Paun, Agent Green
MEETING DOCUMENTS AND LINKS
Meeting Programme:
- Draft Agenda
- Background Note for the Session on the Nature Restoration Law
- Background Note for the Session on the Carpathian LIFE SNaP proposal
- Logistic Note
Large Carnivores:
- International Action Plan on conservation of large carnivores and ensuring ecological connectivity in the Carpathians
- LECA project on supporting the coexistence and conservation of Carpathian Large Carnivores
- ForestConnect project: Towards a Climate-smart Forest Connectivity for Large Carnivores in the Balkan-Carpathian Region
- Proposal for a Concerted Action for the Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx) Proposed for Listing on Appendix II of the CMS Convention
- Proposal for the Inclusion of the Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx) in Appendix II and Balkan Lynx (Lynx lynx balcanicus) in Appendix I of the CMS Convention
Carpathian Biodiversity Framework:
- Carpathian Biodiversity Framework
- Guidance Document for Streamlining the Carpathian Biodiversity Framework into National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans
- Protocol on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biological and Landscape Diversity (Biodiversity Protocol)
- Terms of Reference for the Carpathian Convention Working Group on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biological and Landscape Diversity (updated)
- WG Biodiversity Work Plan 2021 – 2023
- WG Biodiversity Work Plan 2024 – 2026
Relevant Projects and Networks:
- NaturaConnect project on building a resilient ecological network of conserved areas across Europe for nature and people
- Recommendations and Inputs from the Science for the Carpathians
