Background

In March 1976 the Second European Ministerial Conference on the Environment advised the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to set up a committee of experts to draft the text of a treaty for the conservation of wildlife “which would obviate the difficulties encountered in the implementation of existing conventions.” A committee was duly convened, a draft of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats was drawn up, the text was finally agreed by the Committee of Ministers in June 1979 and the Convention was opened for signature on 19 September 1979 in Berne – hence the name “Berne Convention”. It came into force on 1 June 1982. At the time of writing, thirteen European States and the European Economic Community are Parties to the Convention. A further seven States have signed but not yet ratified.

The aims of the Berne Convention are to “conserve wild flora and fauna and their natural habitats”, to promote cooperation between countries in their conservation efforts and to give “particular emphasis to endangered and vulnerable species, including endangered and vulnerable migratory species.”