Part III examines four treaties which are concerned with the conservation of wildlife in four distinct geographical areas. The oldest is the Convention on Nature Protection and Wildlife Preservation in the Western Hemisphere (the “Western Hemisphere Convention”). It was concluded in 1940 and is open to countries in North, Central and South America. Next came the African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (the “African Convention”), which was adopted in Algiers in 1968 and is open to Member States of the Organization of African Unity. The other two treaties are much newer. The Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (generally known as the “Berne Convention” because it was concluded in Berne in Switzerland) was opened for signature in 1979 but only came into force in June 1982. It is open to Member States of the Council of Europe, although there are certain circumstances in which other countries may become Parties. The Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (“CCAMLR”) was signed in 1980 and came into force in April 1982. CCAMLR emanated from the Antarctic Treaty and.has so far been signed only by Parties to the Antarctic Treaty, but other countries are allowed to join if they satisfy certain conditions.

The Western Hemisphere Convention, the African Convention and the Berne Convention have much in common. The most important link between them is the special emphasis that they each give to habitat protection.