Berne Convention

The Berne Convention or the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats was signed in the city of the same name in 1979. This treaty focuses on the conservation of nature and emphasises the concept of natural habitat, the conservation of threatened species and cooperation between state members. It concerns Europe as well as a few African countries.

Countries that have signed this convention must implement national conservation policies for natural habitats, wildlife and wild flora. Conservation efforts must especially be taken into account in land development programs and the fight against pollution.

Moreover, the treaty encourages research on threatened species, their habitats, migration and the pressures that affect them. It also favours the spread of knowledge and information on these subjects and their issues, especially by education.

Annexes of the Berne Convention

With regard to species, the Berne Convention defines three annexes, depending on the conservation status of the species in question:

• Annexes I and II list species of flora and fauna for which all forms of exploitation as well as the degradation of the environment are prohibited;
• Annex III lists species of wildlife whose exploitation is regulated (periods of exploitation, selective capture technique, etc.).

This convention notably resulted in the creation of a pan-European ecological network, which is composed of the Natura 2000 network in the European Union and the Emerald network elsewhere in Europe.