Liste Alpinet - alpinet2k

Conventia Carpatica intrata in vigoare, fara Romania

Stimati Colegi,

Traim ziua mareata cand prin ratificarea Conventiei
Carpatice de catre Ungaria, Conventia intra in
vigoare. Romania nu este parte la ea. Inca o reusita
in seria actiunilor nostre viguroase la nivel
regional, European, planetar si nu numai

Cum zicea frecvent un mare biolog al Romaniei: Asta-I
scula, cu asta Regulam.

Peter





From: Harald EGERER
[mailto: Harald. Egerer@unvienna.org]
Subject: Carpathian Convention Enters into Force on 4
January 2006
Importance: High


Dear Friends and Colleagues,

We have the pleasure to inform you about today's entry
into force of
the
Carpathian Convention, following the ratifications by
the Czech
Republic, Hungary, Slovak Republic and Ukraine.

UNEP Headquarters has prepared and circulated the
attached press
release, which we would like to share with you:

(See attached file: Entry into Force Carpathian
Convention 4 January
2006.doc)

We are looking forward to our continuing fruitful
cooperation for
protection and sustainable mountain development, and
wish you all a
Happy "Carpathian" New Year!

Kind regards,

UNEP Vienna ISCC Team


*********************************************************************
Mr. Harald Egerer
Head
United Nations Environment Programme - Vienna Interim
Secretariat of
the
Carpathian Convention UNEP Vienna - ISCC
Room: D0426
Vienna International Centre
PO Box 500
A 1400 Vienna
Austria

Tel: (+ 43 - 1) 26060- 4545
Fax: (+ 43 - 1) 26060 - 7 - 4545

Mobile: +43 699 14 59 4545
E-mail: harald.egerer@unvienna.org


Mountain Region in the Heart of Europe gets Legal
Protection
Vienna/Nairobi, 4 January 2006 - The up to 18 million
people living in the Carpathian mountain region have
cause to celebrate today with the entry into force of
a new international treaty to conserve the area s rich
wildlife, wondrous landscapes and cultural heritage.
With the decision of Hungary, it brings to four the
number of nations that have now ratified the
Carpathian Convention allowing it to come into full
legal life. The other three countries are the Slovak
Republic, Ukraine and the Czech Republic.
The Carpathian region contains Europe s greatest
reserve of pristine forest and is a refuge for brown
bears, wolves, bison, lynx, eagles and some 200 unique
plant species found nowhere else in the world.
It also provides some of the Continent s cleanest
streams and drinking water supplies. The treaty covers
seven countries the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland,
Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, the Slovak Republic
and the Ukraine whose cultural heritage is also
considered unique and shared.
Klaus Toepfer, Executive Director of the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) which has played
a key role in developing the Convention, said today:
The entry into force offers a beacon of hope for the
people and wildlife of this region faced with the
pressures of a rapidly changing world. I would urge
the three countries yet to ratify to do so as soon as
they can.
While the region is blessed with rich and bountiful
natural capital, it also faces many threats
including poverty, unemployment, unplanned
development, over-exploitation of natural resources,
pollution, deforestation and excessive hunting, he
added.
This legally living treaty is aimed at balancing the
economic needs of the people with the need to conserve
the environment. In doing so it can play a critical
part in delivering sustainable development and offers
a blue print for other mountain regions in the world,
said Mr Toepfer.
Indeed UNEP has recently received requests from the
South East European (Balkan) and Caucasus mountain
regions to support transboundary initiatives and
cooperation inspired by its work on the Carpathians.
Within the framework of the global Mountain
Partnership, UNEP is also sharing its experience on
the Carpathian Convention with other mountain regions
such as the Andes, Central Asia and
Hindukush-Karakoram-Himalaya.
The development of the Framework Convention on the
Protection and Sustainable Development of the
Carpathians began in 2002 during the United Nations
International Year of the Mountains. It mirrors the
development of the Alpine Convention which pre dates
it.
The Carpathian treaty was adopted and signed in May
2003 at the fifth Environment for Europe Conference
which took place in Kyiv, Ukraine by all seven
countries concerned. Entry into force required the
ratification of four of the seven countries which has
now occurred.
The Convention lays down key principles which are
spawning collaboration between the countries concerned
and their local authorities, civil society
organizations and committed individuals.
Actions, which will now be accelerated by the
convention s entry into force, include ones to:
Conserve biological and landscape diversity and use
it sustainably. The planned Carpathian Network of
Protected Areas will restore degraded habitats and
reconnect fragmented ones to allow species to travel
and migrate.
Coordinate spatial planning in border areas. Since
the Carpathians constitute a single natural region,
governments aim to coordinate their national transport
and energy systems and prevent cross-border pollution.

Ensure the integrated management of water
resources and river basins. All aspects of water
management, from pollution and sanitation to flood
control and wetlands protection, are interdependent
and need to be addressed simultaneously.
Promote sustainable agriculture and forestry.
Agricultural and land-management policies need to
incorporate environmental concerns, while the multiple
functions of forests must each be recognized and
protected.
Develop sustainable transport and physical
infrastructure. Sensitive areas that are biologically
rich, serve as migration routes or have a special
value for tourism should not be damaged by transport
systems or development.
Create sustainable tourism. Promoting responsible
tourism and recreation facilities that protect
landscapes while benefiting local communities can
provide a win-win solution for people and nature.
Advance environmentally sound industry and energy.
The adverse impacts of development can be minimized
through cleaner production technologies, a rapid
response to industrial accidents and stricter
oversight of mining operations.
Preserve cultural heritage and traditional
knowledge. Special efforts are often needed to nurture
local goods and handicrafts, traditional architecture,
local breeds of domestic animals and the sustainable
use of wild plants.
Assess and monitor the environment. Key activities
include research, risk assessment and identifying
natural and man-made environmental hazards through
early-warning systems.
Raise awareness and educate people. Protecting the
Carpathians requires the active participation of the
general public in decision-making and improved public
access to information.
Notes to Editors
The first Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to
the Carpathian Convention will take place in June 2006
where decisions will be taken on the Convention s work
programme.
The Convention has been developed in partnership with
the Alpine Convention and its creation has been
actively supported by several Alpine countries
including Austria, Italy, Liechtenstein and
Switzerland.
UNEP is currently the Interim Secretariat of the
Convention which is hosted by Austria at the Vienna
International Centre.
The Government of Italy provides on going scientific
support to the Convention on mountain sustainable
development issues via the European Academy (EURAC) in
Bolzano.
The web site for the Carpathian Convention can be
accessed at
www.carpathianconvention.org
For More Information Please Contact Nick Nuttall, UNEP
Spokesperson, on Tel: 254 20 623084, Mobile: 254 733
632755 or E-mail: nick.nuttall@unep.org
If there is no prompt response please contact
Elisabeth Waechter, UNEP Associate Media Officer, on
Tel: 254 20 623088, Mobile: 254 720 173968, e-mail:
elisabeth.waechter@unep.org
UNEP News Release

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