Strengthening science-policy-practice interface and cooperation with scientific networks

The Conference of the Parties

1. Welcomes the efforts of the Secretariat to strengthen science – policy – practice interface, in order to enhance the implementation of the Carpathian Convention via creating synergies between its stakeholders and promoting inter-sectoral cooperation, such as stronger collaboration with the Science for the Carpathians (hereinafter S4C) network, as well as the elaboration and implementation of the project “Integrating nature protection and sustainable tourism development in the Carpathian region via science- policy-practice interface” and requests further actions by the Secretariat in this respect;
2. Welcomes stronger involvement of the S4C in the implementation of the Convention, based on the Memorandum of Understanding, its contribution to the COP5 and other Convention events, recognizes the effort by the Secretariat and the S4C to coordinate activities and requests the Secretariat to pursue closer collaboration with the S4C;
3. Acknowledging the benefits of integrating transdisciplinary approaches into Convention activities, welcomes the special session within the 9th meeting of the WG Biodiversity co-organized by the S4C and the Secretariat on improving exchange of scientific information to support decision making processes; and encourages S4C and the Secretariat to further support the process in relevant sectors and explore tools for more effective co-creation of knowledge and solutions for the Carpathian region;
4. Welcomes the outcomes of the 5th Forum Carpaticum: Adaptation to Environmental and Social Risk in the Carpathian Mountain Region, held on 15 – 18 October 2018 in Eger, Hungary thanks the S4C for the elaboration of the main recommendations for the Carpathian Convention, invites the S4C to further support the Carpathian Convention with its sound scientific knowledge and expertise and requests the Secretariat and the Parties to take S4C recommendations into close consideration when prioritizing, planning and implementing Convention activities;
5. Welcomes the information about the 6th Forum Carpaticum that will focus on Linking the Environmental, Political and Societal Aspects for Carpathian Sustainability to be held in 2021 in Brno, Czech Republic, notes the relevance of the workshop “Towards a stronger role of universities in shaping sustainable development of the Carpathian region”, to be co-organized by the Secretariat and the S4C, and invites the Parties and relevant stakeholders to take an active part in the Forum;
6. Recognizes the support provided by the German Federal Environment Ministry’s Advisory Assistance Programme (AAP), the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation and the German Environment Agency to the implementation of the Convention, including but not limited to the project “Integrating nature protection and sustainable tourism development into the Carpathian region via science- policy-practice interface,” and requests the Secretariat to continue cooperation with these agencies;
7. Welcomes the elaboration of the Memorandum of Understanding for the Cooperation between the Science for the Carpathians Network (S4C) and the Scientific Network for the Caucasus Mountain Region (SNC-mt), recognizes the efforts of the Secretariat to facilitate this process and requests the Secretariat to continue fostering scientific exchange between the Carpathians and other regions.