The Conference of the Parties
1. Welcomes and supports further cooperation with international conventions and international bodies, including the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention), the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar Convention), the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention), the European Landscape Convention, the Council of Europe, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), FOREST EUROPE - the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe, the European Association of Mountain Areas (EUROMONTANA), the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR), the Visegrad Group; GRID Arendal, GRID Warsaw, the Mountain Research Initiative, the Global Mountain Biodiversity Assessment (GMBA), the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), especially WWF CEE and WWF Romania; the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC), appreciates the efforts made by the Secretariat in this process and encourages participation of the Secretariat in relevant meetings in order to establish and maintain close links and enhance synergies, where appropriate, between the relevant international actors and the Carpathian Convention;
2. Supports the idea of designating 2022 as the International Year of Mountains and encourages the Secretariat to liaise with the lead agency FAO as well as with UNEP in this respect;
3. Welcomes the United Nations General Assembly resolution (UNGA resolution No. 74/227) on “Sustainable Mountain Development” adopted in December 2019, which notes with appreciation the Carpathian Convention and the recent adoption of the Protocol on Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development, as well as the entry into force of the Protocol on Sustainable Transport, which promote constructive new approaches to integrated, sustainable mountain development and provide a forum for dialogue among stakeholders;
4. Requests the Secretariat to continue promoting the Carpathian Convention and sustainable mountain development in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals;
5. Welcomes the cooperation with the Alpine Convention in the framework of the concluded Memorandum of Understanding and requests the Secretariat to continue to strengthen the cooperation with the Alpine Convention and its Secretariat in fields of common interest, including institutional cooperation, the exchange of information and experience, the development and implementation of common projects, and raising awareness of the significance of sustainable development of mountain areas in Europe and other mountain regions of the world;
6. Welcomes the upcoming UN Decade on Ecosystems Restoration 2021 – 2030 aiming to massively scale up the restoration of degraded and destroyed ecosystems as a proven measure to fight climate change and enhance food security, water supply and biodiversity and, in this respect, calls upon the Parties to make strong commitments to achieve transformational ecosystem restoration, and requests the Secretariat to support the process, including via consultation with UNEP on possible activities;
7. Welcomes the outcomes of the UN Summit on Biodiversity held on 30th of September 2020, at the margins of the United Nations General Assembly, calling for increased resolve to protect biodiversity for sustainable development, as well as the Leaders’ Pledge for Nature as an ambitious commitment of world leaders, including heads of state and government from some Parties to the Carpathian Convention, to reverse biodiversity loss by 2030;
8. Appreciating the work of Euromontana on increasing the importance of the mountain areas at the EU and international levels, adopts the Memorandum of Cooperation between Euromontana and the Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention and recommends implementation of the related Work Plan;
9. Encourages the Secretariat to strengthen cooperation with the Danube River Protection Convention and discuss possible further common activities with the ICPDR Secretariat;
10. Welcomes the celebration of the International Mountain Day, especially the high-level event “Mountain adaptation: Vulnerable peaks and people” held on 11 December 2018 at the 24th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (UNFCCC COP24) in Katowice) Poland, and thanks UNEP and Poland for organizing the event;
11. Supports the establishment and implementation of projects to foster further experience exchange between the Alps, the Pyrenees, the Caucasus Mountains, the Carpathians and other mountain regions, requests the Secretariat to implement the required activities and promote partnerships with other mountain regions, including interregional cooperation, and invites the UNEP, all interested partners and donors to participate in and to contribute to the process.
12. Appreciates the awarding of the Carpathian Convention with the prestigious WWF “Gift to the Earth” Award, expresses its gratitude WWF CEE for its continued support and contribution to the work of the Carpathian Convention, especially demonstrated by the implementation of numerous projects focused on environmental protection and sustainable development of the Carpathian and great cooperation with the Secretariat, invites WWF CEE to further support achieving the objectives of the Carpathian Convention, and requests the Secretariat to further support this cooperation.