Standing Committee Decisions
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Strasbourg, 4 December 2015 T-PVS (2015) Misc [MiscEfinal.docx] CONVENTION ON THE CONSERVATION OF EUROPEAN WILDLIFE AND NATURAL HABITATS Standing Committee 35th meeting Strasbourg, 1-4 December 2015 Palais de l’Europe, Room 5 LIST OF DECISIONS AND ADOPTED TEXTS Memorandum of the Secretariat established by the Directorate of Democratic Governance This document will not be distributed at the meeting. Please bring this copy. Ce document ne sera plus distribué en réunion. Prière de vous munir de cet exemplaire. T-PVS (2015) Misc - 2 – CONTENT List of decisions ......................................................................................................................................... ...3 Recommendation No. 176 (2015) on the prevention and control of the Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans chytrid fungus ................................................................................................................ 22 [document T-PVS (2015) 9] Recommendation No. 177 (2015) on the gravity factors and sentencing principles for the evaluation of offences against birds, and in particular the illegal killing, trapping and trade of wild birds ..................... 24 [document T-PVS (2015) 19] Recommendation No. 178 (2015) on the control of feral ungulates in islands of the Mediterranean and Macaronesian Regions ................................................................................................................................ 30 [document T-PVS (2015) 5] Recommendation No. 179 (2015) on action to promote and complement the implementation of EU Regulation 1143/2014 on invasive alien species ......................................................................................... 33 [document T-PVS (2015) 11] Recommendation No. 180 (2015) on improving the conservation of nature outside protected areas proper [document T-PVS (2015) 18] ...................................................................................................................... 35 Recommendation No. 181 (2015) on the Future of the European Diploma for Protected Areas .................. 37 [document T-PVS (2015) 15] Revised Calendar for the implementation of the Emerald Network 2011-2020 ......................................... 39 [document T-PVS (2015) 24] Programme of work on climatic change and biodiversity conservation ..................................................... 42 [document T-PVS/Inf (2015) 25] Recommendation No. 175 (2015) on the monitoring of the agreement concluded in the frame of complaint No. 2013/5 (Lithuania) ............................................................................................................................... 46 [document T-PVS (2015) 24] Recommendation No. 182 (2015) to the Bern convention on the conservation of Caretta caretta and its habitat at Patara (Turkey) ............................................................................................................................ 50 [document T-PVS (2015) 22] Recommendation No. 183 (2015) on the conservation, management, and restoration of Fethiye nesting beaches (Turkey) ......................................................................................................................................... 53 [document T-PVS (2015) 29] Recommendation No. 184 (2015) to the Bern convention on the planned hydropower plants on the territory of the Mavrovo National Park (“the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”)………………..56 [document T-PVS (2015) 21] Appendix I - Updated list of officially nominated candidate Emerald sites ............................................... 58 Appendix II - Programme of activities and budget of the Bern convention for the year 2016…………. 119 Appendix III – Follow-up of Recommendation n° 169 (2013) – Statement from Switzerland ................. 131 Appendix IV - Follow-up of Recommendation n° 169 (2013) - Presentation by the NGO ....................... 132 Appendix V - Follow-up of Recommendation n° 169 (2013) – Presentation by the French NGO ……... 139 - 3 - T-PVS (2015) Misc PART I – OPENING 1. OPENING OF THE MEETING AND ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA Relevant documents: T-PVS (2015) 1 - Draft agenda T-PVS (2015) 27 - Annotated draft agenda The Chair, Mr Øystein Størkersen, opened the 35th meeting of the Standing Committee to the Bern convention on 1st December 2015 at 9.30 am. The draft agenda was adopted with minor amendments. 2. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DELEGATIONS AND FROM THE SECRETARIAT Relevant documents: T-PVS (2015) 6 and 26 Reports of the Bureau meetings in March and September 2015 T-PVS (2014) 15 – Abridged report of the 34th Standing Committee meeting The Committee took note of the information presented by the Chair and the Secretariat on the implementation of the Programme of Activities for 2015, and welcomed the significant results achieved this year. In particular, the Committee praised the progress achieved in the further development of ecological networks, the prevention and control of invasive alien species, and the implementation of the Tunis Action Plan against illegal killing of birds. The Committee also recognised the proactive contribution of the Groups of Experts in identifying and addressing new emerging challenges. The Committee further welcomed the continuous efforts made by the Secretariat towards raising the visibility of the convention in and outside the European Continent, through both the development of specific communication actions and continued co-ordination with other international organisations. The Committee thanked the Parties that made additional contributions to the budget of the convention, enabling the Secretariat to fulfil, and even expand, the scope and reach of a particularly ambitious programme of activities in 2015. PART II – MONITORING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF LEGAL ASPECTS 3. MONITORING OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE CONVENTION 3.1 Biennial reports 2009-2010, 2011-2012, 2013-2014 concerning exceptions made to Articles 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 and quadrennial reports 2009-2012 Relevant documents: T-PVS/Inf (2015) 6 – Summary tables of reporting under the Bern convention Biennial Reports 2009-2010 Biennial Reports 2011-2012 Biennial Reports 2013-2014 The Secretariat recalled that, in conformity with Article 9, paragraph 2, of the Parties having made exceptions to Articles 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 shall present these exceptions in writing. According to a practice adopted by the Standing Committee, Parties may also present general reports on the implementation of the convention. The Committee took note of the biennial reports submitted by nineteen parties for the reporting cycle 2013-2014, and requested Parties not having reported to do so as soon as possible. The Committee warmly thanked the Parties having used the Online Reporting System (ORS) for their submissions during the testing phase, and asked the Secretariat to take stock of pending problems and T-PVS (2015) Misc - 4 – collect the views of the users in view of the further improvement of the System. The Committee reminded EU countries that the current regulations do not prevent the EU member States from reporting on the Bern convention using the Habides reporting system. However, the reports so submitted should comply with the conditions set under Article 9 of the convention, as clarified at the 34th Standing Committee meeting. The preparation by the EU of an analysis comparing the information requested by the Bern convention and the reporting requirements under relevant EU instruments is a preliminary condition for the future use of Habides as a valid reporting tool under Article 9 of the convention by those EU member states which so wish. Yet, the Committee encourages the widespread use of the ORS as a way to respond to Parties' concerns about the need to streamlining reporting under different biodiversity-related conventions. Finally, the Committee reminded Parties to refer to the Revised Resolution No. 2 (1993) on the scope of Articles 8 and 9 of the Bern convention, in conjunction with the convention's explanatory report, for all matters related to the interpretation of Article 9. 3.2 Report on the implementation of the convention in Greece Relevant document: T-PVS/Inf (2015) 22 – Expert’s report on the implementation of the convention in Greece The Committee took note of the legal report by Ms Virginia Murray on the implementation of the convention in Greece, and thanked her for the excellent work. The Committee further regretted the absence of a delegate of Greece, but appreciated to know from Ms Murray that the national officers interviewed for the finalisation of the report showed agreement towards its preliminary conclusions. Moreover, the Committee took note of the concerns expressed by MEDASSET regarding the lack of significant funding and administrative investment of time and political will, necessary to enable Greece to fully comply with its international obligations in the field of nature conservation. The Committee also noted that Greece has now a rather comprehensive legal framework in the field of nature conservation, and that additional efforts should be devoted to its concrete implementation. The Committee concluded by emphasising on the utility of the legal report for both Greece and the EU, in order to better address the gaps and shortcomings identified in the implementation of the convention. PART III –MONITORING OF SPECIES AND HABITATS 4. MONITORING OF SPECIES AND HABITATS The Secretariat reminded that Contracting Parties have the possibility to report to the plenary