What is PEBLDS?

The Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy (PEBLDS)

The Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy was endorsed at the third Pan-European Conferences of Ministers of the Environment "Environment for Europe" held in Sofia in October 1995, it concerns more than 50 countries of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. The PEBLDS is a European response to support the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Strategy was proposed in the Maastricht Declaration (1993), and builds on the Bern Convention, the European Conservation Strategy (1990), the Dobrís and Lucerne Ministerial Conferences (1991, 1993), the Earth Summit (1992), and other existing initiatives and programmes. The Strategy aims to strengthen the application of the Bern Convention in relation to the Convention on Biological Diversity, following the Monaco Declaration. The drafting group for the Strategy was lead by ECNC.

The Strategy introduces a coordinating and unifying framework for strengthening and building on existing initiatives. It does not aim to introduce new legislation or programmes, but to fill gaps where initiatives are not implemented to their full potential or fail to achieve desired objectives. It provides the opportunity to take more effective measures by facilitating the development of a common approach to the conservation of Europe's biodiversity and by helping to promote coordinated action.

The Joint Secretariat of the Pan-European Strategy carries out the daily operations and is composed of the Council of Europe and UNEP.

Framework for the Rolling Work Programme based on the harmonisation of the Strategic Plan of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

Goal 1: The PEBLDS is fulfilling its role as facilitator for European biodiversity issues, in close collaboration with other strategic frameworks, in particular the European Commission biodiversity strategy, as well as facilitating CBD implementation in the pan European region.

Obj. 1.1: The PEBLDS is setting the Pan-European biodiversity agenda in the framework of the ‘Environment for Europe’ process, and facilitating the regional preparation and follow up to the CBD Meeting of the Conference of the Parties.
Obj. 1.2: The PEBLDS is promoting co-operation between all relevant European instruments and processes, as well as global instruments and processes on the Pan-European level, to enhance policy coherence.
Obj. 1.3: Other relevant European processes are actively supporting implementation of the PEBLDS and CBD, in a manner consistent with their respective frameworks.
Obj. 1.4: Biodiversity and landscape concerns are being integrated into relevant sectoral or cross-sectoral plans, programmes and policies at the sub-regional and pan European levels, to meet conservation and sustainable use objectives.
Obj. 1.5: Participants in the PEBLDS process are collaborating at the regional and sub-regional levels: (1) for the implementation of the CBD; (2) for the conservation, enhancement and restoration of key ecosystems, habitats, species and features of the landscape through the creation and effective management of the Pan-European Ecological Network; (3) for the implementation of the Landscape convention; and (4) for the sustainable management and use of the positive potential of Europe’s biological and landscape diversity through making optimum use of the social and economic opportunities on a national and regional level.

Goal 2:  Participants in the PEBLDS process have improved financial, human, scientific, technical, and technological capacity to implement the PEBLDS and the CBD.

Obj. 2.1: All participants in the PEBLDS process have adequate capacity for implementation of priority actions in national biodiversity strategy and action plans.
Obj. 2.2: All participants in the PEBLDS process with economies in transition have sufficient resources available to implement the PEBLDS and the three objectives of the CBD.
Obj. 2.3: Technical and scientific co-operation is making a significant contribution to building capacity in the pan European region.

Goal 3:  National biodiversity strategies and action plans and the integration of biodiversity and landscape concerns into relevant sectors serve as an effective framework for the implementation of the objectives of the PEBLDS and the CBD.

Obj. 3.1: All participants in the PEBLDS process have effective national strategies, plans and programmes in place to provide a national framework for implementing the PEBLDS, the three objectives of the CBD and to set clear national priorities.
Obj. 3.2: Biodiversity and landscape concerns are being integrated into relevant national sectoral and cross-sectoral plans, programmes and policies to meet conservation and sustainable use objectives in the pan European region.
Obj. 3.3: The priorities in national biodiversity strategies and action plans of the pan European region are being actively implemented, as a means to achieve national implementation of the PEBLDS and the CBD, and as a significant contribution towards the global biodiversity agenda.

Goal 4:  There is a better understanding of the importance of biodiversity, landscape, PEBLDS and of the CBD in the pan European region, and this has led to broader engagement across society in implementation.

Obj. 4.1: All participants in the PEBLDS process are implementing a communication, education, and public awareness strategy and promoting public participation in support of PEBLDS and CBD.

Obj. 4.2: Indigenous and local communities in the pan European region are effectively involved in implementation and in the processes of the PEBLDS and the CBD.

Obj. 4.3: Key actors and stakeholders, including the private sector, are engaged in partnership to implement the PEBLDS and the CBD and are integrating biodiversity and landscape concerns into their relevant sectoral and cross-sectoral plans, programmes and policies.