Berne Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats


The Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, also known as the Bern Convention, is a binding international legal instrument in the field of Nature Conservation, it covers the natural heritage in Europe, as well as in some African countries.
The Convention was open for signature on 19 September 1979 and came into force on 1 June 1982. It is particularly concerned about protecting natural habitats and endangered species, including migratory species.

Aims and objectives

The convention has three main aims, which are stated in Article 1:
The convention is divided into:
;Preamble
;Chapter I – General provisions
;Chapter II – Protection of habitats
;Chapter III – Protection of species
;Chapter IV – Special provisions for migratory species
;Chapter V – Supplementary provisions
;Chapter VI – Standing Committee
;Chapter VII – Amendments
;Chapter VIII – Settlement of disputes
;Chapter IX – Final provisions
; Appendices

Ratifying states

Member States of the Council of Europe, status as of April 28, 2018
StateSignatureRatificationEntry into force
Albania31 October 199513 January 19991 May 1999
Andorra11 May 200013 October 20001 February 2001
Armenia13 March 200614 April 20081 August 2008
Austria19 September 19792 May 19831 September 1983
Azerbaijan28 March 2000 a1 July 2000
Belgium19 September 197924 August 19901 December 1990
Bosnia and Herzegovina17 November 200817 November 20081 March 2009
Bulgaria31 January 1991 a1 May 1991
Croatia3 November 19993 July 20001 November 2000
Cyprus21 October 198116 May 19881 September 1988
Czech Republic8 October 199725 February 19981 June 1998
Denmark19 September 19798 September 19821 January 1983
Estonia3 August 1992 a1 December 1992
Finland19 September 19799 December 19851 April 1986
France19 September 197926 April 19901 August 1990
Georgia18 May 200919 November 20091 March 2010
Germany19 September 197913 December 19841 April 1985
Greece19 September 197913 June 19831 October 1983
Hungary16 November 1989 a1 March 1990
Iceland17 June 199317 June 19931 October 1993
Ireland19 September 197923 April 19821 August 1982
Italy19 September 197911 February 19821 June 1982
Latvia23 January 199723 January 19971 May 1997
Liechtenstein19 September 197930 October 19801 June 1982
Lithuania28 September 19945 September 19961 January 1997
Luxembourg19 September 197923 March 19821 July 1982
Malta26 November 199326 November 19931 March 1994
Moldova24 May 1994 a1 September 1994
Monaco7 February 1994 a1 June 1994-
Montenegro3 March 20091 October 20091 February 2010
Netherlands19 September 197928 October 19801 June 1982
Norway19 September 197927 May 19861 September 1986
Poland24 March 199513 September 19951 January 1996
Portugal19 September 19793 February 19821 June 1982
Romania18 May 1993 a1 September 1993
Serbia9 January 20089 January 20081 May 2008
Slovakia28 April 199423 September 19961 January 1997
Slovenia20 October 199829 September 19991 January 2000
Spain19 September 197927 May 19861 September 1986
Sweden19 September 197914 June 19831 October 1983
Switzerland19 September 197912 March 19811 June 1982
Republic of Macedonia17 December 199817 December 19981 April 1999
Turkey19 September 19792 May 19841 September 1984
Ukraine17 August 19985 January 19991 May 1999
United Kingdom19 September 197928 May 19821 September 1982

States not members of the Council of Europe
StateSignatureRatificationEntry into force
Belarus19 February 2013 a1 June 2013
Burkina Faso14 June 1990 a1 October 1990
Morocco25 April 2001 a1 August 2001
Senegal13 April 1987 a1 August 1987
Tunisia12 January 1996 a1 May 1996

International Organisations
OrganisationsSignatureRatificationEntry into force
European Union19 September 19797 May 19821 September 1982

Algeria, Cape Verde, the Holy See, San Marino and Russia are among non-signatories that have observer status at meetings of the committee.
The convention led to the creation in 1998 of the Emerald network of Areas of Special Conservation Interest throughout the territory of the parties to the convention, which operates alongside the European Union's Natura 2000 programme.

Duties of contracting parties

All countries that have signed the convention must:
To achieve successfully the aims of this Convention, a number of monitoring devices were implemented.

Reporting system

The chosen experts are in charge of monitoring the implementation of the Standing Committee recommendation regarding species and habitats, as well as doing their own recommendations about specific conservation problems.

Case-file system

The system is based in complaints for possible non-compliance or other problems related with the provisions of the Convention. These complaints are processed by the Secretariat, the Bureau and the Standing Committee and when they feel there is the need for further information, on-the-spot visits by independent experts can be arranged.