The Carpathian Wetland Initiative (CWI) was active at the 7th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP7) to the Carpathian Convention, 11 – 13 October 2023 in Belgrade, Serbia. The Convention celebrated 20th anniversary of signing the Convention with numerous high representatives of governments, international and intergovernmental institutions, including Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention present. The COP adopted Carpathian Biodiversity Framework, supporting the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework at the Carpathian level. Serbia as the new presidency of the Convention for 2023 – 2026, announced its priority to address the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and plastic pollution, with a special emphasis on wetlands, protected areas, which shall be strengthened by transborder and interregional cooperation and closer relations with the European Union. Announced was also the wish of the environment ministers of Romania and Serbia to establish transborder Ramsar Site on both sides of the Danube River – the Iron Gates (Romania) and the Djerdap (Serbia).
The Carpathian Wetland Initiative presented in the COP7 plenary its activities [PDF, 2.25 MB] since the last COP of the Carpathian Convention during years 2021 – 2023. The CWI and its partners [PDF, 2.23 MB] were present also at the Carpathian Expo [PDF, ext] – the COP7 event promoting projects and activities relevant for the Carpathian Convention, facilitating exchange and networking among stakeholders and brainstorming about future projects. In cooperation with the Slovak State Nature Conservancy and DAPHNE – Institute of Applied Ecology was presented the project Ecohydrological Restoration of Peatlands in the Carpathians [PDF, 7.72 MB], and Wetlands International – European Association presented Natural Sponge Restoration in Europe [PDF, 1.87 MB].
CWI cooperation with the Carpathian Convention was highlighted in speeches in High-level segment of COP7 and plans for further collaboration are included in relevant decisions and documents adopted at COP.
More information on the COP7 of the Carpathian Convention you can find here.