From 9 to 12 October 2006, ECNC-European Centre for Nature Conservation presented and implemented various activities in the field of the European Ecological Network.

During the 10th meeting of the Council of Europe’s Expert Committee for the Pan-European Ecological Network, which took place in Strasbourg on 9 and 10 October 2006, ECNC presented the draft of the so-called PEEN Belgrade Assessment (an overview of activities on PEEN for the next Ministerial Environment for Europe conference, to be held in Belgrade in 2007). Also the final map of the Pan-European Ecological Network for South-Eastern Europe was presented. Other presentations concerned the support programme for the Pan-European Ecological Network for South-East Europe (SEENET), and the results of the PEEN projects on Duna Dráva–Kopacki Rit and the Bialowieza Forest. The information and results of the above-mentioned projects were welcomed by the Expert Committee.

On 11 and 12 October in Strasbourg the European capacity-building seminar on ecological networks and regional planning took place. About 40 participants from the South-East Europe and Black Sea regions were offered the opportunity to exchange views and expertise on the role of regional planning in the establishment and functioning of ecological networks and protected areas. The seminar was part of the above-mentioned SEENET programme and was organized by ECNC together with Eurosite and EUCC-the Coastal Union. It resulted in various recommendations and ideas to move the issue further. The meeting also benefited from the participation of the President of the PEEN Committee, Mr Jan-Willem Sneep, the Secretary of the CEMAT Ministerial Conference on Regional Planning, Mrs Maguelonne Dejans-Pons, and Mr Françoise Bauer of the Biodiversity Division of the Council of Europe.

For more information: Agnes Bruszik (bruszik@ecnc.org) and Ana Nieto (nieto@ecnc.org)