Pan-European NGO preparatory meeting for CBD COP10

5-7.07.2010

On July 5, 2010 in Gabala region of Azerbaijan at the officials of the European Ministries of Environment as well as experts' level had started the Conference on Preparations for the Next Session of the UN General Assembly on the Biodiversity. The Conference was organized by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MENR) and the UN Environment Programme.

On July 5-6, 2010 "EkoSfera" (Firuza Sultan-zadeh) had participated at the preliminary meeting of Pan European NGOs as well as on July 7, 2010 participated at the High Level Pan European Conference on Biodiversity.

Bringing together 40 participants from across the continent, the preparatory meeting provided an opportunity to share ideas and form consensus.

Lectures and breakout group discussions focused on possible joint projects for implementing nature conservation policies in the region. As a result, three concrete project proposals (Enhancing PEBLDS, Green communities without frontiers, Global importance for steppe areas) were developed to allow members of the NGO community to cooperate in practice for the sake of Pan-European natural heritage.

Special attention was given to formulating well-developed NGO input for the High Level Pan European Conference on Biodiversity, held on 7th July. Therefore, joint NGO messages were developed focusing on how to tackle the drivers of biodiversity loss regarding the post-2010 vision for Pan-Europe, the role of protected areas, the sustainable use of biodiversity, and the role of these measures in achieving the Millennium Development Goals.