Terms of Reference for the Carpathian Network of Protected Areas (CNPA)

Mandate of the CNPA and its Steering Committee (SC)

The First Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP1) to the Carpathian Convention (Kyiv, Ukraine, 11-
13 December 2006) in its Decision COP1/4 para. 12 decided “to establish the Carpathian Network of
Protected Areas, constituting a thematic network of cooperation of mountain protected areas in the
Carpathian Region, and to designate one CNPA Focal Point in each Party to start up and encourage
cooperation in the management of protected areas within and between the Carpathian countries”.
COP1 in its Decision COP1/4 para. 13 decided to establish the CNPA SC composed of the CNPA Focal
Point of each country.
The Second Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP2) to the Carpathian Convention (Bucharest,
Romania, 17-19 June 2008) in its Decision COP 2/1 para. 7 requested “the interim Secretariat in cooperation
with the CNPA Steering Committee, with support of the ALPARC and Task Force of Protected Areas of the
Alpine Convention Secretariat and in collaboration with the other CNPA partners, to prepare a Work Plan
and Medium Term Strategy for CNPA, and invited the Protected Areas Conference to consider and provide
inputs to the documents.”

Aim and Tasks of the CNPA

The CNPA constitutes a regional thematic network of cooperation of mountain protected areas in the
Carpathians. The CNPA aims to contribute to the protection and sustainable development of the
Carpathians, and in particular to accomplishing goals listed in Article 4 of the Carpathian Convention. The
CNPA reports to the Carpathian Convention Implementation Committee through the Secretariat.

The following are the goals of the CNPA

Promotion of cooperation on protection, restoration of nature and sustainable use of natural and cultural
resources of the Carpathians;
Implementation of decisions and recommendations undertaken by the bodies established under the
Carpathian Convention as well as of other applicable relevant international legal instruments;
Promotion of sustainable livelihoods and sustainable development of the Carpathians;
Implementation of the relevant provisions of the Protocol on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biological
and Landscape Diversity (Biodiversity Protocol).

The work programme and activities of the CNPA may include:

making recommendations on expansion of the existing and/or creation of new protected areas;
capacity building of the member protected areas and of the network; communication within the network;
coordination of common activities and projects undertaken by the network; common fundraising from
external sources for activities of the network;
exchange of experience, skills, knowledge and data among network members, including through the CNPA
working groups;
raising ecological awareness and promoting trans-boundary cooperation and sustainable development;
liaising and cooperating with other bodies established under the Carpathian Convention as well as with other
relevant international, regional and national organisations under the guidance of the CNPA Steering
Committee and coordination of the Working Group on the conservation and sustainable use of biological and
landscape diversity thus building upon the vast experience and knowledge available;
preparing reports, opinions and recommendations for the Working Group on the conservation and
sustainable use of biological and landscape diversity, for further submission to the Conference of the Parties
and the relevant bodies established under the Carpathian Convention;
support the activities of common thematic working groups established under the Carpathian Convention
Implementation Committee and common communication actions.

CNPA Structure:

CNPA Members (Annex 1 to be updated periodically) CNPA SC CNPA Unit in the ISCC

The CNPA SC

The CNPA SC will aim at supporting the cooperation of the Parties to the Carpathian Convention for the
implementation of Articles 4-13 of the Carpathian Convention relevant to the protected areas activities. The
main tasks of the CNPA SC are to coordinate activities of the CNPA, to develop strategies and work plans
for the CNPA, and to organize the CNPA Conferences.
The CNPA SC coordinates its activities with the other bodies of the Carpathian Convention, including the
Working Group on conservation and sustainable use of biological and landscape diversity and with other
relevant working groups.
The CNPA SC is composed of the National Focal Points of the Carpathian Convention and/or persons
nominated by them. In accordance with the Rules of Procedures of the Conference of the Parties, the
meetings of the WG are open for observers.
Each CNPA National Focal Point will start up and encourage cooperation in the management of protected
areas within and between the Carpathian countries. This shall be achieved in continuous cooperation
between the Carpathian protected areas, designated as members of the CNPA, and with protected area
networks of other regions. The Parties to the Carpathian Convention are invited to assist the nomination and
participation of the relevant protected areas in CNPA;
UNEP Vienna - Interim Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention (ISCC) Vienna International Centre Room: E0479, PO Box 500, A -
1400 Vienna, Austria Tel: (+ 43 - 1) 26060 - 5338, Fax: (+ 43 - 1) 26060 - 75338, E-mail: unep@unvienna.org
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In conducting its business, the WG will base itself on the applicable Rules of Procedure of the Conference of
the Parties.
The CNPA SC elects a chair for a 2 years period. The Chair of the SC ensures the role of Chair of the CNPA
Conference; the CNPA Unit acts as rapporteur
The Chair, or if not possible another SC member, represents the CNPA during the meetings of the other
bodies of the Carpathian Convention;
The CNPA SC will meet at least twice a year and can invite representatives from other bodies of the CC as
observers to its meetings.
The CNPA SC will report to the Conference of the Parties through the CCIC.

Field of activities of the CNPA SC

1. Support and coordination of the CNPA activities to accomplish the adopted goals of the CNPA,
according to the CNPA ToRs;
2. Support and coordination of the activities of the PA administrations related to CNPA, and support for
their activities towards implementation of the protocols to the Carpathian Convention;
3. Cooperation with the Working Group on the conservation and sustainable use of biological and
landscape diversity and with the other working groups of the Carpathian Convention (forestry,
agriculture, sustainable tourism, cultural heritage etc);
4. Cooperation with the Carpathian Wetlands Initiative (CWI);
5. Support for the establishment of new trans-boundary PAs also under the Ramsar Convention and
the UNESCO MaB program;
6. Cooperation with the CNPA partners, including ALPARC, CERI, UNEP and. WWF-DCP;
7. Creation of thematic working groups between the different members of the network, for experience
exchange and common projects.

List of results

The setup of a webpage containing information on the network and its members; The organisation of the
CNPA Conference;
Cooperation with the relevant partners in for the implementation of projects related to the CNPA activities.

Scientific contributions and background information

(might be moved to CNPA MTS)
The Steering Committee will benefit from the inputs provided by:
1. The Carpathian Protected Areas Administrations;
2. CERI – Carpathian Eco-Region Initiative;
3. Alparc – Task Force of Protected Areas – Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention;
4. WWF-DCP – WWF Danube Carpathian Programme;
5. Programmes of work on Protected Areas and on Mountain Biodiversity of the Convention on
Biological Diversity;
6. CWI - Carpathian Wetland Initiative.