Edict on the accession to Bern Convention signed

The President of the Republic of Belarus signed the Edict № 70 "Concerning Belarus’ Accession to the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats” as of 7 February 2013.

The Bern Convention keeps the parties committed to necessary measures to conserve wild flora and fauna and their natural habitats; lists of endangered plants and animals as well as concrete measures to conserve these species. The Convention allows its parties to place exceptions, in particular, in specifying the territory which falls within the range of the convention as well as making reservations in regard to animals and plants.

The goals and tasks of the Convention fully meet the priorities of the Republic of Belarus in biological and landscape diversity.
The reservation establishes in particular an exception from some measures regarding conserving such wildlife species as wolf and others; exceptions regarding the ways and tools used to capture some wild animals, which are prohibited by the Convention.