13-14 November 2008, Lublin, Poland

On 13 and 14 November 2008 an international seminar took place, about the role of the Bug River in the European Ecological Network and its cross-border management. The 722-km-long Bug River, which is shared between Poland, Belarus and Ukraine, is a vital and still very natural part of the European Ecological Network. The seminar, which was attended by participants from the three above-mentioned countries and various international organizations, discussed the conservation and management of this river.

The seminar also discussed the pros and cons of the designation of a Trilateral Ramsar site complementary to the proposed trilateral Biosphere Reserve, including its possible delineation. The seminar welcomed the transboundary and cross-sectoral cooperation between the water management sector and the nature and biodiversity conservation sector. The meeting was concluded with a Joint Statement about the cross-border conservation and sustainable management of the Bug River, outlining various proposed priorities and actions.

The seminar was organized by Wageningen International. ECNC’s Executive Director Rob Wolters delivered an opening speech on the future perspectives of the European Ecological Network, also in relation to the Bug River. He also chaired the second day of the seminar.

For more information, please contact Henk Zingstra (Wageningen International), henk.zingstra@wur.nl, or Rob Wolters, wolters@ecnc.org.