Information needs to be shared on a transboundary level. Different actions can be taken to make communication more effective. Information needs to be translated to concrete, effective measures. Concrete plans of action can be developed during international conferences, where experts on different subjects, from different countries have the opportunity to co-operate. Conferences are a very effective means to exchange experience and expertise. Twinning national projects has proven to be an effective method for effective transboundary cooperation. The development of networks, like the Pan European Ecological Network, can give a meaningful contribution to the effective exchange of information about the conservation of biological diversity.
This strategy features in the framework of Agenda 21 as formulated at UNCED (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), now coordinated by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and implemented through national and local authorities.
Agenda 21 recommends promoting cooperation among parties to relevant international conventions and action plans so as to strengthen and coordinate efforts to conserve biological diversity and the sustainable use of biological resources.
The Pan European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy (PEBLDS) promotes cooperation on a wide range of subjects between governments in Europe for biodiversity policies and projects. Governments often concentrate on only a few of these topics. Furthermore, countries often working on the same kind of projects in many case do not exchange experience. More interaction and communication is needed to realise targets. This can be achieved with existing communication instruments, such as internet. Through communication about problems, project and results, learning processes can be stimulated and made more effective. It prevents re-inventing the wheel. Besides communication between countries, communication within countries is an important success factor as well.
There are a large number of international programmes working with biodiversity: the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), working in the management and evaluation of biodiversity; the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), working in the planning of projects for the protection of biodiversity; the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) working with the conservation of endangered species and ecosystem diversity and the sustainable use of living resources; the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) working in conservation projects; the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization (UNESCO), operating the Man and Biosphere (MAB) programme for scientific research and manpower training; the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) working in agro- ecosystems, comprehensive utilization of agricultural resources, and biological pest management; the Global Environmental Monitoring System (GEMS) and the Global Environmental Information Investigation System (INFOTERRA), both under UNEP, working with the exchange of data and information on the monitoring of biodiversity.
The Pan-European Ecological Network represents a new approach to conserving biodiversity at the international level, its establishment will build on and benefit from many of the valuable agreements, programmes and initiatives that have been adopted over the past decades. For example, the core areas of the network will incorporate the areas and species designated and protected under existing international agreements. The ecological networks under development in many European countries will also make a valuable contribution to the Pan-European Ecological Network; indeed, the designs of some national networks make explicit reference to their contribution to the European network.