Recently, UIMLA took part in the Carpathian Convention Congress held in Brașov, Romania, represented by Vice-President Marian Anghel.
Six years ago, in autumn 2019 we held our annual General Assembly in the lovely city of Brasov, Transylvania, too.
During the meeting, UIMLA contributed valuable input on the topic of internationally recognized, cross-border qualifications for mountain leaders, as well as the presence of our professional member associations across the Carpathian Mountain Range — including the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania.
Currently, two Carpathian countries — Ukraine and Serbia — are not yet part of our Union, though we have established connections with Ukraine.
As an international professional body dedicated to mountain trekking, we are proud to contribute to intergovernmental efforts aimed at fostering the sustainable development of mountain communities worldwide.
Officially titled the Framework Convention on the Protection and Sustainable Development of the Carpathians, the Carpathian Convention is a multilateral environmental agreement between the countries that share the Carpathian Mountains. The Convention was signed in 2003 in Kyiv, Ukraine, and entered into force in January 2006.
It brings together seven countries Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Ukraine. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) hosts the Convention’s secretariat in Vienna, Austria.
The Convention aims to:
Protect the natural and cultural heritage of the Carpathians
Promote sustainable development in the region
Support international cooperation among the Carpathian countries
Much like the Alpine Convention, the Carpathian Convention addresses key topics such as:
Biodiversity conservation
Sustainable tourism
Forest and water resource management
Sustainable agriculture and rural development
Environmental education and awareness
Climate change adaptation
The Carpathians are Europe’s second-longest mountain range, home to an extraordinary richness of biodiversity, including large carnivores such as bears, wolves, and lynx.
They also support vibrant rural communities and deep-rooted cultural traditions.
Given their transboundary nature, strong regional cooperation is essential for the effective protection and sustainable management of the Carpathians.
UIMLA is committed to supporting this vision through its expertise in mountain leadership, training, and responsible tourism.
