The annual meeting of the Parties (Standing Committee) will exceptionally be held in Bern this year, at the invitation of the Swiss government, to mark the 30th anniversary of the signature of the Convention in that city. The Standing Committee, which reviews and adopts Recommendations for Parties based on the work of the Groups of Experts that meet during the year, will discuss texts on IAS (including invasive plants used for biofuels, and the control of the Racoon dog and the small Indian mongoose) and guidance for Parties on biodiversity and climate change, among others.  

dates: 23-26 November 2009  
location: Bern, Switzerland  
contact: Carolina Lasen Diaz, Secretary of the Bern Convention  
phone: 33 (0)3 90 21 56 79  
fax: 33 (0)3 88 41 37 51  
e-mail: carolina.lasen-diaz@coe.int  
www: http://www.coe.int/biodiversity