The Carpathians are not just one of Europe's largest mountain ranges, a unique natural treasure of great beauty and ecological value, and home of the headwaters of major rivers. They also constitute a major ecological, economic, cultural, recreational and living environment in the heart of Europe, shared by numerous peoples and countries.

The Carpathians are an important reservoir for biodiversity, and Europe's last refuge for large mammals- brown bear, wolf, and lynx, home to populations of European bison, moose, wildcat, chamois, golden eagle, eagle owl, black grouse, plus many unique insect species.

Transition to a market economy, increasing and integrating role of the civil society and dynamic economic development imply profound changes and challenges. The Carpathians are shared by seven Central and Eastern European Countries, four of which have already joined the European Union. This increases the possibilities of sustainable development based on the rich natural, environmental, cultural and human resources of the region, and for preserving its natural and cultural heritage for future generations.

On 22 May 2003 in Kiyv, Ukraine, the Ministers of the Environment of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovak Republic and Ukraine signed the Framework Convention on the Protection and Sustainable Development of the Carpathians.

The Carpathian Convention provides the framework for cooperation and multi-sectoral policy coordination, a platform for joint strategies for sustainable development, and a forum for dialogue between all stakeholders involved.

United Nations Environment Programme / Regional Office for Europe UNEP/ROE plays a key role in history of Carpathian Convention as in 2001, it was requested by the Government of Ukraine to service a regional cooperation process aiming at the protection and sustainable development of the Carpathians, a major transboundary mountain range shared by the seven different countries. In response to this request, UNEP/ROE promoted an Alpine-Carpathian Partnership. It also serviced five negotiation meetings of the Carpathian countries so far.