Azerbaijan Files Biodiversity Claim Under Bern Convention

On January 18, Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it had commenced an action against Armenia under the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention). This development marks the first known interstate arbitration brought under the Bern Convention, which was signed on September 19, 1979. Azerbaijan argues that Armenia has caused "extensive destruction" of the environment and biodiversity of the area during Armenia's near 30-year "illegal occupation of internationally recognized territories of Azerbaijan." The press release states that "Armenia's widespread deforestation, unsustainable logging, and pollution through significant construction and mining in areas that were protected nature reserves prior to occupation has put over 500 wildlife species at risk in Azerbaijan," and that when "liberating" the territories in 2020, Azerbaijan was able to collect evidence of "Armenia's destruction of the