The Contracting Parties to the [Convention on Biological Diversity] (Rio, 1992) undertook to set up a system of protected areas in order to conserve biological diversity, and to co-operate among themselves to preserve this diversity. The [Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy] (Sofia, 1995) serves as a European frame of reference for the implementation of the [Convention on Biological Diversity].The [Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats] (Bern, 1979) and Directive 92/43/EEC of the Council of the European Communities on the [Conservation of Natural Habitats and Wild Fauna and Flora], as amended by Directive 97/62/EC promote habitat protection.