The Framework Convention on the Protection and Sustainable Development of the Carpathians (The Carpathian Convention) is the second international agreement worldwide concerning a single mountain region. It promotes the actions for improving the quality of life, strengthening local economies and communities as well as the preservation of natural values and cultural heritage.

The parties to the Convention (the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, the Republic of Serbia, the Slovak Republic and Ukraine) committed themselves to cooperate on:

• conservation and sustainable use of biological and landscape diversity of the Carpathians,
• coordinated spatial planning,
• sustainable and integrated water/river basin management,
• sustainable agriculture and forestry,
• sustainable transport and infrastructure development,
• sustainable tourism development,
• promotion of environmentally safe industrial technologies and energy production,
• preservation and promotion of the cultural heritage and traditional knowledge
• environmental assessment and monitoring,
• awareness rising and education of the public about the Carpathians.

Poland ratified the Carpathian Convention in 2006 and signed all thematic Protocols adopted so far: on the conservation and sustainable use of biological and landscape diversity, on sustainable forest management and on sustainable tourism in the Carpathians.