This joint EU-Council of Europe project contributes to the establishment of the Emerald Network in the target countries. The aim of the Emerald Network under the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats is to ensure that all high biodiversity areas of European importance are identified, their ecological inventories completed and their importance recognised legally. The sites can then benefit from protection, while allowing sustainable social and economic activities.

The overall objective of the project is improved biodiversity protection - especially the long-term survival of threatened European species and habitats - through the implementation of Emerald sites in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and Russia.
Specifically, the project aims at achieving a full operational launch of the Pan-European Emerald network of nature protection sites of the Bern Convention by 2020, thereby:
- Supporting the implementation of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and its Aichi Targets on protected areas by the partner countries.
- Aligning nature protection standards in this region with the standards of EU (and its Natura 2000 Network) and the Bern Convention.
- Helping the target countries prepare for the future management of these areas.

The establishment of the Emerald Network consists of three steps:
- Identification of potential sites suitable for ensuring the long-term survival of threatened species/habitats of European importance.
- Evaluation of the efficiency of the proposed sites at biogeographical level.
- Designation at national level of Emerald sites.