▁ensure ▁protection ▁and ▁fost er ▁sust ain able ▁development ▁of ▁this ▁out standing ▁region ▁and ▁living ▁environment , ▁the ▁Convention ▁is ▁willing ▁to ▁improve ▁the ▁quality ▁of ▁life , ▁to ▁strength en ▁local ▁econom ies ▁and ▁communities . ▁▁ ▁It ▁a ims ▁as ▁well ▁at ▁providing ▁conservation ▁and ▁rest oration ▁of ▁unique , ▁rare ▁and ▁typical ▁natural ▁complex es ▁and ▁objects ▁of ▁recre ational ▁and ▁other ▁importance ▁situated ▁in ▁the ▁heart ▁of ▁Europe , ▁prevent ing ▁them ▁from ▁negative ▁anth rop ogen ic ▁influ ences ▁through ▁the ▁promotion ▁of ▁joint ▁policies ▁for ▁sust ain able ▁development ▁among ▁the ▁seven ▁countries ▁of ▁the ▁region ▁( C zech ▁Republic , ▁Hung ary , ▁Poland , ▁Roman ia , ▁Ser bia ▁and ▁Mont en eg ro , ▁Slov ak ia ▁and ▁Ukraine ). ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 1 , ▁United ▁Nations ▁Environment ▁Program me ▁/ ▁Regional ▁Office ▁for ▁Europe ▁U NE P / RO E ▁was ▁requested ▁by ▁the ▁Government ▁of ▁Ukraine ▁to ▁service ▁a ▁regional ▁co operation ▁process ▁aim ing ▁at ▁the ▁protection ▁and ▁sust ain able ▁development ▁of ▁the ▁Car path ian ▁Mountains , ▁a ▁major ▁trans bound ary ▁mountain ▁range ▁shared ▁by ▁the ▁seven ▁countries . ▁In ▁response ▁to ▁this ▁request , ▁U NE P / RO E ▁promoted ▁an ▁Al pine - Car path ian ▁Part ners hip . ▁▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 2 , ▁during ▁the ▁UN ▁International ▁Year ▁of ▁the ▁Mountains , ▁the ▁Al pine - Car path ian ▁partners hip ▁has ▁been ▁initi ated ▁and