On 16 February in Rome, within the framework of the sixth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI 6) of the Convention on Biological Diversity, an information event was organized at the initiative of the delegation of the Republic of Armenia to present the incoming presidency. The event served as a platform to outline Armenia’s vision and priorities in preparation for COP17, to be held in Yerevan in 2026.
Hambardzum Matevosyan, Minister of Environment of the RA, delivered opening remarks, emphasizing Armenia’s readiness to guide the Convention’s processes through transparent, inclusive and ambitious approaches grounded in close cooperation and shared responsibility. He noted that the COP17 should serve as a catalyst for action, ensuring that international commitments are translated into measurable results.
The Minister highlighted one of the expected key outcomes of COP17 — the first comprehensive global assessment of progress towards the 2030 biodiversity targets under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Hambardzum Matevosyan stressed that the assessment must provide a clear picture of achievements, remaining gaps and the practical steps required to accelerate implementation. In this context, he underlined the importance of the timely submission of national reports to ensure that the global stocktake is based on complete and reliable data.
Financing was also identified as a central priority. Achieving biodiversity conservation goals requires adequate, accessible and predictable financial resources. Armenia expressed readiness to work closely with partners to harmonize approaches and develop practical solutions.
Special attention was paid to the role of indigenous peoples and local communities as essential partners in biodiversity conservation. The Minister emphasized the need to meaningfully incorporate their traditional knowledge and expertise and to ensure their effective participation in decision-making processes.
Remarks were also delivered by Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, and Robert Abisoghomonyan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the RA. Mher Margaryan, COP17 Special Negotiator and Vladimir Karapetyan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Italy were among the participants.
During the discussions, participants also addressed the close interlinkages between biodiversity loss, climate change, land degradation and pollution. Armenia underscored the importance of strengthening synergies among environmental agendas to enhance the overall effectiveness of global responses.
The event also showcased several organizational initiatives, including presentation of the official logo of COP17, updates on the preparatory process, and the proposal to convene a Leaders’ Summit on Biodiversity in Yerevan.
February 17, 2026 at 15:44