The National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia adopted the draft law on the ratification of the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization, supplementary to the Convention on Biological Diversity, with 94 votes in favor and 2 abstentions on March 25, 2026.
The Protocol aims to ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources, which is of key importance for the responsible management of Armenia’s natural resources.
The Protocol was adopted on October 29, 2010, in Nagoya by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and entered into force on October 12, 2014. To date, it has been ratified by 142 countries, while 14 countries have signed but not yet ratified it.
“In 2026, Yerevan will host the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the Convention and will assume the presidency of the Convention processes for a period of two years. Following the ratification of the Protocol, we also plan to hold a meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol within the framework of COP17.
Minister Hambardzum Matevosyan assured that the ratification of the Protocol will contribute to strengthening Armenia’s position in natural resource management, enhancing international cooperation, and attracting new investments,” RA Environment Ministry posted on its Facebook page.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Robert Abisoghomonyan provided the following conclusion on the draft law:
“The accession of the Republic of Armenia to the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization, supplementary to the Convention on Biological Diversity, is particularly important in light of hosting the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the Convention in Yerevan in 2026 and assuming the presidency of the Conference.
It will serve as an additional positive signal to the international community regarding Armenia’s strong commitment to addressing environmental issues and its readiness to take appropriate measures. The Nagoya Protocol aims to ensure the practical implementation of one of the three main objectives of the Convention — the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources.”
As a result of ratification, the following benefits are expected:
- Sovereignty and legal protection over national resources
- Economic benefits
- Support for the traditional knowledge of local and indigenous communities
- Enhanced international reputation and participation in global mechanisms
- Access to additional international financial resources
- Promotion of scientific and technical cooperation
March 31, 2026 at 17:44