On 19 October 2026, within the framework of the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17), held in Yerevan, a session entitled “Biodiversity Finance Without Harm: How Financial Institutions Can Protect Biodiversity, Critical Ecosystems and People by Respecting No-Go Areas” took place in the Green Zone.
The main speaker at the session was Andrey Ralev, Biodiversity Expert at CEE Bankwatch Network, whose presentation focused on the responsibility of public and private financial institutions in biodiversity conservation. The central issue discussed was how financial resources can be directed towards nature conservation and restoration while preventing them from being channelled into activities that destroy biodiversity.
More than 75% of the world’s terrestrial areas have been significantly altered, while over 85% of wetlands have already been lost. In this context, the financial sector plays a crucial role both in supporting biodiversity restoration and in restricting financial flows that contribute to ecosystem destruction.
Particular attention during the event was given to protecting so-called “No-Go Areas” as a means of safeguarding biodiversity, vital ecosystems and people’s rights. Achieving the goals of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework requires not only increased funding for nature conservation but also the redirection of financial flows away from activities that harm areas requiring protection, ecosystems and the rights of Indigenous Peoples.
The discussion addressed Global Goals A, B and D of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, as well as Targets 1, 15 and 18.
October 19, 2026 at 13:57