Armenia is stepping up efforts to protect biodiversity, with new policies, challenges, and international cooperation shaping the agenda.

In this context, hosting COP17 in Yerevan this year is seen as a key opportunity to align national priorities with global biodiversity goals.

In an interview with Armenpress, Voskehat Grigoryan, Head of the Department for Specially Protected Areas of Nature and Biodiversity Policy at the Armenian Ministry of Environment and National Focal Point for the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, outlined Armenia’s priorities, challenges, and expectations in the field of biodiversity conservation. She highlighted the adoption of laws and regulatory legal acts aimed at biodiversity conservation and protection as a key priority.

COP17—the Seventeenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity—will be held in Yerevan, Armenia, in October 2026. The implementation progress of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework is expected to be assessed during the meeting. The framework sets out an ambitious pathway to reach the global vision of a world living in harmony with nature by 2050. Among the Framework’s key elements are 4 goals for 2050 and 23 targets for 2030. 

Armenpress: What expectations does Armenia have from the COP17 conference to be held in Yerevan this year in terms of biodiversity conservation?

Grigoryan: Armenia views hosting COP17 as a unique political and diplomatic opportunity to align global and national agendas in the field of biodiversity conservation. First and foremost, it is expected that progress in implementing the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework will be assessed, along with more systematic integration of its requirements at the national level.

The conference serves as an important platform to bring together international partners—including governmental, scientific, community, and private sector actors—to undertake coordinated and effective environmental actions, attract financial and technical support, and further clarify national targets. It also provides Armenia with an opportunity to act as an active regional player in environmental initiatives and to enhance the country’s role in the global environmental agenda.

One of our key objectives is to combine the conservation of Armenia’s ecosystems, species, and genetic resources with their sustainable use and restoration. This is especially important for a country like Armenia, where biodiversity conservation is directly linked to the sustainable use of water resources, land, and forests, as well as climate resilience, tourism, agriculture, and other dynamic sectors.

– What are the main challenges currently facing Armenia in the field of biodiversity conservation?

– In recent decades, large-scale human-driven and resource-intensive activities worldwide have led to the rapid and irreversible loss of biodiversity and natural ecosystems.

A significant portion of threats to biodiversity is caused by habitat loss, degradation, and changes in environmental conditions. These threats can be both human-induced and natural, including direct and indirect impacts, and are often interconnected as part of complex risk factors.

The direct causes of habitat loss and degradation are primarily human-induced. These include mining and other industrial activities, large-scale infrastructure development, hydropower projects, agriculture and the food industry, deforestation, recreation and tourism, household pollution, overexploitation of biological resources, the spread of invasive species, military activities, forest fires, the impact of diseases and pests on ecosystems, and climate change.

There are also systemic governance challenges, such as incomplete data and monitoring systems, limited financial resources, and insufficient coordination between sectoral policies.

– What biodiversity changes have been observed in different regions of Armenia over the past 5–10 years?

– During this period, both negative and positive trends have been recorded in Armenia. Negative changes are mainly reflected in habitat loss, a decline in certain species populations, and disruptions in ecosystem structure. At the same time, due to the expansion of protected areas, the implementation of restoration programs, and improvements in management mechanisms, some regions show signs of ecosystem recovery—including increased stability of forest and aquatic ecosystems. These changes vary in intensity across regions, depending on both natural and socio-economic factors.

– Which consequences of ecosystem degradation do you consider most significant for people?

– The consequences of ecosystem degradation have a direct impact on people’s quality of life and economic stability. The most significant include biodiversity loss or negative changes in species composition, the spread of invasive species, the reduction and instability of water resources, declining soil fertility, increased risks in agriculture, intensified climate impacts, a higher likelihood of natural disasters, and worsening living conditions in communities.

Unregulated water use, intensive agriculture, uncontrolled ecotourism, and rapid construction in large cities can further aggravate these negative effects if not managed according to sustainable development principles.

– Which policy issues in the sector require urgent attention?

– Priority should be given to adopting laws and regulatory legal acts aimed at biodiversity conservation and protection, along with the steps and measures supporting them. It is also essential to develop and adopt biodiversity-related programs and policies, implement systematic monitoring, and approve methodological and procedural regulations for such monitoring. Conducting state-level research is also crucial.

– To what extent do state programs correspond to the real needs of ecosystem and species conservation, and how would you assess the effectiveness of existing laws and regulations?

– Armenia’s legislative framework in the field of biodiversity is relatively well developed and provides the main regulations for conservation and use. However, legal provisions alone are sometimes insufficient to fully address existing challenges. A more integrated, action-oriented legal framework is needed—one based on science-driven management and active community participation.

State programs largely align with international commitments and are aimed at achieving key biodiversity conservation goals. They include conservation, restoration, and management components. Nevertheless, actual needs often exceed available financial and institutional capacities, which calls for continuous program development, increased efficiency, and expanded international cooperation.

– What role do local communities play in data collection and nature conservation?

– Communities located near specially protected natural areas, as primary stakeholders, play a key role in biodiversity conservation. They are involved in natural resource management, as well as in monitoring and data collection processes, ensuring the availability and accuracy of information at the local level.

The example of the Arpa Protected Landscape clearly demonstrates that communities are a vital link in conservation efforts, balancing environmental and socio-economic interests and contributing to sustainable development. This is especially important in remote mountainous areas, where state oversight is limited.

Community involvement increases the effectiveness of programs. To support this, educational initiatives aimed at capacity building are implemented, ensuring long-term and sustainable outcomes.