Category: News

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is calling for clear decisions at COP17 to accelerate biodiversity conservation, increase funding and ensure that countries fulfil their commitments.

Speaking at a press conference in Yerevan on 19 October during COP17, WWF President Adil Najam stressed that tackling biodiversity loss requires both new commitments and practical steps that deliver measurable results.

He said WWF’s Living Planet Report records an average decline of 73 per cent in vertebrate wildlife populations since 1970.

“Now is not the time simply to ask ourselves questions or discuss what we should do. Now is the time to act,” Najam stressed, noting that although biodiversity loss continues, successful conservation efforts in different countries demonstrate that change is possible.

He said efforts to restore tiger populations, protect sea turtles and implement other initiatives show that political will and sustained work can deliver positive results.

Guido Broekhoven, Head of Multilateral Policy at WWF International, said COP17’s success should be measured by how far it changes governments’ actions after the conference.

He highlighted two main challenges: the gap in ambition between national biodiversity conservation plans and global goals, and the gap between the measures envisaged in national plans and their actual implementation.

Broekhoven said progress towards targets where implementation is lagging must be accelerated, and biodiversity must be integrated into financial, agricultural, infrastructure, trade and development policies, as well as environmental policy.

He also stressed the importance of establishing coordination mechanisms across government, noting that environment ministries alone cannot ensure implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework.

Increasing funding for biodiversity conservation is among WWF’s priorities. Broekhoven said COP17 must provide a clear roadmap towards meeting the target of increasing international funding to US$30 billion annually by 2030.

He also emphasised the need to reform harmful subsidies. Governments must review financial incentives that harm nature and align public and private financial flows with biodiversity conservation goals.

WWF representative Vishay Chakram said some subsidies in agriculture, fisheries and forestry can contribute to biodiversity loss. It is therefore necessary both to increase conservation funding and to redirect funds that encourage activities harmful to ecosystems.

Speakers at the press conference also stressed that biodiversity funding must be accessible, predictable and effective. Particular attention should be paid to developing countries, indigenous peoples, local communities, women and young people directly involved in conservation work.

WWF representatives said the effectiveness of funding should be assessed by how much money actually reaches those implementing projects and what results it delivers on the ground, as well as by the amounts pledged.

They also highlighted the importance of involving indigenous peoples, local communities and young people in developing and implementing biodiversity conservation policies.

Najam said young people are both beneficiaries of biodiversity conservation and important participants in delivering it. He stressed that governments, businesses and civil society must take young people’s concerns seriously and ensure their participation in decision-making.

He said the fulfilment of commitments must be accompanied by clear accountability for how funding is used and the impact of the actions taken.

WWF representatives also emphasised that the global review must go beyond assessing progress in biodiversity conservation. It must provide a basis for revising national strategies, targets and actions.

They said decisions adopted at COP17 must establish clear mechanisms for assessing progress, encourage countries to exchange experience and help close the gaps between global goals and national action.

“We have time, and we also have solutions. What we need now are the appropriate decisions, institutions, resources, partnerships and safeguards to protect rights that will enable us to bring about real change on the ground,” Broekhoven concluded.

Sargis Asatryan

Armenia and Colombia have initiated the establishment of the Coalition of Action to Recover Endangered Species (CARES), which aims to accelerate the conservation and recovery of endangered species and support the implementation of Target 4 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Armenia and Colombia co-chair the coalition, while the Reverse the Red action partnership serves as its secretariat.

Presenting the initiative, Armenian Deputy Environment Minister Aram Meymaryan stressed that CARES aims to translate internationally agreed goals into practical action, reducing the risk of species extinction and supporting population recovery.

“Target 4 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework calls for urgent action to prevent human-induced species extinction and ensure species conservation and recovery. CARES is intended to help countries achieve practical results in this area,” the deputy minister said.

He noted that habitat conservation and restoration, efforts to tackle invasive species and the reduction of climate risks are not always sufficient to conserve all endangered species.

“Each species faces its own threats and has specific recovery needs. Targeted action must therefore be based on scientific evidence and an assessment of each species’ status,” Meymaryan stressed.

He said CARES would enable countries to exchange experience, use practical species recovery methods and cooperate with an international network of experts. The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Species Survival Commission and its partners could provide technical support.

Discussing the initiative’s significance for Armenia, the deputy minister stressed the need for close coordination between science, public administration and practical action.

“Scientific assessments must be translated into clear programmes, and their implementation must deliver visible and measurable results. As the host country of COP17, we value cooperation that helps countries advance their national priorities. Platforms such as CARES enable us to address challenges collectively, exchange effective practices and identify support needs more clearly,” Meymaryan said.

The deputy minister also highlighted funding, noting that species recovery often requires sustained, long-term work. Joint efforts under CARES could help mobilise financial resources. Funding mechanisms to support member countries are also envisaged.

“The success of this cooperation must ultimately be measured by results in nature. Have threats been reduced? Have species’ prospects for survival improved? Are their populations recovering? Our shared goal is to ensure that species endangered today have safer conditions for survival and recovery in the wild tomorrow,” Aram Meymaryan concluded.

Asked by Armenpress about progress in revising Armenia’s Red Book and plans to involve the private sector in endangered species conservation initiatives, Meymaryan said the Red Book was currently under review.

“Discussions are under way with scientific institutions to determine how we should organise work on the new edition of the Red Book, study and analyse both previously listed and new species, assess their current status and publish the new Red Book,” Meymaryan said.

Turning to private-sector involvement, the deputy minister said cooperation was already taking place with both non-governmental organisations and business representatives.

“One example is the programme to restore Sevan trout. Private companies operating around Lake Sevan often approach us to fund the release of a certain number of trout into the lake. However, these remain separate, small-scale initiatives. I hope we will soon be able to establish larger partnerships and make this process more institutionalised,” Meymaryan stressed.

Colombian Deputy Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development David Felipe Olarte Amaya also highlighted the launch of the endangered species recovery coalition, expressing hope that commitments made within the COP framework would be translated into action as quickly as possible.

“The launch of this coalition is very important for Colombia, and we hope that the commitments already made within the COP framework will be fulfilled as soon as possible through practical action to protect endangered species. In cooperation with Armenia, Colombia plans to undertake species recovery action by sharing scientific knowledge and mobilising expertise,” the deputy minister said.

He said Colombia had significant resources in this area and was already working to restore two important species.

“Our goal is to restore viable populations capable of ensuring the reproduction of these species. Recovery is possible when scientific institutions, international partners and local communities work together. Conservation therefore means much more: protecting one species also means restoring an entire ecosystem and ensuring environmental conditions in which species can thrive and reproduce,” Olarte Amaya stressed.

The deputy minister also said the coalition had already brought together 17 countries.

“We have already brought together 17 countries within this coalition. Once again, I would like to thank the Armenian Government for its support, for hosting us in this wonderful place and for supporting the coalition’s launch,” he concluded.

As COP17’s formal proceedings begin, political statements must be translated into agreed decisions and action.

Armenian Environment Minister and COP17 President Hambardzum Matevosyan said this at a joint press conference with Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.

The minister announced that he had been elected COP17 President, describing the role as a responsibility both for him personally and for Armenia. He said Armenia would work over the next two years to translate the trust placed in it into collective efforts and tangible results.

Matevosyan highlighted the importance of the Leaders’ Summit and the adoption of the Yerevan Declaration. He said the previous day’s opening ceremony had also underlined the principle uniting participants: protecting nature as a shared responsibility.

“The conference’s formal proceedings began today. Our task is to translate political statements into agreed decisions and action,” the COP17 President stressed.

He said collective progress in implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework was central to the conference’s agenda.

“We must develop a shared understanding of where the gaps are and where additional resources need to be directed so that the targets set for 2030 can be achieved,” Matevosyan said.

He stressed that, as conference president, he would work to ensure open, transparent and inclusive dialogue based on mutual respect among the parties and a willingness to reach common solutions. Matevosyan reaffirmed his commitment to taking action for nature.

During his remarks, the minister thanked Astrid Schomaker and the Convention’s secretariat team for their cooperation in preparing the conference.

An awards ceremony for the EU-funded “Youth Vision for Lake Sevan in 2050” creative initiative, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), took place in COP17’s Green Zone, showcasing artwork by teenagers from communities around Lake Sevan.

In September and October, 142 schoolchildren aged 13–16 from communities around Lake Sevan took part in the initiative, organised under the EU-funded, UNDP-implemented project “EU for Sevan’s Biodiversity: Improving the Restoration of Lake Sevan’s Ecosystem”.

The young participants explored Lake Sevan’s biodiversity and the importance of its conservation, using art to express how they would like to see the lake in 2050.

Fifty pictures, ten from each community, were selected for display during COP17, allowing visitors to see how schoolchildren living around Lake Sevan perceive the lake today and envision its future.

In his remarks, Ambassador Vassilis Maragos, Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, stressed the need to conserve Lake Sevan, highlighting the importance of protecting its biodiversity, water resources and local livelihoods.

Addressing the young participants, he said: “Through your pictures and artistic ideas, you remind us that biodiversity conservation is more than a scientific or political issue. It is also a human issue, reflecting the future we want to build and the world we want to leave behind. Art has a special power. It helps us see nature with our eyes and feel it with our hearts. It can inspire people to think, feel and act, while the voice of your art speaks for Lake Sevan—its beauty, vulnerability and future.”

UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia Natia Natsvlishvili also praised the young participants’ achievements and stressed the importance of involving them in environmental initiatives and ensuring their participation in building a more sustainable future.

“You have shown that young people are more than future beneficiaries of environmental programmes: they already play an important role in implementing these initiatives today. I hope you will continue to ask questions, propose ideas and contribute to conserving Lake Sevan. The lake’s future will depend both on the commitments we make today and on the dedication, creativity and leadership of young people like you, who will continue to bring the vision for Sevan’s future to life,” Natsvlishvili said.

The event provided another reminder that conserving Lake Sevan is a shared responsibility across generations. By bringing young people’s voices to COP17, the initiative highlighted the importance of involving the younger generation in discussions and decision-making about the future of Armenia’s natural heritage.

A short video screened during the event summarised the initiative and presented the participating schoolchildren’s perspectives on Lake Sevan.

The creators of the three highest-rated works then took to the stage to receive their prizes from Vassilis Maragos and Natia Natsvlishvili. First prize went to 13-year-old Nare Matosyan of Gavar School No. 3. Second prize was awarded to 13-year-old Sona Mikayelyan, also of Gavar School No. 3, while third prize went to 13-year-old Susanna Khachatryan of School No. 1 in Karmir village, Gegharkunik region.

The project aims to support the long-term restoration and sustainable management of Lake Sevan’s ecosystem by improving biodiversity conservation, strengthening institutional capacity and introducing sustainable financing approaches. Alongside ecosystem restoration measures, it promotes environmental awareness and community engagement, encouraging local residents and young people to play an active role in preserving Lake Sevan’s natural heritage.

Knowledge of the causes of the biodiversity crisis and the solutions needed already exists; the task now is to narrow the gap between that knowledge and the action being taken.

Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, said this in Yerevan.

She noted that the biodiversity crisis has been documented for decades and its consequences are known.

“We know what is happening to nature. We know what it means for economies, health and the future. And most importantly—and this is the good news—we also know what needs to be done,” Schomaker said.

She said the purpose of gathering in Yerevan was to help translate knowledge into practical action.

Schomaker discussed the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted four years ago, stressing that it addresses both nature conservation and the underlying drivers of nature’s destruction.

The Convention’s Executive Secretary highlighted the importance of integrating the global framework into national policies and budgets. She also discussed the participation of communities, women, young people and non-governmental organisations alongside governments.

Schomaker said biodiversity conservation efforts were not starting from scratch and that the Yerevan conference marked an intermediate milestone on that journey.

For every dollar allocated to nature conservation, around US$30 is directed towards activities that harm it.

Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, said this while stressing the importance of reducing harmful subsidies.

“We cannot protect nature on the one hand while spending money to destroy it on the other. Many of you have probably seen the figures: for every dollar directed towards nature conservation, US$30 is spent on destroying or damaging it,” Schomaker stressed.

She cited 2023 data showing that financial flows towards activities harmful to nature totalled approximately US$7.3 trillion. Most of this funding came from the private sector, although harmful public subsidies also played a significant role.

The relevant UN Environment Programme report attributes US$4.9 trillion of these flows to private sources and US$2.4 trillion to environmentally harmful public subsidies.

Schomaker recalled the target of reducing harmful subsidies by US$500 billion annually by 2030. She also addressed the commitment to identify such subsidies by 2025, noting that gaps in this area were reflected in the progress report.

Target 18 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework calls for harmful incentives, including subsidies, to be eliminated, phased out or reformed, reducing them by at least US$500 billion annually by 2030.

The Convention’s Executive Secretary said it was important for the conference to establish a shared recognition of the problem, ensure accountability and discuss practical ways forward.

Armenian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Robert Abisoghomonyan met Matthew Hollingworth, Deputy Executive Director for Programme Operations at the UN World Food Programme (WFP), on the sidelines of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Yerevan.

Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade reported the meeting.

The participants praised the cooperation established between Armenia and WFP, including in addressing humanitarian needs and ensuring food security. They stressed the importance of ensuring the continuity of WFP programmes in Armenia aimed at strengthening the country’s food systems and increasing resilience to emergencies.

The meeting addressed issues on the Armenia–WFP bilateral agenda, particularly the “Sustainable School Feeding” programme and WFP’s Country Strategic Plan for Armenia for 2026–2030. The deputy minister praised WFP’s contribution to establishing the national school feeding system, highlighting the programme’s importance for children’s health, access to education and support for local agricultural production.

The participants emphasised the importance of sharing Armenia’s experience in this field with other countries to support the development of sustainable school feeding systems and expand international cooperation.

They also exchanged views on multilateral issues, including the UN80 reforms. They stressed the importance of improving the effectiveness of the UN’s development and humanitarian work through the reforms and ensuring support aligned with member states’ national priorities.

Armenian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Robert Abisoghomonyan took part in a high-level panel discussion entitled “The Role of National Education Systems in Promoting Food Security and Implementing the Global Biodiversity Framework” during the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Yerevan.

Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade reported his participation.

Abisoghomonyan highlighted the important role of international cooperation and multilateral diplomacy in advancing the interconnected agendas of biodiversity conservation, food security, education and sustainable development. In this context, emphasis was placed on strengthening links between different international processes and sectoral agendas, developing coherent approaches and promoting joint efforts to implement global commitments.

The deputy minister discussed the priorities of Armenia’s COP17 presidency, stressing the importance of integrating biodiversity conservation into broader economic and social development agendas and strengthening international partnerships.

Abisoghomonyan also highlighted the role of international cooperation in developing countries’ national capacities, securing expert and financial support, and translating international commitments into practical results at the national level.

In this context, he cited Armenia’s longstanding cooperation with the UN World Food Programme as an example of effective partnership, highlighting the national School Feeding Programme. The importance of sharing Armenia’s experience in this area with partner countries was also emphasised.

Concluding, Abisoghomonyan stressed that effective multilateral cooperation must contribute both to the development of international agreements and commitments and to their practical implementation, delivering tangible, long-term results at the national level.

Azerbaijan’s Prosecutor General’s Office has placed seven people living and working in Türkiye on an international wanted list on charges of publicly calling for the seizure of power by force, inciting religious hatred and distributing material promoting religious extremism.

According to a statement from the Prosecutor General’s Office, Baku’s Binagadi District Court ordered their detention in absentia.

Investigators allege that between 25 September and 18 October, the individuals distributed material on social media and other platforms calling for the violent overthrow of Azerbaijan’s constitutional order, the seizure of power by force and the incitement of religious hatred.

Those wanted include commentators, presenters, a lawyer and other individuals active on social media.