Opportunities for cooperation with international environmental organisations were discussed ahead of COP17.
A preparatory meeting titled “Towards an Inclusive and Impactful CBD COP17: Strengthening Collaboration Between the Government of Armenia and International Environmental NGOs” took place from September 9 to10, aiming to strengthen cooperation among the Government of Armenia, international and local environmental organisations, and civil society.
Aram Meymaryan, Deputy Minister of Environment of the RA, as well as representatives of REC Caucasus, the Asian Development Bank, and various international and local environmental organisations participated in the meeting.
In his welcoming remarks, Aram Meymaryan emphasised the importance of hosting COP17 and assuming the presidency, noting that the conference presents an opportunity to strengthen Armenia’s international role and elevate the national biodiversity conservation agenda to a new level. Potential areas of cooperation were discussed, including ecosystem restoration, nature-based solutions, community-led and gender-responsive programmes, youth engagement, as well as expanding biodiversity conservation financing and private sector participation.
On the second day of the meeting, discussions focused on three main areas: science-based decision-making, communication and public engagement, and steps planned for the post-COP17 period. Participants addressed opportunities for coordinating efforts, joint initiatives, knowledge exchange, and capacity building.
At the conclusion of the meeting, next steps and the key directions for developing a cooperation roadmap leading up to COP17 were outlined.