From November 25 to 28, Yerevan hosted a regional dialogue under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), implemented by the Convention Secretariat, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the UNEP Regional Office for Europe, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with the support of the Government of the Republic of Armenia and funding from the UNDP China Trust Fund and the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
Aram Meymaryan, Deputy Minister of Environment of the RA, welcomed the representatives of regional countries, who discussed priorities for modernizing National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), formulating targets in line with the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), and developing monitoring systems.
Discussions also addressed the foundations of the interrelationship between biodiversity and health, opportunities for integrating the “One Health” approach, and the global action plan aimed at strengthening integrated health and biodiversity policies.
The impact of biodiversity loss on public health, ecosystem services, food security and the spread of diseases was also discussed.
Delegations from various countries shared their experiences in developing national monitoring systems, organizing data flows and developing biodiversity indicators.
The Armenian delegation presented the process of updating Armenia’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, the preparations for COP17, as well as the steps being taken to strengthen the national monitoring system.
This was the first conference at which an exhibition was organized for the visiting delegations, giving participants the opportunity to tour and become acquainted with the products and educational programmes of the SNCOs.