Countries in Europe and Central Asia Convene in Yerevan to Accelerate Biodiversity Mainstreaming Ahead of COP17

The event gathered together government officials, researchers, technical experts, civil society organizations, farmers’ representatives, youth and women’s groups, and the dialogue focused on enhancing policy coherence, institutional capacity and regional cooperation to better integrate biodiversity into agrifood systems.

Biodiversity: A Foundation Under Pressure, A Priority for Action

The Dialogue comes at a pivotal moment. Multiple global crises continue to accelerate biodiversity loss, threatening food security and ecosystem resilience. In the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region, countries are working to revise their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) in line with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)—an essential step toward meeting global biodiversity targets by 2030.

“Biodiversity is  the heart of our agrifood systems, and it deeply impacts our environment and well-being .In Europe and Central Asia, we have a unique opportunity to lead by example—by integrating biodiversity into every level of policy and practice, strengthening resilience and ensuring food security for future generations. As we look ahead to COP17 in Armenia, our region can help define a forward-looking agenda that puts nature, people and food systems at the center of global action.”— Tania Santivanez, Agricultural Officer and Regional Biodiversity Focal Point, FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia.

To date, 19 countries in the region have submitted their revised NBSAPs, reflecting growing momentum to embed agrobiodiversity across national policies. Yet significant challenges persist. Fragmented governance, insufficient financing and a disconnect between environmental and development needs and institutional mandates continue to hinder progress. The discussions emphasized that agrifood systems—both a driver of biodiversity loss and a powerful lever for restoration and sustainable use—must be central to national strategies. With biodiversity declining under mounting climate, environmental and economic pressures, participants stressed that transforming agrifood systems across agriculture, livestock, forestry and fisheries is indispensable for achieving the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), given that over half of its global targets depend on these sectors.

Countries highlighted the need for stronger policy coherence across biodiversity, nutrition, climate, land and water management, and noted progress in revising National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs). Yet further alignment with national food security, environmental and development priorities remain essential.

Discussions reiterated that mainstreaming biodiversity across agrifood sectors demands political commitment, inter-agency collaboration and reinforced institutional capacities, alongside meaningful engagement of diversity of stakeholders.

Financing emerged as a critical area for action, with calls for better-aligned incentives, optimized public budgets and new instruments to bridge the biodiversity finance gap and support countries in meeting their GBF targets by 2030.

Looking Ahead to COP17 in Armenia

As Armenia prepares to host COP17, the Dialogue reaffirmed the region’s readiness to contribute to shaping global ambition. The Dialogue therefore serves as a critical preparatory platform, equipping national actors with tools, knowledge and partnerships for effective engagement in the negotiations.

Voskehat Grigoryan, the Head of the Department of Specially Protected Areas and Biodiversity Policy of the Ministry of Environment highlighted the significance of this moment for the region, stating,- “I am confident that this dialogue, together with the two previously convened discussions, will enable us to articulate a clearer and more ambitious position—both in strengthening regional cooperation and in shaping our contributions ahead of the upcoming COP17.”