From 19 to 30 October 2026, the Republic of Armenia will host the Seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17), bringing together in Yerevan representatives of governments from around the world, international organizations, the scientific community, civil society, Indigenous Peoples, youth, and the private sector.
CBD COP17 will be held under the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity, alongside the Twelfth meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CP-MOP-12) and the Sixth meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from Their Utilization (NP-MOP-6).
The conference will take place at a pivotal stage in the implementation of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). Since the Framework was adopted in 2022, countries will, for the first time, jointly assess progress toward its 23 targets—shifting the focus from commitments to tangible results and evaluating which agreed actions have been effectively implemented.
COP17 Armenia represents a historic opportunity to assess collective progress, strengthen cooperation, and accelerate action toward achieving the global biodiversity goals by 2030.
Hosting COP17 places Armenia at the center of global discussions on biodiversity. Although Armenia covers only 6.7% of the Caucasus region, it is home to approximately 60% of the region's biodiversity, with diverse ecosystems and thousands of species of flora and fauna.
As the host country, Armenia will welcome representatives of the international community to Yerevan, providing a platform for meaningful dialogue, cooperation, and collective action while connecting global biodiversity priorities with the country's rich natural heritage.
The symbol of COP17 Armenia is Polyommatus eriwanensis (the Yerevan Blue Butterfly), an endemic species found only in Armenia. Living alongside people in Yerevan and found nowhere else in the world, this butterfly reminds us that biodiversity is first and foremost local before it becomes global.
The 23 colors of the COP17 identity symbolize the 23 targets of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, linking Armenia's natural heritage with the international strategy to halt biodiversity loss and promote collective action.