YEREVAN — The "Leaders for Nature" biodiversity summit convened at the Meridian Expo Center in Yerevan on Friday, October 16, 2026. Hosted by Armenia ahead of the UN COP17 conference, the high-level event aims to accelerate international action and review progress on implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).

The landmark summit has brought together more than fifty high-ranking officials, including global heads of state, ministers, international organization representatives, scientists, and indigenous community leaders. Following an opening ceremony and a comprehensive plenary session, participants are engaging in bilateral negotiations and two targeted leadership roundtables:

• Nature Conservation Policy: Examining how ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss directly threaten global food security, water access, and human well-being.
• Biodiversity Finance: Addressing severe funding shortages by exploring strategies to redirect public and private investments into sustainable trade, job creation, and rural development.

The event is set to conclude today with the adoption of the "Yerevan Declaration on Preserving Life on Earth." This concise political declaration aims to elevate biodiversity into a top-tier global political priority, strengthen international cooperation, and reinforce participating countries' commitments to the KMGBF goals.

Photo: COP17 Armenia Facebook page