Yerevan, 19 October 2026 – The voices and creativity of young people from communities around Lake Sevan took center stage at the COP17 Green Zone today, as the “Youth Vision for Lake Sevan 2050” Artwork Initiative culminated in an award ceremony showcasing how a new generation imagines the future of Armenia’s largest freshwater ecosystem.

Over September and October, 142 schoolchildren aged 13-16 from communities around Lake Sevan took part in an initiative implemented by UNDP under the EU4BiodiversityinSevan: Enhancing Lake Sevan Ecosystem Restoration project, funded by the European Union. It combined environmental awareness with creativity, giving young people an opportunity to explore the importance of Lake Sevan, its biodiversity and its protection, and to express through art what they want the lake to look like in 2050. Awareness activities and art competitions were organized for schoolchildren from five consolidated communities of Sevan, Chambarak, Martuni, Vardenis and Gavar. 

Fifty artworks - 10 from each of the five communities - were selected to be showcased at COP17, offering visitors a glimpse of how young people living around Lake Sevan see the lake today and imagine its future. Choosing from so many beautiful paintings was not easy. Each painting had its own distinct character and offered a unique perspective on Lake Sevan. Together, the art works captured the children’s creativity, ideas and vision of what Lake Sevan could look like in 2050. 

The three young artists whose works received top recognition then took the floor to tell the stories behind their paintings and share their own vision for Lake Sevan. Their achievements were acknowledged by H.E. Ambassador Vassilis Maragos, Head of the European Union Delegation to Armenia, and Natia Natsvlishvili, UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia, who presented the awards.

In his welcoming speech, Ambassador Maragos referred the importance to protect Lake Sevan: its wildlife, water resources and livelihoods. Speaking to the participating children, he stated: “Through your drawings, paintings, and artistic ideas, you - the young people - remind us that biodiversity conservation is not only a scientific or political issue. It is also a human issue. It is about what kind of future we want to build, and what kind of world we want to leave behind. Art has a special power. It helps us see nature not only with our eyes, but also with our hearts. It can make people think, feel, and act. And your artwork gives a voice to Lake Sevan - to its beauty, its fragility, and its future.”

The UNDP Resident Representative highlighted the importance of engaging young people in environmental action and giving them a voice in shaping a more sustainable future. Addressing the young artists in her welcoming remarks, she said, “You have shown us that young people are not only the future beneficiaries of environmental action, but also important voices in shaping it today. I hope you will continue asking questions, sharing your ideas and finding your own ways to care for Lake Sevan. The future of Lake Sevan will depend not only on the commitments we make today, but also on the passion, creativity and leadership of young people like you who will carry this vision forward.”

The event served as a reminder that protecting Lake Sevan is a shared responsibility, one that extends across generations. By bringing young voices to COP17, the initiative highlighted the value of involving the next generation in conversations and decisions about the future of Armenia’s natural heritage

A short video documenting the journey of the initiative and sharing the participating children’s perspectives on Lake Sevan was also screened during the event.

About EU4biodiversityinSevan Project

The EU4BiodiversityinSevan: Enhancing Lake Sevan Ecosystem Restoration project is funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Armenia. The project supports the long-term restoration and sustainable management of Lake Sevan through stronger institutional capacities, practical ecosystem restoration and biodiversity conservation measures, and sustainable financing approaches.

For more inquiries about the project:

Ms. Magda Avetisyan, EU4biodiversityinSevan Project Coordinator: magda.avetisyan@undp.org