CBD ‘Biodiversity’ COP17

The seventeeth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) will take place in Yerevan, Armenia, from 19-30 October 2026

August 10, 2026

Five adults standing in a line in front of a rustic stone wall outdoors. — Members of the Sanam Cooperative, Tsovak Community, Armenia.

UNDP Armenia

Event Details

Date

October 19, 2026 -
October 30, 2026

Location

Yerevan, Armenia

What to know about Biodiversity COP17

Theme: Taking Action for Nature.

Official website: https://www.cbd.int/meetings/COP-17

CBD COP17 will focus on accelerating implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) and translating global biodiversity targets into measurable national action. Negotiations and high-level discussions are expected to center on biodiversity finance, implementation support, monitoring and accountability, ecosystem restoration, protected and conserved areas, and equitable benefit-sharing from genetic resources.

The conference will also continue advancing work on Indigenous Peoples’ and local communities’ leadership, biodiversity mainstreaming across sectors, and stronger integration between biodiversity, climate and sustainable development agendas. Building on outcomes from CBD COP16 in Cali, COP17 is expected to place renewed emphasis on closing the biodiversity finance gap and strengthening implementation mechanisms for the Global Biodiversity Framework.

Why is Biodiversity COP17 so important

Biodiversity is the foundation of human prosperity. Yet biodiversity loss, climate change and land degradation are interconnected crises, increasingly driving inequality, threatening security and undermining sustainable growth. At this Tri-COP moment, UNDP is bringing these agendas together around one central imperative: moving from negotiation to implementation and into an era of action.

Healthy ecosystems underpin food, water, health, livelihoods and economies. At the same time, climate change and land degradation are accelerating pressures on nature and the people who depend on it. When biodiversity protection, climate action and land restoration are pursued together—and backed by finance at scale—they can become powerful engines of resilience, equity and sustainable development.

CBD COP17 Events

UNDP AND PARTNERS’ OFFICIAL SIDE EVENTS IN THE COP17 BLUE ZONE

Date	Time	Event	Location
10/18/2026	9:00	2nd Gender and Environment Data Conference: From Insights to Impacts: Operationalizing Gender-Biodiversity Data for Global Targets	Conference Room 4, Praz, First Floor
10/19/2026	13:15	Biodiversity Credits: Opportunities, Safeguards and Pathways for Scaling Up Biodiversity Finance under the KMGBF	Africa Room - Jermuk - African States meeting room
10/19/2026	13:15	Biodiversity financing for the implementation of the GBF: Results and lessons learned from the development of National Biodiversity Finance Plans	CG4 - Parz - Parz - Contact Group 4
10/19/2026	13:15	Pastoralists as guardians of biodiversity: strengthening land rights and access to natural resources	JUSCANZ Room - Aparan - JUSCANZ meeting room
10/19/2026	18:15	From ecological preservation to economic empowerment: Sustainable solutions by integrating fair and equitable benefit-sharing and high-integrity biodiversity credits	SE2 - Spitak - Spitak - Side-event Room 2
10/19/2026	13:15	Repurposing Rainforest Harmful Subsidies	SIDS Room - Block 2, 3rd Floor - Arzni - SIDS Group Meeting Room - Block 2, 3rd Floor
10/19/2026	18:15	Leveraging AI to Strengthen Synergies among the Rio Conventions for KMGBF Implementation	Room: Sisian – Eastern European States meeting room
10/19/2026	18:15	Leveraging movement data to mitigate the impacts of linear infrastructure on global biodiversity	Lastiver, Youth Group meeting room
10/20/2026		Gender & Biodiversity Champions Breakfast
10/20/2026	13:15	Upholding the rights of Indigenous Peoples as well as local communities in the context of article 8(j) of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework	CEE Room - Sisian - Eastern European States meeting room
10/20/2026	13:15	Taking Action on Target 15: Advancing NBSAP implementation in megadiverse countries	MT4 - Block 2, 3rd Floor - Lori - Meeting Room 4 - Block 2, 3rd Floor
10/20/2026	13:15	Building gender-responsive biodiversity data systems— addressing the gender data gap and women's participation for effective implementation and monitoring of the KMGBF	Lastiver - Youth Group meeting room
10/20/2026	15:00	Flagship Species as Catalysts for Landscape Conservation and Biodiversity Targets: The Jaguar Experience	SE-1 - Talin - Talin - Side-event Room 1
10/20/2026	18:15	People, culture and biodiversity: Advancing area-based conservation potential in Socio-Ecological Production Landscapes and Seascapes (SEPLS)	JUSCANZ Room - Aparan - JUSCANZ meeting room
10/20/2026	18:15	From Evidence to Action: Using the IPBES Business and Biodiversity Assessment to Accelerate KMGBF Implementation in Latin America and the Caribbean	Youth Room - Lastiver - Youth Group meeting room
10/21/2026	13:15	Regional Biodiversity Framework Programme of Central Asia	SE-1 - Talin - Talin - Side-event Room 1
10/21/2026	13:15	Strengthening KMGBF implementation at the national level – Early Action to enable effective outcomes	Jermuk - African States meeting room
10/21/2026	18:15	Accelerating Implementation of Target 18 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF)	Business and Industry Room- Block 2, 3rd Floor - Komitas - Business and Industry Organizations Group room - Block 2, 3rd Floor
10/21/2026	18:15	Scaling up KM-GBF monitoring: Earth Observation and digital platforms as enablers for NBSAP development, monitoring and reporting	CG6 - Gyumri - Gyumri - Contact Group 6
10/21/2026	18:15	From Traditional Knowledge to Benefit-Sharing: Brazil’s Fitoterápicos a Bioeconomy Experience	GRULAC Room - Ljevan - GRULAC meeting room
10/21/2026	18:15	Enhancing the national reporting process under the Convention: reflections and forward-looking	Lori - Meeting Room 4 - Block 2, 3rd Floor
10/22/2026	13:15	Operationalizing Self-Determined Access: Designing Access Pathways for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities under the Cali Fund	GRULAC Room - Ljevan - GRULAC meeting room
10/22/2026	13:15	Inclusive Action for Biodiversity Outcomes: Gender Equality, Human Rights, and Community Engagement through NBSAPs.	Subnational Room Block 2, 3rd Floor - Tatev - Subnational Group Meeting Room - Block 2, 3rd Floor
10/22/2026	13:15	Taking Action for Nature, Taking Action for Health: Prevention at Source	Women's Caucus Room - Shaki - Marie Khan Women's Caucus meeting room
10/22/2026	18:15	Critical energy transition minerals and Biodiversity: managing trade-offs for a Just Transition	SE2 - Spitak - Spitak - Side-event Room 2
10/23/2026	13:15	Strengthening Rights-Based Biodiversity Action through Accountability and Justice	SE2 - Spitak - Spitak - Side-event Room 2
10/26/2026	13:15	Advancing Inclusive Biodiversity Action: Bridging Policy, Finance, and Community Solutions	NGOs Room - Block 2, 3rd Floor - Ashtarak - NGOs Group meeting room - Block 2, 3rd Floor
10/26/2026	13:15	The Road to Scale: Enabling High-Integrity Nature Markets	SE-1 - Talin - Talin - Side-event Room 1
10/26/2026	13:15	Advancing the GBF through Local Action: Insights from COMDEKS Phase 4 and the Satoyama Initiative	SE2 - Spitak - Spitak - Side-event Room 2
10/26/2026	18:15	Environmentally harmful subsidies reform amidst geopolitical tensions and rising fuel prices	Africa Room - Jermuk - African States meeting room
10/26/2026	18:15	Experiences of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Regarding Access and Benefit Sharing Mechanism in South and South East Asia: Key Lessons and Takeaways	NGOs Room - Block 2, 3rd Floor - Ashtarak - NGOs Group meeting room - Block 2, 3rd Floor
10/26/2026	18:15	Integrating Access and Benefit-Sharing into Biodiversity Finance: From Policy to Investment	Subnational Room Block 2, 3rd Floor - Tatev - Subnational Group Meeting Room - Block 2, 3rd Floor
10/26/2026	11:30	MDB Nature Finance – Contributions to the implementation of the GBF	SE3 - Vayk - Vayk - Side-event Room 3
10/27/2026	10:30	Women's Forum High-level Dialogue: Taking Action for the Full Implementation of the GPA and a Gender-Responsive KMGBF
10/27/2026	18:15	Gender as Accelerator: delivering inclusive, effective, durable results for land, biodiversity and climate	CEE Room - Sisian - Eastern European States meeting room
10/27/2026	18:15	Scaling up progress on Target 15: Lessons from encouraging and enabling business assessment and disclosure	JUSCANZ Room - Aparan - JUSCANZ meeting room
10/27/2026	18:15	The $200 billion question: implementing the GBF's ambition through practical investor steps	SIDS Room - Block 2, 3rd Floor - Arzni - SIDS Group Meeting Room - Block 2, 3rd Floor
10/28/2026	13:15	Food Systems for Biodiversity: Mobilizing Finance and Strengthening Policy Coherence for KMGBF Implementation	Africa Room - Jermuk - African States meeting room
10/28/2026	13:15	Rethinking Human Development for a Nature Positive Future: A Preview of the 2026 Human Development Report and the New Nature Relationship Index	JUSCANZ Room - Aparan - JUSCANZ meeting room
10/28/2026	18:15	Advancing KMGBF Implementation through Partnerships and Investments to Combat Illegal Wildlife Trade and Promote Sustainable Use	Business and Industry Room- Block 2, 3rd Floor - Komitas - Business and Industry Organizations Group room - Block 2, 3rd Floor
10/28/2026	18:15	From Reporting to Action: How Technical and Scientific Cooperation Accelerates ABS and Biosafety Implementation under the KMGBF	Talin - Side-event Room 1
10/28/2026	13:15	Reforming Biodiversity-Harmful Financial Flows: Accelerating Action Towards Target 18	Africa Room - Jermuk - African States meeting room
10/29/2026	13:15	Launch of the Model Forest Act – From Global Partnership to the Legal Protection of Forests	SE3 - Vayk - Vayk - Side-event Room 3
10/29/2026	18:15	CHM Awards	Spitak - Side-event Room 2
10/28/2026-10/30/2026		Biodiversity Technology and Innovation Expo - Rotation 4	Blue Zone

Syunik, Armenia

Unsplash / Ani Adigyozalyan

What is at stake?

The world is facing an unprecedented biodiversity crisis, with ecosystems and species declining at rates that threaten food systems, water security, health, livelihoods and economic stability, and our capacity to take climate action. COP17 will be a critical moment to assess whether countries are on track to achieve the global goal of halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030.

The credibility of the Global Biodiversity Framework will depend on whether governments, financial institutions and the private sector can mobilize the political will and investment needed to move from ambition to implementation. Without accelerated action, biodiversity loss will continue to undermine climate resilience, sustainable development and the well-being of communities worldwide.

For developing countries in particular, the availability of adequate and accessible biodiversity finance will remain a central issue, alongside questions of equity, implementation support and capacity-building.

What is UNDP’s role?

UNDP supports countries in implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework through its Nature Pledge, Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN), ecosystem restoration work and integrated climate-nature-development programming across more than 140 countries.

At CBD COP17, UNDP will support countries in translating biodiversity commitments into national and subnational action, including through National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), biodiversity finance plans and nature-positive development pathways. UNDP will also help elevate practical solutions that connect biodiversity conservation with livelihoods, food systems, climate resilience and inclusive economic development.

Building on its leadership in biodiversity finance and integrated programming, UNDP will continue advocating for increased investment in nature, stronger alignment between public and private finance, and inclusive governance approaches that center Indigenous Peoples and local communities as custodians of biodiversity.

How it connects to the other two COPs

CBD COP17 serves as a critical bridge between the land, biodiversity and climate agendas under the three Rio Conventions. Biodiversity loss, land degradation and climate change are deeply interconnected crises that cannot be addressed in isolation.

The outcomes of CBD COP17 will help shape priorities heading into UNCCD COP17 and UNFCCC COP31, particularly around ecosystem restoration, nature finance, resilience and nature-based solutions. For UNDP, the conference represents a major opportunity to support countries in aligning biodiversity targets with climate and land commitments, enabling more coherent policies, more efficient financing and greater impact for people and planet.

One planet, one agenda: from biodiversity commitments to action

As the UN’s development agency, UNDP connects global commitments with national priorities and local action. Across the Rio Conventions, we help governments translate ambition into integrated policies, institutions, investments and solutions that work in real-world contexts.

This means strengthening public finance, unlocking private investment and building the capacities needed for implementation. It means ensuring action is inclusive and locally led, working alongside Indigenous Peoples, local communities, women and youth as partners and leaders in protecting nature and building resilient communities.

The Tri-COP agenda is an opportunity to turn commitments for nature into integrated action—for a healthy planet and a prosperous future for all.