Yerevan Declaration Calls for Concrete Action to Protect Nature
World
Leaders of countries and international organisations have called for faster action to protect biodiversity, restore ecosystems and increase conservation funding. The outcome of the Leaders for Nature Summit, held in Yerevan on 15–16 October ahead of COP17, was the adoption of the Yerevan Declaration, “Taking Action for Nature”.
The summit brought together the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Armenia and Iran, the Prime Minister of Georgia, UN Secretary-General António Guterres and representatives of international organisations. Discussions focused on turning international commitments into measurable results.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed establishing an international fund to protect rare species and biodiversity, creating an International Water Organisation within the UN system, and locating a regional office of the Convention on Biological Diversity Secretariat in Almaty. He said Kazakhstan’s saiga population had reached 4.7 million, while the number of snow leopards stood at around 190. Tokayev also called for stronger protection of the Caspian seal and the use of artificial intelligence for environmental monitoring.
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov proposed a UN-backed trust fund to protect Lake Issyk-Kul, saying his country was ready to contribute an initial $10 million. He also called for a dedicated mountain programme under the Global Environment Facility and the establishment of a Global Centre for Mountain Regions Resilience in Bishkek.
Tajik President Emomali Rahmon stressed the importance of biodiversity conservation, improved monitoring of rare species and international coordination on water and climate issues. He recalled Tajikistan’s initiatives to protect glaciers and announced that Dushanbe would host the UN Water Conference in 2028.
Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov outlined priorities including expanding protected areas, regional cooperation to protect the Caspian and Aral seas, engagement with the UN and UNESCO, and improved access to environmental finance and modern technologies for developing countries. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stressed that nature conservation should also benefit local communities. António Guterres urged stronger political commitment and action to close funding gaps.
The Yerevan Declaration reaffirms commitment to the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which aims to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 and achieve harmony between people and nature by 2050. It calls for ecosystem restoration, science-based monitoring, responsible use of technology, increased funding and stronger participation by local communities.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed establishing an international fund to protect rare species and biodiversity, creating an International Water Organisation within the UN system, and locating a regional office of the Convention on Biological Diversity Secretariat in Almaty. He said Kazakhstan’s saiga population had reached 4.7 million, while the number of snow leopards stood at around 190. Tokayev also called for stronger protection of the Caspian seal and the use of artificial intelligence for environmental monitoring.
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov proposed a UN-backed trust fund to protect Lake Issyk-Kul, saying his country was ready to contribute an initial $10 million. He also called for a dedicated mountain programme under the Global Environment Facility and the establishment of a Global Centre for Mountain Regions Resilience in Bishkek.
Tajik President Emomali Rahmon stressed the importance of biodiversity conservation, improved monitoring of rare species and international coordination on water and climate issues. He recalled Tajikistan’s initiatives to protect glaciers and announced that Dushanbe would host the UN Water Conference in 2028.
Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov outlined priorities including expanding protected areas, regional cooperation to protect the Caspian and Aral seas, engagement with the UN and UNESCO, and improved access to environmental finance and modern technologies for developing countries. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stressed that nature conservation should also benefit local communities. António Guterres urged stronger political commitment and action to close funding gaps.
The Yerevan Declaration reaffirms commitment to the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which aims to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 and achieve harmony between people and nature by 2050. It calls for ecosystem restoration, science-based monitoring, responsible use of technology, increased funding and stronger participation by local communities.
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