The delegation of Kyrgyzstan promotes issues of mountain ecosystem conservation at COP17 in Yerevan
The first week of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17) has concluded in Yerevan. The delegation of the Kyrgyz Republic is actively participating in the negotiations, consistently advancing issues related to the conservation of mountain ecosystems, accounting for their ecological vulnerability, and ensuring equitable access for countries to financing and technologies.
The conference is effectively hosting three parallel negotiation processes: the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the 12th meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, and the 6th 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.
Negotiations are being conducted in plenary sessions, working groups, and thematic contact groups. Simultaneously, a rich program of side events is taking place, addressing various aspects of biodiversity conservation and sustainable use.
The main goal of COP17 is to move from global commitments to concrete actions, as the pace of achieving most international biodiversity goals for the period leading to 2030 remains insufficient.
Initial results of the negotiations
By the end of the first week, parties managed to agree and adopt a number of decisions on important areas of work of the Convention and its protocols.
At the 12th meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol, decisions were made regarding compliance with the provisions of the Protocol, liability and redress, socio-economic aspects, the functioning of the Biosafety Clearing-House, monitoring and reporting, detection and identification of living modified organisms, and financial mechanisms.
One decision that sparked particular discussion was regarding national legislation and new biotechnologies. This was adopted following the exclusion of the provision regarding an additional assessment by the Compliance Committee on the quality of information provided by the parties.
The Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted decisions on the Gender Action Plan, the Biosafety Clearing-House, and on communication, education, and public awareness.
A decision on invasive alien species was also agreed upon, which includes, among other things, the development of international cooperation and support for data collection, monitoring, and management of invasive species.
At the 6th meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol, decisions were made regarding compliance with the provisions of the Protocol, monitoring, and reporting.
Despite the results achieved, the most challenging and fundamental issues of the negotiations remain open.
Kyrgyzstan promotes the interests of mountain countries
One of the priorities of the delegation of the Kyrgyz Republic is to reflect in the decisions of COP17 the special significance of natural mountain ecosystems, their ecological vulnerability, and the need to consider the specifics of mountain countries in the implementation of global biodiversity goals.
Mountain ecosystems play a crucial role in biodiversity conservation, regulating water resources and climate, and ensuring ecological sustainability of territories. At the same time, their high spatial heterogeneity, sensitivity to climate change, and fragmentation of habitats require special approaches to conservation and restoration.
During the negotiations, Kyrgyzstan consistently emphasizes the need to preserve natural ecosystems, ensure ecological integrity, representativeness and connectivity of protected areas, prevent the restriction of conservation approaches in favor of trade agreements, and consider the characteristics of mountain ecosystems in the development of international support mechanisms.
Equally important is the promotion of the interests of developing countries and countries with economies in transition, including in matters of access to financial resources, scientific and technical cooperation, and technology transfer.
Biodiversity financing is one of the main issues of COP17
One of the more challenging areas of negotiation remains the financing of biodiversity conservation.
Developed and developing countries continue to discuss the volumes of international financial support, the responsibilities of donor countries, and the future of the Convention’s financial mechanism.
At the center of discussions is the role of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), financing of the Kunming-Montreal Global Framework for Biodiversity, and the fulfillment of obligations by developed countries under Article 20 of the Convention.
The expansion of the circle of states and other actors contributing to financing is also being discussed.
As of October 22, agreement on key resource mobilization issues has not been reached. This is particularly significant given the global goal of mobilizing at least $200 billion annually by 2030 from all sources.
For Kyrgyzstan and other countries with limited financial capacities, the principle of access to international financing, prioritizing grant mechanisms, considering the needs of transition economy countries, and preventing an increase in debt burden as a result of fulfilling environmental obligations is of fundamental importance.
Global review: from assessing progress to eliminating systemic barriers
Another key direction of COP17 is the first global review of the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Framework for Biodiversity.
The parties are discussing collective progress in achieving global goals, improving the monitoring system, the quality of national reporting, and measures to address identified gaps.
However, the key question is not just how accurately countries measure progress, but what real resources and tools they receive to fulfill international obligations.
In this context, the alternative report “We Need to Talk About the Elephants in the Room” deserves attention.
The report highlights systemic contradictions in international environmental policy. In particular, it examines the gap between commitments to conserve biodiversity and the scale of financial flows that promote activities harmful to nature. According to estimates provided in the report, about $7.3 trillion is directed towards activities negatively impacting ecosystems.
The authors also raise issues of inequality in access to financing, the debt burden of developing countries, and insufficient fulfillment of international support commitments.
These findings underscore that the global review must not only document the lag in achieving goals but also contribute to eliminating the systemic causes of biodiversity loss — including unsustainable economic incentives, financial constraints, and uneven distribution of responsibility.
Kyrgyzstan’s participation in side events
In addition to the negotiation process, representatives of the Kyrgyz delegation actively participate in themed events at COP17, presenting national and regional experiences.
During the first week, representatives of Kyrgyzstan participated in organizing and conducting events dedicated to the conservation of the snow leopard, implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, and issues related to the interconnection of biodiversity, human health, and ecosystem conditions within the “One Health” approach, as well as presenting the initiative of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization for biodiversity conservation and the corresponding action plan.
Such events not only allow for showcasing Kyrgyzstan’s experience but also strengthen international cooperation, discuss new partnerships, and draw attention to the priorities of biodiversity conservation in mountain regions.
A strong national team — an important outcome of COP17
It is particularly important to note the broad composition of the national delegation of Kyrgyzstan at COP17.
Representatives from the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic, the expert community, and public environmental organizations are involved in its work.
The delegation is headed by the Deputy Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic, Almaz Mustafaevich Musaev.
Such broad representation allows for simultaneous work on various negotiation tracks, uniting government and expert positions, and more consistently advocating for national interests.
There is mutual support, high professional potential, and coordinated collaboration within the team. This format of interaction between the state, scientific-expert community, and civil society is particularly valuable for advancing Kyrgyzstan’s interests on the international stage.
Ahead is the second week of COP17, during which parties will need to find compromises on the most complex issues, primarily financing, mechanisms for implementing global obligations, and accelerating actions for biodiversity conservation.
Anna Kirilenko,
UNDP Expert, Ecological Movement BIOM
