RCMRD at CBD COP17 | Yerevan, Armenia | 19–30 October 2026

We have less than four years to turn global biodiversity commitments into action.

From 19–30 October 2026, RCMRD will participate in the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17) in Yerevan, Armenia, under the theme “Taking action for nature.”

COP17 marks a critical moment for global biodiversity action. For the first time, Parties will take stock of collective progress in implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), drawing on countries’ National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), national targets and reports.

As a Technical Support and Scientific Cooperation Centre (TSCC) of the Convention on Biological Diversity, RCMRD will contribute to official side events and partner engagements, demonstrating how science, technology, data and technical cooperation can accelerate KMGBF implementation across Eastern and Southern Africa.

At COP17, RCMRD will:

1. Showcase regional experience and practical solutions supporting biodiversity action and KMGBF implementation.
2. Advocate for reliable, open and well-governed biodiversity data and geospatial intelligence to strengthen decision-making, monitoring and national reporting, including the implementation of updated NBSAPs.
3. Share approaches for advancing Target 3 (30×30) implementation and strengthening evidence for area-based conservation.
4. Highlight the importance of gender-responsive and inclusive approaches, placing women, Indigenous Peoples and local communities at the centre of conservation and data governance.
5. Contribute to discussions on ocean and seascape data governance, particularly for Africa.
6. Support stronger collaboration among CBD TSCCs, governments, technical institutions, civil society and funding partners through the CBD’s Technical and Scientific Cooperation Mechanism.

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