The 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) will take place in Yerevan, Armenia from 19 to 30 of October 2026. COP17 will mark the first global review of collective progress towards the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).

The KMGBF and related CBD Decisions include many of the key CMS priorities and mandates and are essential in addressing the conservation needs and threats to migratory species of wild animals. Likewise, the implementation of CMS commitments will directly contribute to the progress in achieving many targets of the KMGBF. 

Among other activities and engagements, the CMS Secretariat will be in Yerevan, hosting or co-hosting the following side events:

Monday, 19 October

Side-event - Ecological Connectivity: A Crosscutting Catalyst for Achieving the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework

• Date: Monday, 19 October
• Time: 18:15
• Venue: Ljevan - GRULAC meeting room
• Organizers: CMS, UNEP-WCMC, WWF, CLLC and IUCN WCPA CCSG
• Description: The event will showcase how ecological connectivity can accelerate implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework by strengthening ecosystem resilience, restoration, protected area networks, sustainable infrastructure and biodiversity mainstreaming.
• Event page: CBD COP17 Side Event #7546

Side-event - Leveraging movement data to mitigate the impacts of linear infrastructure on global biodiversity

• Date: Monday, 19 October
• Time: 18:15
• Venue: Lastiver - Youth Group meeting room
• Organizers: CMS, UNEP-WCMC, Smithsonian Institution (SI), WWF, Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Senckenberg Society for Nature Research (SGN)
• Description: This event will showcase the powerful – yet underexplored – benefits of integrating insights from animal movement data into biodiversity monitoring and planning, particularly in the context of rapidly expanding linear infrastructure.
• Event page: CBD COP17 Side Event #7755

Wednesday, 21 October

Side-event - The Ocean in the Global Review: Progress, Gaps and Ways Forward

• Date: Wednesday, 21 October
• Time: 12:15
• Venue: Vayk - Side-event Room 3
• Organizers: Ocean & Climate Platform (OCP)
• Description: Takes stock of how ocean action shows up in the first GBF Global Review, presents the Ocean Breakthroughs Dashboard, and holds roundtables on the marine conservation Breakthroughs (mangroves, coral reefs with ICRI/GFCR, people of the ocean) and on sustainable ocean economies. Speakers to be confirmed.
• Event page: CBD COP17 Side Event #7902

Side-event - The Global Action Plan on Biodiversity and Health: Advancing Coherence and Co-Benefits Across Global Environmental and Health Governance Mechanisms

• Date: Wednesday, 21 October
• Time: 12:15
• Venue: Lastiver - Youth Group meeting room
• Organizers: CBD, BRS Conventions, CITES, CMS, Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, WOAH and Minamata Convention
• Description: Explore how enhanced cooperation across biodiversity, environmental and health governance mechanisms can support implementation of the Global Action Plan on Biodiversity and Health and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The event will bring together relevant conventions and organizations to share experiences and identify opportunities for greater coherence and collaboration.
• Event page: CBD COP17 Side Event #7133

Thursday, 22 October

Side-event - MEA Synergies for KMGBF Implementation: Taking Forward the Global Review through the Bern Process

• Date: Thursday, 22 October
• Time: 16:30
• Venue: Spitak - Side-event Room 2
• Organizers: UNEP, UNEP-WCMC, CBD, Governments of Sweden, Mexico and Switzerland
• Description: The event will explore how stronger cooperation and coordination among multilateral environmental agreements can help accelerate implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
• Event page: CBD COP17 Side Event #7558

Side-event - Wildlife Conservation Translocations for Species Recovery, Ecosystem Restoration, and One Health: Bridging Science, Monitoring, and Policy

• Date: Thursday, 22 October
• Time: 18:15
• Venue: Lori - Meeting Room 4 - Block 2, 3rd Floor
• Organizers: SI, IUCN SSC CTSG, Panthera, ILRI, WWF, IUCN Forests and Grasslands, Born free foundation,  VetMedUNI, KWS, WCS, My Indigenous Knowledge Kenya, WOAH
• Description: The event will examine how stronger monitoring, science-based standards and cross-sector cooperation can improve conservation translocations and their contribution to species recovery, ecosystem restoration and other Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework targets.
• Event page: CBD COP17 Side Event #7876

Friday, 23 October

Side-event - Animal Culture – the missing piece in the puzzle of global species conservation?

• Date: Friday, 23 October
• Time: 16:30
• Venue: IUCN Pavilion, Forum B
• Organizers: IUCN and the joint SSC-CEESP Conservation of Animal Cultures Task Force
• Description: Experts in animal culture, conservation practitioners, Indigenous Peoples representatives and State Party representatives will introduce the concept of animal culture, and how it can be integrated into existing conservation policy and practice – from more effectively assessing population recovery and extinction risk, to improving the success of reintroductions and mitigating human-wildlife conflict.
• Event page: IUCN Events Page

Monday, 26 October

Side-event - Delivering together for people and nature: biodiversity-related conventions championing multilateralism

• Date: Monday, 26 October
• Time: 18:15
• Venue: Lori - Meeting Room 4 - Block 2, 3rd Floor
• Organizers: CMS, CBD, Ramsar convention on wetlands, IWC, CITES, IPPC Secretariat, ITPGRFA, WHC-UNESCO
• Description: The event will explore how biodiversity-related conventions can strengthen cooperation, reduce duplication and make better use of resources to support implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and reinforce effective multilateralism.
• Event page: CBD COP17 Side Event #7214

Wednesday, 28 October

Side-event - Climate Change Adaptation in Protected Areas: Building Resiliency for 2030 and Beyond

• Date: Wednesday, 28 October
• Time: 16:30
• Venue: Talin - Side-event Room 1
• Organizers: CMS, UNEP, Fundação grupo Boticário, GRID-Arendal, Parana University, WWF-US
• Description: The event will showcase practical tools and lessons from Brazil and Central Asia on integrating climate resilience into protected area management, planning and policy under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
• Event page: CBD COP17 Side Event #7613

Thursday, 29 October

Judges Day - Avenues for the Implementation of the Model Framework Forest Act

• Date: Thursday, 29 October
• Time: 11:00
• Venue: COP17 Blue Zone, Meridian Expo and Event Center, Yerevan
• Organizers: CBD
• Description: This session will discuss pathways to support the uptake and implementation of the Model Framework Forest Act at national and subnational levels. It will start with a fireside chat among ministers of environment responsible for shaping policy, to be followed by panel discussion with international organizations and other stakeholders.
• Event page: Judges Day Event Page

Side-event - United for Ocean Biodiversity – The Role of UN-Oceans and its members in the implementation and monitoring of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework

• Date: Thursday, 29 October
• Time: 12:15
• Venue: Aparan - JUSCANZ meeting room
• Organizers: CBD, UNDOALOS, IMO, CITES, UNFCCC Secretariat, CMS, UNEP, FAO, UN ESCAP, IAEA, OHCHR and UNODC
• Description: Highlight the contributions of UN-Oceans and its members to the implementation and monitoring of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The event will showcase relevant activities and identify opportunities to strengthen coordination and cooperation on marine and coastal biodiversity.
• Event page: CBD COP17 Side Event #7432

Side-event - Launch of the Model Forest Act – From Global Partnership to the Legal Protection of Forests

• Date: Thursday, 29 October
• Time: 13:15
• Venue: Vayk - Side-event Room 3
• Organizers: ADB, UNEP, IUCN, GJIE, WB, IFAD, CIFOR, ACTO, UNCCD
• Description: The event will launch the Model Forest Act and Legislative Guide and explore how they can support countries in modernizing forest laws to address biodiversity loss, climate change and sustainable forest management under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
• Event page: CBD COP17 Side Event #7596

Friday, 30 October

Side-event - Maintaining, enhancing, and restoring ecological connectivity for migratory species across scales

• Date: Friday, 30 October
• Time: 12:15
• Venue: Spitak - Side-event Room 2
• Organizers: CMS, East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP), Center for Large Landscape Conservation (CLLC) and Bern Convention
• Description: Highlight the importance of maintaining, enhancing and restoring ecological connectivity for migratory species across scales. The event will showcase approaches and tools for identifying and conserving connected habitats and ecological networks, supporting implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
• Event page: CBD COP17 Side Event #7425

CBD COP17 Official Conference Site: cbd.int/conferences/2026