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:

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5.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: UNEP, Fundação Grupo Boticário, GRID-Arendal, Parana University, CMS and WWF-US
• Description: Climate change is affecting both existing Protected Area (PA) networks and the design and designation of future PAs. International managers will discuss how countries can adapt to climate change and build more resilient PA networks, drawing on case studies from Brazil, Argentina and Pakistan. The event will also address lessons learned and how these approaches can inform future directions for PA networks through 2030 and beyond.
• Event page: CBD COP17 Side Event #7613

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