Environment Minister Hambardzum Matevosyan says the Yerevan initiative aims to bring mountain countries together to put conservation into national plans and budgets.
Armenia has launched the Yerevan Platform for Mountains and Associated Freshwater Ecosystems during the COP17 biodiversity conference in Yerevan, Environment Minister Hambardzum Matevosyan said in an official Facebook post. Armenpress carried his announcement on October 27.
The platform is an initiative of Armenia’s presidency of COP17, the 17th meeting of parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. The conference’s dates are October 19–30, 2026.
The launch follows an earlier expression of support from Kyrgyzstan. At a biodiversity leaders’ summit on October 16, President Sadyr Japarov said his country supported the proposed platform and was ready to participate actively, NEWS.am said that day.
Matevosyan said the platform aims to help mountain countries make mountain and freshwater ecosystem conservation a priority in national biodiversity plans, climate strategies and state budgets. This would place conservation within countries’ planning and spending decisions.
For Armenia, he linked mountain protection to national identity, water security and communities’ future. He cited Lake Sevan as an example where conserving nature also protects water resources and people’s well-being.
Lake Sevan lies about 1,900 metres above sea level. Its waters irrigate the Ararat Valley through the Hrazdan River, giving the lake a direct role in supplying water for agriculture.
Matevosyan said he had invited partner countries to join the platform, and international organisations and donors to provide technical assistance and investment. His announcement did not name formal members, identify funding commitments or set a timetable for implementation.
Environment official Voskehat Grigoryan says the Global OECM Action Hub will pool expertise to help countries apply existing conservation criteria outside protected areas.
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The intended next step, he said, is to turn cooperation on mountain conservation into concrete projects implemented in individual countries.
Armenia’s Environment Ministry says the countries have succeeded Colombia and Germany in leading a partnership that helps countries put national biodiversity plans into practice.
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At Armenia’s UN biodiversity conference, officials and educators are discussing a draft plan intended to connect learning with practical nature conservation.
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