The Republic of Armenia is preparing to host the 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in October 2026 and will assume its Presidency for two years.

This is a major event, and the active engagement of our country in global environmental processes is certainly welcome. However, it should be noted that the Government of Armenia is simultaneously pursuing policies that contradict its international environmental commitments, thereby calling into question the sincerity of the measures being implemented and the credibility of the progress being reported. Among the government’s problematic measures are: permitting mining activities in biodiversity-rich areas; reducing the size of proposed Emerald sites in the draft Biodiversity Strategy; weakening legislative regulations on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA); adopting anti-democratic amendments to the RA Code on Subsoil; failing to take steps to prevent biodiversity destruction in the Shikahogh Reserve, in the territory occupied by Azerbaijan; and others.

It is evident that these trends do not contribute to the preservation of Armenia’s natural environment, the fulfillment of the country’s international obligations, or the strengthening of our state’s international reputation. Moreover, Armenia’s performance in meeting its environmental commitments has already received negative assessments from international bodies. In particular:

  • The Bureau of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention), at its meetings in November–December 2023 and later in April 2025, expressed concern over the Amulsar mining project and its negative impacts on Emerald Network sites and biodiversity in Armenia, as well as the potential reduction of the network. The Bureau called for the suspension of all permits granted for the Amulsar project until a new EIA is conducted, one that takes into account all plant and animal species in the area and their habitats.
  • The Meeting of the Parties to the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention), at its seventh session in October 2021, adopted Decision VII/8a, which recorded Armenia’s non-compliance with the requirements of the Convention, particularly with respect to EIA processes. Since the Government of Armenia has not made sufficient efforts to implement the recommendations of this decision, the country’s compliance will once again be included on the agenda of the Compliance Committee and the Meeting of the Parties scheduled for November 2025.

We express our concern regarding the contradictory actions of the Government of Armenia in the field of environmental protection and consider it urgent, ahead of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and Armenia’s important Presidency, to seriously review its approaches in order to align state actions with the country’s international obligations.

Signatories

"Transparency International Anticorruption Center" NGO

"Ecolur" Informational NGO

“Green Armenia” NGO

"Centre for community mobilization and support" NGO

"Armenian Forests Environmental" NGO

Armenian Environmental Front

Human Rights Research Center

Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor

Journalists’ Club “Asparez” NGO

"Pink" Human Rights Defender NGO

"Protection of Rights without Borders" NGO

"Armenian Progressive Youth" NGO

Law Development and Protection Foundation