In November 2025, delegates from across Central Asia and Eastern Europe came together for an intensive peer-learning regional dialogue and knowledge exchange focused on advancing biodiversity monitoring and the seventh national report, and the critical interconnections between biodiversity and health. The regional dialogue was co-organized by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Secretariat, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and UNEP Regional Office for Europe, in close collaboration with other relevant partners, and with the support of the UNEP China Trust Fund and the Global Environment Facility. Hosted by the Government of Armenia, the sessions included the participation of NBSAP Accelerator Partnership Facilitators supporting the active participation of Georgia and Armenia country delegations. The dialogue was one of several across the globe in the past year, underscoring the commitment of countries to strengthening collaborative efforts to accelerate biodiversity action.

Representatives from the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Health of Armenia opened the session, emphasising the essential role of biodiversity for human wellbeing and sustainable development. Opening remarks were reinforced by statements from the CBD Secretariat, UNDP, UNEP, and the UNEP Regional Office for Europe, laying the groundwork for multifaceted discussions on monitoring frameworks, reporting tools, and integrated approaches to human and environmental health.

NBSAP Accelerator Partnership Facilitator in Georgia, Tamar Gzirishvili, highlighted the strong participation and commitment of country delegations, noting the value of dynamic exchanges on national progress, priorities, and support needs. As part of the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership Facilitator Programme, facilitators work alongside countries to strengthen coordination, accelerate implementation of NBSAPs and national reporting processes, and connect national priorities with technical assistance, peer learning, and financing opportunities.

Throughout the dialogue, participants engaged in a series of technical sessions and collaborative exchanges that explored several key topics. On an operations level, initial sessions focused on the preparation and submission processes for the seventh national report for National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), enhancing participants’ understanding of the CBD’s online reporting tool and monitoring ahead of CBD COP17, which will bring nations back to Yerevan, Armenia in October 2026. The group also examined tools and funding opportunities available to support and scale national biodiversity monitoring efforts. In this context, the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership’s MatchMaking Mechanism offers a complementary pathway to help countries translate identified needs into targeted technical support, partnerships, and financing aligned with national priorities.

A unique theme of the dialogue centred on the health impacts of biodiversity loss, with sessions deepening the group’s understanding of the critical links between biodiversity, human health, and ecosystem resilience, and showcasing the One Health approach. One Health is a holistic framework that integrates biodiversity, human, animal, and environmental health, recognised as essential to achieving the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Concluding sessions focused on identifying opportunities for mainstreaming biodiversity across sectors, highlighting priority entry points and country-specific needs for enhanced integration and collaboration to drive biodiversity considerations into broader policy frameworks and planning processes.

Interactive group exercises provided a valuable forum for reflection on both achievements and remaining gaps in monitoring and reporting capacities. The discussions reinforced the vital role of inclusive stakeholder engagement across the NBSAP development and reporting cycle, strengthening political commitment and motivation to adopt whole-of-society approaches to biodiversity planning and implementation.

The NBSAP Accelerator Partnership played a visible role throughout the workshop through its in-country facilitators in Armenia and Georgia. Facilitators presented results, facilitated technical dialogues, and helped distil insights on country progress, challenges, and support needs. Their engagement affirmed the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership’s country-led ethos and commitment to strengthening national capacities for biodiversity action. As countries move from dialogue to delivery in the lead-up to the COP17 of the CBD in late 2026, the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership will continue supporting inclusive processes, stronger monitoring systems, and sustained momentum to ensure that nature, health, and people thrive together.

The Armenia regional dialogue showcased another example of collective and coordinated action toward the 23 targets of the Global Biodiversity Framework and the vision of living in harmony with Nature.

Learn more about the actions of NBSAP Accelerator Partnership Facilitators here.