Ahead of COP17: Strengthening State–Civil Society Cooperation for Nature Protection

As Armenia's preparations for UN CBD COP17 accelerate, the collaboration between state institutions and civil society is taking on new urgency for biodiversity conservation.

On January 14, Ruben Khachatryan, Founding Director of FPWC and IUCN Regional Councillor for Eastern Europe, North and Central Asia, was received by Hovhannes Martirosyan, Head of the Environmental Protection and Mining Inspection Body (EPMIB) Government of the Republic of Armenia — the state authority responsible for environmental compliance and enforcement across Armenia.

The meeting centred on a new environmental project planned by FPWC in Vayots Dzor Province. Discussions covered the restoration of the Yeghegis River ecosystem, sustainable management of natural habitats, and the environmental impact of small hydropower plants (SHPPs) operating along the river — an issue of growing concern: in 2024 alone, the Inspection conducted 114 inspections at fish farms and small HPPs Ecolur, reflecting the scale of regulatory attention this sector now demands.

Particular focus was placed on strengthening oversight of wild animals held in captive and semi-captive conditions — an area where FPWC brings deep operational expertise through its Wildlife Rescue Centre. The two sides discussed improving control mechanisms and concrete steps to raise care standards and housing conditions for wild animals rescued from captivity.

The meeting signals the kind of structured, institution-to-institution dialogue that will define Armenia's credibility as COP17 host: translating policy commitments into on-the-ground enforcement, and ensuring that civil society's restoration work is backed by a strengthened regulatory environment.