Forest and Grasslands Team Pushes Integrated Action at Biodiversity Summit

October 29, 2026 - 18:54

Yerevan, Armenia, 30 October 2026 - The Forest and Grasslands Team took part in a wide range of events at the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, pressing for joined-up approaches to the challenges facing the world's forests and grasslands.

Work at the summit covered several connected areas. The team promoted ecosystem restoration and the conservation of primary forests, arguing that intact forest landscapes need stronger protection if global biodiversity targets are to be met. Discussions also focused on strengthening Indigenous leadership, with participants stressing that conservation outcomes improve when local and Indigenous communities hold real decision-making power.

A further strand of the programme brought One Health into biodiversity action, highlighting the links between ecosystem health, animal health and human wellbeing. The team used the events to show how forest and grassland management connects to wider public health and climate goals.

Across the programme, the message was consistent: fragmented efforts are not enough. The team called for integrated action that treats restoration, primary forest protection, community leadership and health as parts of a single agenda rather than separate tracks. The discussions in Yerevan are expected to feed into follow-up work on national biodiversity commitments.