COP17 in Armenia Highlights Need to Learn from Global South Women in Biodiversity Efforts

The U. N. Convention on Biological Diversity’s COP17 convenes in Yerevan, Armenia, to conduct the first global review of the Kunming‑Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) adopted in 2022. Delegates will discuss biodiversity finance under the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, yet progress remains underfunded, forest loss continues, and socio‑ecological transitions are a low priority. A commentary from Mongabay stresses that gender justice issues persist in international talks and that women in the Global South—such as those leading agroecology and community conservation initiatives in Zambia—are actively protecting ecosystems on the ground. The piece urges COP17 participants to follow these women’s example to achieve more equitable and effective biodiversity outcomes.