Kyrgyzstan backs launch of Yerevan Platform on mountain and freshwater ecosystems

The Yerevan Platform on mountains and associated freshwater ecosystems was officially opened in Yerevan during the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. The new initiative aims to unite mountainous countries’ efforts to protect unique ecosystems, mobilise financing and develop international cooperation. At the leaders’ summit, President Sadyr Japarov backed the platform, said Kyrgyzstan was ready to take an active part in its work, and stressed the importance of protecting the Issyk-Kul ecosystem.

A delegation led by Dinara Kemelova, the president’s special representative for the mountain agenda, attended high-level events at COP17. Kemelova urged the international community to focus more on protecting mountain ecosystems and to widen access to funding sources for mountainous countries. Kyrgyzstan also proposed a special mountain programme under the Global Environment Facility, a Global Centre for Mountain Resilience in Bishkek and a UN-backed trust fund to protect Issyk-Kul.

COP17 decided to update the Mountain Biodiversity Work Programme before COP18. Kumar Mambetaliev was re-elected to the bureau of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity.