The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, David Songulashvili, presented Georgia`s national statement during the high-level segment of the Ministerial Meeting of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17), in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia.

The high-level segment of the Ministerial meeting takes place on October 27–28, bringing together Ministers from various countries and representatives of international organizations, financial institutions, civil society, and the private sector.

In a National Statement, Songulashvili highlighted the country’s achievements in biodiversity conservation, the expansion of protected areas, measures to restore endangered species, and the importance of international cooperation: "The credibility of our international commitments is measured not only by the ambitious goals we announce, but also by the tangible results we achieve. Georgia can play a significant role in promoting peace in our region by coordinating environmental cooperation".

The Minister also highlighted measures implemented to conserve biodiversity. In 2024, Georgia approved a recovery plan for endangered species. As part of its implementation, the goitered gazelle population in the Samukhi Valley has recovered to more than 500 individuals. Recovery measures are also underway for five additional species.

Developing protected areas is another key component of Georgia’s biodiversity conservation efforts. Over the past decade, protected areas have doubled, exceeding one million hectares and accounting for more than 15% of the country’s territory. Including internationally recognized conservation areas, nature conservation sites cover approximately 23% of Georgia’s territory. In 2026, Georgia established 12 new protected areas, with an overall area covering 136,185 hectares.

These efforts contribute to Target 3 of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which calls for the conservation of at least 30% of the world’s terrestrial, inland water, coastal, and marine areas by 2030. The inclusion of Georgia`s Colchic rainforests and wetlands on the UNESCO World Heritage List further underscores the importance of safeguarding the country’s natural heritage.

CBD COP17 is the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. During the conference, countries assess progress in biodiversity conservation and discuss pathways to achieving global biodiversity targets.