On May 27, the panel titled “Biodiversity in Crisis: Rethinking Protection in a Warming World” gathered global voices to discuss innovative approaches to halting biodiversity loss and safeguarding ecosystems under threat. Speakers included Hambardzum Matevosyan (Chief Adviser to the Prime Minister, Armenia), Françoise Jacob (United Nations Resident Coordinator in Armenia), Ana-Maria Paraschiv (Founder, Ubuntu World, Romania), and Moses Kajwang (Senator for Homa Bay County, Kenya). The panel was moderated by Teenah Jutton (Former Member of Parliament, Mauritius).
Hambardzum Matevosyan emphasized Armenia’s leadership ahead of COP17, stating: “Hosting COP17 is not only an honor—it is a responsibility to shape the future of biodiversity policy in line with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.” Françoise Jacob underscored the urgency of acting now: “We are facing an ecological tipping point. Biodiversity is not a luxury—it’s the foundation of life, and its protection must be at the center of sustainable development.”
Ana-Maria Paraschiv called for youth-led and community-based initiatives to drive conservation, adding: “To reverse biodiversity loss, we need solutions that are local, inclusive, and built on respect for nature.” Moses Kajwang stressed the importance of policy coherence and global cooperation: “Biodiversity loss is a global emergency—it requires coordinated action across borders, sectors, and generations.” Panelists agreed that COP17 offers a crucial opportunity to move beyond pledges and toward concrete, science-based action.
