Yerevan, Armenia - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) called for faster implementation of global biodiversity commitments as the 17th United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP17) completed the Global review of collective progress in the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). The Review identified the implementation gap as the central issue for the second half of the KMGBF period until 2030.
Addressing the COP17 High-Level Segment, FAO Deputy Director-General and Director of Cabinet Godfrey Magwenzi said country commitment was strong, but implementation now needs to accelerate.
"There is no food security and nutrition without biodiversity, and no future for biodiversity without transforming our agrifood systems," Magwenzi said.
FAO's latest Global analysis of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans shows that agrifood systems cut across all 23 targets of the KMGBF. Nearly two-thirds - 63 percent - of national targets and 36 percent of the actions analysed are related to agrifood systems.
FAO has been supporting countries in translating those commitments into practical action. In 2025, the Organization supported more than 65 countries in updating and implementing their national biodiversity strategies and action plans. Through the Agri-NBSAPs Support Initiative, work is ongoing or planned in 13 countries, mobilizing around USD 13.7 million to strengthen policy coherence, knowledge and implementation on the ground.
Magwenzi also highlighted the role of biodiversity finance. Through FAO-supported programmes and projects, 91 countries have accessed more than USD 645 million in Global Environment Facility grants and USD 4.34 billion in co-financing. The Food Systems Integrated Program alone covers 32 countries with more than USD 280 million in grants.
Accelerating action through agrifood systems
COP17 brought together representatives of the 196 Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and a wide range of stakeholders. The Conference marked the midway point between the adoption of the Kunming‑Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) in 2022 and its 2030 deadline. The publication of the Global Review of collective progress, considered at the conference, gave Parties a moment to take stock, identify remaining gaps and challenges, and to take measure to accelerate the action needed to achieve the KMGBF.
The Global Review shows unprecedented engagement in biodiversity planning but finds that implementation is too slow and insufficient to achieve the 2030 targets unless action is rapidly accelerated.
FAO participated to help countries accelerate and scale up implementation of the KMGBF through agrifood systems action, translating commitments into measurable results by 2030. FAO brought its technical expertise to the negotiations, contributed to high‑level and technical discussions, engaged countries and partners, and presented new initiatives, evidence, guidance and tools to support implementation of the KMGBF.
Throughout COP17, FAO worked with countries and many partners to place agrifood systems at the heart of the deliberations, including discussions on biodiversity finance, implementation of NBSAPs, national biodiversity monitoring systems, ecosystem restoration, genetic resources for food and agriculture, sustainable wildlife management, pollution reduction, linkages between biodiversity and climate change, and mainstreaming biodiversity across the agriculture, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture sectors.
Magwenzi also highlighted the need to help countries access finance for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity through agrifood systems. Nearly half of FAO-GEF portfolio in over 140 countries focus on biodiversity, helping rural communities adopt practices that deliver positive outcomes for biodiversity, food security, and livelihoods. Since the first wave of investment under the new Kunming Biodiversity Fund in 2025, FAO has helped countries access and implement investments in support of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
New initiatives to strengthen implementation
COP17 saw the launch of two Presidency Flagship Initiatives supported by FAO.
The Yerevan Tech for Biodiversity Monitoring Hub, launched on 27 October, brings together under one platform all organizations responsible for the 27 headline indicators of the KMGBF. It will help countries improve the way they collect, use and report biodiversity data by connecting them with technical expertise, technologies and partner support.
FAO serves as custodian or facilitating organization for 28 indicators of the KMGBF monitoring framework, including six headline indicators covering restoration, sustainable fisheries, pesticides, sustainable agriculture, sustainable forest management, and land-use change and land tenure in the traditional territories of Indigenous Peoples and local communities. FAO is co-leading the initiative and will contribute expertise in statistics, geospatial technologies, national monitoring systems and capacity development.
The Yerevan Global OECM Action Hub, launched on 28 October, will support countries and partners working on other effective area-based conservation measures, known as OECMs. These recognize areas outside formally protected areas where biodiversity is effectively conserved, including productive landscapes and seascapes.
FAO's analysis found that almost one-third of Parties plan to recognize rural heritage, agricultural and fisheries areas as potential OECMs in support of KMGBF Target 3. FAO has already developed guidance for identifying, evaluating and reporting OECMs in marine fisheries and released similar guidance for aquaculture.
FAO also supported the launch of the "Yerevan Platform on Mountains and Related Freshwater Ecosystems", another COP17 Presidency Flagship Initiative. The Platform aims to strengthen technical cooperation, mobilize resources and better integrate mountain and freshwater priorities into national biodiversity strategies. Nearly two billion people depend on freshwater from mountains, which are also home to more than half of the world's biodiversity hotspots.
FAO is host to the Secretariat of the Mountain Partnership, a global alliance of more than 715 members, including 76 governments. Together with UNEP, FAO also co-leads the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, including a multi-country initiative restoring more than 370 000 hectares of mountain landscapes.
Evidence and tools for country action
FAO brought to COP17 new evidence, data and practical tools to help countries monitor progress and implement the Global Biodiversity Framework through agrifood systems.
The Global analysis of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans examined 78 revised or updated national biodiversity plans and almost 13 000 individual actions. Countries are embracing solutions across a wide range of agrifood sectors, from restoring degraded ecosystems and managing forests sustainably to protecting aquatic biodiversity and reducing agricultural pollution
The analysis also highlighted a major implementation challenge: while 84 percent of the national plans reviewed identify financial needs, only 44 percent quantify them and just 19 percent include costed individual agrifood-related actions. Fewer than half of planned actions have measurable indicators to track progress.
Alongside the analysis, FAO presented the Agrifood, Biodiversity and Climate Policy Navigator, an online tool that helps users compare national biodiversity and climate commitments and identify where the two agendas can better reinforce each other.
FAO also made available a Resource Guide for Target 10 of the KMGBF, with practical options to help countries make agriculture, aquaculture, fisheries and forestry more sustainable while supporting biodiversity. The guide provides more than 90 suggested activities and links to over 600 resources, datasets and platforms.
On 29 October, FAO also launched updated Guidelines for Integrated Land Use Planning (ILUP), the first major update of the framework since 1993. The voluntary guidelines are designed to help countries manage competing demands on land, soil and water and make more integrated decisions that balance agriculture, urbanization and infrastructure with conservation, restoration, food and water security and climate resilience. The updated framework also reflects advances in geospatial technologies, digital information systems and other tools that can support evidence-based land-use decisions.
The Organization also contributed to discussions on digital sequence information and benefit-sharing, drawing on the work of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, and contributed to work towards a possible Global Pollinator Platform to strengthen international cooperation on pollinator conservation and sustainable management.
FAO also presented an e-learning course on biodiversity and agrifood systems available in English, French and Spanish.
Agrifood systems on the COP17 agenda
FAO co-organized Food and Agriculture Day on 28 October with the Government of Armenia and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Opening the day, Magwenzi stressed that biodiversity underpins food security, nutrition and resilience, and that agrifood solutions - from restoring ecosystems and improving soil health to reducing pollution and protecting pollinators - can contribute directly to global biodiversity goals.
Highlighting the need to move from commitments to action and mainstreaming biodiversity across sectors, Jaimi van Essen, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, announced a contribution of 1.5 million EUR from the Netherlands to support FAO's work on biodiversity.
Food and Agriculture Day highlighted the role of agrifood systems across national planning and monitoring, pollinator action and the conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources, while giving space to the experience of farmers, fisherfolk, foresters and pastoralists. Six thematic sessions brought together 25 speakers.
FAO also co-organized Restoration Day on 29 October under the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, jointly led by FAO and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Discussions focused on progress in restoring degraded ecosystems and on the action still needed to meet global restoration commitments by 2030.
Restoration Day also featured of Nature's Comeback, the first global Restoration Progress Report and global assessment of progress towards KMGBF Target 2. The report shows that countries have collectively committed to restore nearly one billion hectares, while around 252 million hectares across 149 countries are currently reported as under restoration.
