Kyrgyzstan advances mountain agenda at COP to UN Convention on Biological Diversity in Colombia

Special Representative of Kyrgyz President for the implementation of the Five-Year Action Plan for the Development of Mountain Regions Dinara Kemelova headed the official delegation of Kyrgyzstan at the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties on Biodiversity under the motto "Peace with Nature" (COP-16) in Cali (Colombia), Kabar reports. 

The Kyrgyz delegation took an active part in plenary sessions, five side-events devoted to climate change adaptation and wildlife conservation, protection of vulnerable species of mountain ecosystems in Central Asia, global mountain management, achievement of global biodiversity framework, Women's Forum and others.

At these events, the Kyrgyz delegation spoke about Kyrgyzstan's experience in conservation of mountain ecosystems, biodiversity, including the snow leopard, the National Strategy and Action Plan in this area, aligned with the global goals of the CPB on the environmental projects being promoted, the role of women in nature conservation, on vulnerable populations in mountain regions most exposed to climate change.

Dinara Kemelova particularly touched upon the international initiatives of Kyrgyzstan to protect nature and mountain ecosystems promoted within the framework of the UN, CPB and UNGA, in particular, she touched upon the implementation of the UNGA Resolution on Sustainable Mountain Development, which declared 2023-2027 as the Five-Year Action Plan for Mountain Development and planned international events.

Within the framework of COP-16, the delegation met with UN Secretary General António Guterres, Chairman of the Global Environment Facility Carlos Rodriguez, heads of delegations of foreign states, where they discussed the promotion of the mountain agenda, joint projects and multilateral cooperation for the conservation of biodiversity and mountain ecosystems.