Audubon Brings Hemispheric Conservation Expertise to the Global Stage at COP17

As international leaders, scientists, and advocates converge in Yerevan, Armenia, for the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), the National Audubon Society is positioning itself at the forefront of the global conversation. By leveraging its deep scientific expertise, decades of on-the-ground experience across the Americas, and an expansive network of partnerships, Audubon is working to transform high-level international commitments into tangible, scalable conservation action. The summit represents a critical juncture for the planet’s biodiversity, and for Audubon, it is an opportunity to advocate for the practical solutions necessary to halt the alarming decline of wildlife populations.

The urgency of this gathering cannot be overstated. COP17 arrives at a moment when the natural world is facing an unprecedented crisis. The data, while sobering, provides the necessary impetus for the negotiations taking place in Yerevan. Since 1970, North America has lost 3 billion birds, a staggering statistic that serves as a sentinel for the broader environmental degradation occurring across the continent. On a global scale, the situation is equally dire; BirdLife International’s State of the World’s Birds 2026 report indicates that 45 percent of all migratory bird species are currently in decline, with 11 percent of all bird species facing the looming threat of extinction.

The scope of this decline extends far beyond avian populations. Recent research by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) highlights a catastrophic drop in wildlife populations globally, which have declined by an average of 73 percent between 1970 and 2022. Even more concerning is the trend within the Americas, where that number rises to 95 percent. These figures paint a clear picture of a planet in distress, prompting a global recognition that the systems sustaining life—and human economies—are fracturing.

In response to this mounting crisis, the world’s governments convened in 2022 to establish the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). This framework, comprised of four overarching goals and 23 specific targets, was designed as a comprehensive roadmap to protect, restore, and sustainably manage nature by 2030. For Audubon, the GBF provides a crucial policy anchor. Six of these targets are particularly aligned with the organization’s hemispheric work, focusing on the protection of critical habitats, the restoration of degraded ecosystems, the empowerment of Indigenous-led conservation initiatives, and the promotion of sustainable practices on working lands. By aligning its strategic goals with the GBF, Audubon is working to ensure that the global ambition of 2030 is met with localized, high-impact implementation.

However, the reality facing delegates at COP17 is that the world is currently falling short of these ambitious markers. The Global Review of progress being conducted during this conference will underscore a fundamental challenge: the current pace of conservation is insufficient to meet the 2030 targets. To turn the tide, the international community must move beyond rhetoric. The discussions in Yerevan are centered on the necessity of accelerated implementation, which includes increasing biodiversity funding, harmonizing efforts to address the triple crises of biodiversity loss, climate change, and land degradation, and formalizing the role of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in the global conservation governance structure.

One of the major focal points outside the formal negotiation rooms is the Forests Roadmap, a collaborative effort involving governments, the private sector, and civil society. This initiative is designed to accelerate the global mission to halt deforestation and forest degradation while simultaneously restoring ecosystems at scale. By addressing the root causes of habitat loss, the Forests Roadmap aims to create a systemic change that benefits not only forest-dwelling species but the global climate as a whole.

Audubon’s participation in COP17 is informed by the release of a series of policy briefs published over the last six months. These documents detail practical, science-based approaches to achieving the "30×30" target—the global initiative to conserve 30 percent of the world’s lands, inland waters, and seas by 2030. Drawing from its work across the Americas, Audubon argues that 30×30 is not merely a geographic target but a qualitative one that requires careful management, community engagement, and a commitment to protecting the most ecologically significant areas for migratory birds and other wildlife.

Throughout the conference, Audubon is hosting a series of events intended to bridge the gap between policy and practice. These sessions are designed to showcase the organization’s conservation leadership and provide a clear demonstration of how on-the-ground projects contribute directly to the GBF’s targets. Whether through habitat restoration in the Mississippi Flyway or collaborative conservation efforts in Latin America, Audubon’s presence in Yerevan is intended to illustrate that successful conservation is a multi-scalar endeavor—one that requires local passion supported by international frameworks.

The road ahead remains difficult, but the discussions at COP17 offer a vital opportunity to reset the global agenda. For Audubon, the work does not end when the conference closes. The organization is committed to taking the decisions, pledges, and new programs finalized in Armenia and translating them into meaningful, measurable conservation action across the Americas.

The urgency of this work is underscored by the vulnerability of the natural systems upon which birds and people depend. When bird populations thrive, it is an indicator of healthy, resilient ecosystems that provide clean water, carbon sequestration, and economic stability for communities. By focusing on these interconnected needs, Audubon continues to advocate for a future where nature and society can prosper together.

As the delegations in Yerevan weigh the evidence and negotiate the path forward, the hope is that COP17 will serve as the turning point that the scientific community has been calling for. Renewed global ambition, backed by concrete implementation strategies and a commitment to fair benefit-sharing, is essential. For Audubon, the objective is clear: to ensure that the global momentum generated in Armenia is channeled into the protection and restoration of the landscapes that sustain the diverse life of the Americas, ensuring a viable future for both birds and people. The challenges are significant, but the roadmap provided by the GBF, coupled with the renewed commitment of global stakeholders, offers a pathway toward a more resilient and biodiverse world.