On Monday, in Yerevan, Armenia, Cuba presented its priorities for the conservation of biological diversity during the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the Convention on Biological Diversity. The conference, held from October 19 to 30, 2026, serves as the first review meeting on the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
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Daimar Cánovas, Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Environment (CITMA), highlighted that Cuba’s National Biodiversity Program—with a vision toward 2030—is aligned with the global agreement adopted at COP15 in 2022, which aims to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, with specific targets set for 2030 and long-term goals for 2050.
Cánovas González participated in an event titled “Yerevan Call for Positive Incentives for Biodiversity,” which also saw the launch of the Friends of Target 18 group and the “Biodiversity Financing Challenge,” held as part of the High-Level Segment of COP17.
The Deputy Minister explained that one of Cuba’s key environmental priorities is the need to reformulate economic and financial incentives that currently have a negative impact on biodiversity. The goal is to transform these into mechanisms that promote conservation, ecosystem restoration, and the sustainable use of natural resources.
In this context, the country has begun an assessment within the agricultural sector—a strategic sector, alongside mining, fisheries, and tourism—to evaluate incentives linked to Target 18 of the Kunming-Montreal Framework.
🌿 How can information integrity strengthen the #Biodiversity agenda? Yesterday at #COP17, a panel explored how lessons from #ClimateAction can help tackle disinformation, build public trust and turn biodiversity commitments into action.
More at https://t.co/mowBvuAbHL pic.twitter.com/KZWJ43U69G— UN Armenia (@UNArmenia) October 27, 2026
Cánovas also highlighted the process of greening the national banking system, an initiative promoted as a financial solution and supported by the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN). This initiative promotes the integration of environmental criteria into banking policies and products.
Identified opportunities include positive incentives linked to agroecology, the restoration of productive landscapes, the protection of coastal and marine ecosystems, agrotourism, and nature-based economic activities.
Furthermore, Cuba plans to promote credit lines for biodiversity, sustainable financial instruments, and support mechanisms for producers, cooperatives, MSMEs, and businesses that adopt practices compatible with the conservation and rational use of natural resources.
These actions will contribute to meeting the national targets of the National Biodiversity Program through 2030, as well as the commitments Cuba has made under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, while strengthening resource mobilization and financial sustainability.
The session was attended by the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Astrid Schomaker, and the President of COP17, Hambardzum Matevosyan—who serves as the Minister of Environment of Armenia—along with other officials from the host country.
#COP17 | With 40% of the world’s land degraded, delegates in Mongolia are negotiating a stronger global response to drought and desertification.
Science, financing and land restoration are at the center of talks running through Aug. 28.#UNCCD #Mongolia #ClimateAction pic.twitter.com/uFdPwt0s6L— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) August 19, 2026
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