The Maldives is strengthening its voice on the international environmental stage as a national delegation participates in the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17), being held in Yerevan, Armenia, from 19 to 30 October 2026.
The Maldivian delegation is led by Dr Ilham Atho Mohamed, Director of Environmental Conservation at the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy. He is joined by Policy Communications Strategist Midhath Abdul Rasheed, Principal International Relations Officer Fathimath Usra, Protected Areas Management Analyst Aishath Amal, and Conservation Analyst Hawwa Nabaha.
Throughout the conference, the delegation is representing the Maldives in international negotiations and working to ensure that the country’s environmental and biodiversity priorities are reflected in the decisions and future global actions agreed at COP17. The Government’s participation provides an important opportunity to highlight the particular environmental realities faced by small island developing states, where healthy oceans, coral reefs, coastal ecosystems and terrestrial biodiversity are closely connected to livelihoods, food security, economic development and the long-term resilience of communities.
For the Maldives, biodiversity protection carries particular importance due to the country’s unique natural environment. Its coral reefs, lagoons, islands, marine habitats and rich ocean ecosystems form the ecological foundation supporting communities as well as major economic sectors. Protecting these natural assets is therefore closely linked with the Government’s broader efforts to pursue sustainable development while safeguarding the environment for future generations.
COP17 is particularly significant as it includes the first global review of collective progress in implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The international framework establishes targets for protecting and restoring nature, including conservation of land and marine areas, restoration of degraded ecosystems, sustainable use of natural resources and stronger international financing and cooperation for biodiversity protection.
The Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy has described the conference as an important international platform for climate-vulnerable island nations such as the Maldives to advocate for stronger global action on biodiversity. By actively participating in negotiations, the Maldivian delegation is seeking to bring the perspectives and priorities of island nations into global decision-making and encourage international solutions that recognise their environmental vulnerabilities and development needs.
The Maldives’ participation at COP17 further reflects the Government’s continued engagement in international environmental diplomacy and its commitment to ensuring that the interests of the country are represented in global discussions shaping the future of biodiversity conservation. As governments and environmental stakeholders gather in Yerevan, the Maldives is contributing its experience as an ocean nation while advocating for stronger cooperation to preserve the natural ecosystems upon which island communities and future generations depend.
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