Ahead of COP17: awareness-raising meeting held for YSU students

At the initiative of the Chairs of Botany and Mycology and of Zoology at the YSU Faculty of Biology, an awareness-raising meeting dedicated to the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17) was held as part of field training in Tsaghkadzor.

Alla Aleksanyan, WWF Armenia's senior adviser for COP17, PhD in Biological Sciences and Associate Professor, delivered a lecture during the meeting. She presented the significance and main objectives of COP17, addressed Armenia's role in the international biodiversity agenda, and introduced students to the fundamental ideas of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

The speaker emphasized that biodiversity loss is not only an environmental issue, but also one of major social, economic and educational importance.

The event was held in an interactive format. Students not only listened to the lecture, but also took part in a game-based discussion, during which they had the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of biodiversity, fauna and flora, ecosystems, and nature conservation. This format contributed to students' active involvement in teamwork and increased their interest in the topic.

Particular importance was attached to the fact that the awareness-raising meeting was organized during the field training in Tsaghkadzor, in direct contact with nature. This allowed students to combine theoretical knowledge with field studies and gain a deeper understanding of the importance of biodiversity conservation both for Armenia and the world.

Such initiatives contribute to the development of environmental thinking among young people, the growth of professional interests, and students' active participation in environmental processes. Meetings organized ahead of COP17 also serve as an important platform for familiarizing future specialists with the international environmental agenda and rethinking the value of Armenia's biodiversity.