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Ana Colaço, researcher at OKEANOS – Institute of Marine Sciences of the University of the Azores, is part of the Portuguese delegation at the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), taking place from 19 to 30 October in Yerevan, Armenia, under the theme “Taking Action for Nature”.

The conference brings together representatives from governments, international organisations, the scientific community and civil society to assess progress towards the global biodiversity targets established under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted in 2022. Key topics include the first global review of progress towards the 23 biodiversity targets, based on national reports from 129 countries, mobilising financial resources for ecosystem conservation and restoration, and strengthening the participation of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in decision-making processes. Negotiations aim to translate these commitments into concrete actions through the Yerevan Pathway, with the goal of halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030.

Regarding marine biodiversity, COP17 is addressing key issues for ocean conservation, including the protection of 30% of marine areas by 2030, the effectiveness and connectivity of marine protected areas, the conservation of biodiversity on the high seas, and coordination with the BBNJ Agreement. Discussions also highlight the need to strengthen scientific knowledge of marine ecosystems, particularly deep-sea environments, improve the identification of ecologically or biologically significant marine areas, and develop tools for biodiversity assessment and monitoring.

Ana Colaço's participation as an expert within the Portuguese delegation highlights the international recognition of deep-sea research carried out at OKEANOS – University of the Azores, as well as the importance of scientific knowledge produced in the Azores in addressing global ocean conservation challenges. It also reinforces the role of the scientific community in shaping public policies and promoting international decisions based on the best available scientific evidence.