Successful biodiversity conservation depends on more than good policies or protected areas. It requires trust, shared responsibility and long-term collaboration among the people and institutions that shape and manage the landscape. Bringing together local governments, businesses, civil society organizations, researchers and communities is often the most challenging part of conservation—but it is also what makes lasting results possible.

This side event will present three practical examples from Armenia that demonstrate how local partnerships can help turn this collaboration into action.

The first case will explore the development of the Dilijan Urban Design Framework, prepared through an inclusive planning process involving a broad range of stakeholders. The framework incorporates biodiversity considerations into urban development, showing how nature can become an integral part of local planning rather than an afterthought.

The second case will focus on a collaborative initiative in the Aghstev River watershed, where local businesses are taking the lead in establishing and coordinating a voluntary partnership for the long-term stewardship, conservation and sustainable management of the watershed, in close collaboration with civil society organizations and local communities.

The third case will highlight the ongoing process of establishing Armenia's first biosphere reserve, with particular attention to the role of the Local Working Group. By bringing together municipalities, government institutions, researchers, local communities and civil society organizations, the group has created a platform for dialogue, joint problem-solving and shared decision-making throughout the nomination process.

Together, these experiences demonstrate how locally led partnerships can advance the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework by promoting integrated spatial planning (Target 1), biodiversity-inclusive urban development (Target 12), effective conservation of landscapes and watersheds (Target 3), safeguarding nature's contributions to people (Target 11), and ensuring inclusive and participatory decision-making (Target 22). The event will offer practical lessons on how collaborative governance can help translate these global commitments into locally driven action.