On October 16, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Leader of the Nation, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, participated in and delivered an address at the Leaders’ Summit on Biodiversity in Yerevan, Republic of Armenia.

At the outset, President Emomali Rahmon expressed his gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity for organizing the summit.

It was emphasized that the protection of biodiversity and nature is one of the priority areas of the Republic of Tajikistan’s policy in promoting sustainable development and ensuring the well-being of its population.

President Emomali Rahmon stated that, in this regard, Tajikistan is taking the necessary measures to align national priorities with global sustainable development goals and to establish the appropriate legal, regulatory, and strategic frameworks within the country.

According to the Head of State, Tajikistan has so far adopted 25 laws and a number of important strategic documents, including the National Strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity through 2040.

It was noted that Tajikistan has joined 11 international environmental conventions, among which the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity holds a special place.

It was emphasized that Tajikistan consistently pays attention to protecting rare species of flora and fauna that are threatened with extinction.

“In addition to national measures, Tajikistan attaches particular importance to strengthening international cooperation and drawing the attention of the global community to the protection of rare species,” stated President Emomali Rahmon.

It was also noted that, at Tajikistan’s initiative, the United Nations General Assembly declared May 24 as International Markhor Day. This initiative aims to conserve and increase populations of rare animal species and improve their natural habitats.

Continuing his address, President Emomali Rahmon discussed the progress made in biodiversity conservation and the challenges in this area, identifying improvements in monitoring and the assessment of populations of rare species as among the key priorities.

The Head of State drew the attention of summit participants to climate-related issues and challenges, noting that climate change, the degradation of natural environments, unsustainable land use, and other human activities are having adverse effects on ecosystems and biodiversity.

“In this regard, Tajikistan considers adaptation to climate change and the reduction of climate-related risks to be an integral part of its long-term sustainable development policy,” stated President Emomali Rahmon.

The President stressed that coordinating international efforts in the fields of water, climate, and biodiversity is becoming increasingly important.

It was noted that, over the past 25 years, Tajikistan has contributed through its global initiatives to advancing water and climate issues, with the support of the international community and the United Nations. These initiatives have helped advance global water-related goals, including those under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

President Emomali Rahmon stated that the high-level international conferences held within the framework of the Dushanbe Water Process have become an important platform for political dialogue, the development of partnerships, the formulation and implementation of joint initiatives, and preparations for United Nations conferences on water.

It was noted that the United Nations Water Conference will be held in Dushanbe in 2028. The conference will undertake a comprehensive final assessment of the implementation of the International Decade for Action, “Water for Sustainable Development, 2018–2028,” and help define a new phase of international cooperation in the water sector.

According to President Emomali Rahmon, one of the topics to be addressed during the summit’s interactive dialogues will be environmental issues, including biodiversity.

Confidence was expressed that the outcomes of the conference would also make a valuable contribution to finding solutions to biodiversity-related challenges.

Addressing the issue of glacier melt, it was noted that glaciers, snow cover, and other elements of the cryosphere in Tajikistan are integral components of the natural system that generates water resources and maintains the balance of ecosystems.

It was emphasized that, at Tajikistan’s initiative, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2025 the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation and March 21 World Day for Glaciers. Another important step in this process was the proclamation of the International Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences, 2025–2034, launched at the joint initiative of Tajikistan and France.

In conclusion, President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon expressed confidence that the summit would provide fresh impetus to strengthening international cooperation in biodiversity conservation and addressing other environmental challenges.