Green Agenda Armenia Launches Youth-Led Vodcast Series with First Episode on Biodiversity and COP17
What does a small country like Armenia have to do with the future of global biodiversity? As the first episode of the new Green Agenda Armenia vodcast series reveals, quite a lot.
After months of training, research and preparation, Green Agenda Armenia is launching its youth-led vodcast series, creating a platform where young people can engage with experts, raise important environmental questions and bring fresh perspectives to discussions about Armenia's green transition.
The initiative began with a hands-on workshop led by Narek Amirkhanyan, one of Armenia's leading podcasters. Young participants learned how to develop and communicate their ideas, research environmental topics, formulate meaningful questions and prepare for conversations with experts. Over the following months, they continued exploring their chosen topics, conducting research and preparing their first interviews.
The first episode, dedicated to biodiversity and COP17, is now available to watch.
Hosted by Hripsime Hovhannisyan, the episode features Dr. Arsen Gasparyan, biodiversity researcher at the American University of Armenia's Acopian Center for the Environment and biodiversity expert for the Green Agenda Armenia project.
Their conversation explores Armenia's remarkable natural heritage, from the wild relatives of wheat growing in the Erebuni State Reserve to the country's importance for global biodiversity conservation.
With Armenia hosting COP17, the discussion also looks at the opportunities the conference creates for international cooperation, conservation financing and long-term environmental action.
The episode addresses the value of ecosystem services, the challenges of biodiversity loss, the global goal of conserving 30% of land and water areas by 2030, and Armenia's own conservation targets. It also highlights why protecting biodiversity is a shared responsibility and how greater public awareness can inspire meaningful action.
Beyond exploring environmental challenges, the series aims to make young people's voices part of the conversation about Armenia's environmental future, encouraging curiosity, informed discussion and engagement with the issues shaping the country's green transition.