Five leading German natural history and biodiversity research institutions have issued a joint call for decisive action to protect global biodiversity. The appeal comes ahead of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17). The conference takes place in Yerevan, Armenia, from 19th to 30th October 2026. The institutions are urging policymakers to turn international biodiversity commitments into measurable action. After the extreme weather events recorded in Europe this year, calls for COP17 biodiversity action have grown much louder.

COP17 Biodiversity Action

The joint appeal is supported by the Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin and the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research. In addition, the Bavarian State Natural History Collections and the Stuttgart Natural History Museum are also signatories. Their intervention focuses on the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, agreed in 2022. This international agreement aims to halt biodiversity loss and create a future in which people live in harmony with nature by 2050.

One of the remarkable Evolution in Action display cases at the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin. This exhibit highlights the remarkable biodiversity on planet Earth. Picture credit: Carola Radke, Museum für Naturkunde Berlin.

Picture credit: Carola Radke, Museum für Naturkunde Berlin

The loss of biodiversity in Germany was brought into sharp focus recently with the publishing of a paper documenting the decline of Berlin’s amphibian and dragonfly populations.

To read Everything Dinosaur’s article about this research: Alarming Decline in Berlin’s Amphibian Population.

COP17 will include the first global review of collective progress towards these objectives. Therefore, the researchers argue that the meeting represents an important opportunity to identify shortcomings and accelerate action.

The institutions stated:

“Biodiversity is much more than just a nature conservation issue. It forms the basis for food security, clean water, health, economic performance and, not least, social stability.”

Protecting Thirty Percent of the Land and Sea

One important objective is the so-called 30×30 target. This calls for the effective protection of thirty percent of terrestrial and marine areas by 2030. However, the scientists emphasise that simply designating protected areas is not enough. These areas must deliver genuine conservation benefits. Consequently, internationally comparable scientific standards and effective monitoring are required.

The joint appeal also calls for reliable, long-term conservation funding. In addition, the researchers want subsidies that damage biodiversity to be gradually phased out.

A life reconstruction of the extinct Dodo on display at the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin.  The Dodo exhibit provides palpable evidence of mankind’s impact on the natural world. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Natural History Museums Have a Crucial Role

Natural history museums can make an important contribution to biodiversity conservation. Their vast collections provide evidence documenting changes in ecosystems and species over hundreds of years. Furthermore, these institutions maintain taxonomic expertise, long-term research programmes and extensive scientific databases. New monitoring techniques can be combined with historic collections to help researchers understand how biodiversity is changing.

The signatories commented:

“Collection-based natural history research is essential for understanding the causes of changes in biodiversity, as well as for making more reliable predictions and shaping future developments.”

They are therefore calling for scientific infrastructure to be strengthened and more closely connected internationally. The researchers also highlighted the importance of maintaining open access to digital sequence information (DSI). Such information supports research across biodiversity conservation, medicine, agriculture and other scientific disciplines.

As COP17 approaches, the five institutions have called for ambitious but measurable outcomes. Their message is clear: international biodiversity targets need reliable scientific evidence, effective monitoring and sustained investment if they are to deliver meaningful change.

Mike from Everything Dinosaur welcomed this initiative and stated:

“Helping to maintain biodiversity is something that we can all contribute to. For example, we have established a small pond that is thriving and providing a welcome oasis for all sorts of wildlife. In addition, we have planted lots of insect-friendly plants to help boost the numbers of bees, butterflies and other pollinators in our local area.”

Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin in the compilation of this article.

The multi-award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Museum Quality Prehistoric Animal Figures.