From October 16th to 17th, 2024, FPWC's founder and director, Ruben Khachatryan, along with Project Director Sona Kalantaryan, participated in the European Partnership Meeting of BirdLife, held in Almaty, Kyrgyzstan. Hosted by the local BirdLife Partner, ACBK, this gathering marked a significant occasion for BirdLife partners to celebrate achievements since 2022 and to review the 2024 work plan, finances, and broader situation analysis, setting the stage for priorities in 2025-2026.

A major focus of the meeting was addressing the growing concern over civic space, disinformation, and attacks on nature, particularly in the face of rising influence from far-right political groups globally and across the region. The discussions centered on developing actionable responses to counter these political and environmental threats, emphasizing the need for a united front to safeguard nature conservation efforts.

Another key topic was the introduction of new strategic frameworks for the African-Eurasian Flyways, including EAFI, CAFI, and EAEF, which offered valuable insights into BirdLife's priorities and ongoing conservation efforts for these critical migratory routes. Additionally, the progress made with the RENATE (Recovering Nature in the East) initiative and the Nature Restoration Working Group was reviewed, highlighting the efforts towards restoring ecosystems and enhancing biodiversity in the region.

The meeting also underscored the importance of advancing renewable energy, particularly wind and solar, and BirdLife's constructive role in this transition. Progress in developing partner strategies to support renewable energy initiatives was discussed, underlining the need for conservation organizations to play a proactive role in shaping a sustainable energy future.

Notably, this was FPWC's first European Partnership Meeting as a new BirdLife partner, marking a significant milestone in their collaboration. Ruben Khachatryan and Sona Kalantaryan's participation reflects FPWC's dedication to contributing to regional and global conservation efforts, fostering partnerships, and ensuring Armenia's voice is represented in discussions about the future of nature conservation.