Water-related Ecosystems Conservation in Armenia and Perspectives for Transboundary Conservation Karen Jenderedjian

Content Forests and Forests Values Forests and Forests Values Conflicts and Threats to Forests Conflicts and Threats to Forests Wetlands and Wetlands Values Wetlands and Wetlands Values Conflicts and Threats to Wetlands Conflicts and Threats to Wetlands Environmental Legislation Environmental Legislation International Cooperation International Cooperation

Diversity of Forests in Armenia 334,100 ha or 11.2%of the total territory 334,100 ha or 11.2%of the total territory 120,000 ha oak 96,600 ha beech 55,100 ha hornbeam 17,700 ha pine 44,700 ha other

Timber 41,74 million m 3 timber reserve 41,74 million m 3 timber reserve Average density 0.53 Average density 0.53 Average quality indicator 3.8 Average quality indicator 3.8

Conflicts and Threats to Forests Over-exploitation and factor of disturbanceOver-exploitation and factor of disturbance DeforestationDeforestation

Diversity of Wetlands in Armenia Inland Wetlands Rivers /streams / creeks Lakes Saline flats Marshes Peatlands Freshwater springs Geothermal wetlands Subterranean hydrosystems Human-made wetlands Ponds Irrigated land Seasonally flooded land Water storage areas Excavations Wastewater treatment areas Canals and drainage channels, ditches

Plants biodiversity of Armenia Number of Number of recorded species wetland species recorded species wetland species Algae Algae Fungi 4166 ca. 200 Fungi 4166 ca. 200 Lichens 300 ? Lichens 300 ? Moss Moss Vascular plants Vascular plants

Animals biodiversity of Armenia Number of Number of recorded species wetland species recorded species wetland species Invertebrates ca. 17,000 ca 1,000 Fishes Amphibians 8 8 Reptiles 53 4 Birds Mammals 83 7

Wetlands Values and Poverty Alleviation Products of abiocen origin: Water fresh & mineral sand, gravel Peat

Wetlands Values and Poverty Alleviation Plant productsPlant productsHayFoodMedicineBouquets

Wetlands Values and Poverty Alleviation Animal products Fish Crayfish Frog Game Pets

Wetlands Values and Poverty Alleviation Socio-economical functions: Water for irrigation and electric power Sspace for grazing and watering, fish-farming

Conflicts and Threats to Wetlands Water loss and water balance disturbanceWater loss and water balance disturbance Soil deterioration, erosion and sedimentationSoil deterioration, erosion and sedimentation

Conflicts and Threats to Wetlands Mudflows and waterloggingMudflows and waterlogging PollutionPollution

Conflicts and Threats to Forests Over-exploitation and factor of disturbanceOver-exploitation and factor of disturbance DeforestationDeforestation

Environmental Legislation 1991 Law on Principles of Environmental Protection 1991 Law on Principles of Environmental Protection Law on Especially Protected Natural Areas199 1 Law on Especially Protected Natural Areas 1991 The Land Code 1991 The Land Code 1994 Law on Protection the Atmosphere and Air Quality 1994 Law on Protection the Atmosphere and Air Quality 1994 The Forest Code 1994 The Forest Code 1995 Law on Environmental Impact Assessment 1995 Law on Environmental Impact Assessment 1998 Law on Payments for Nature Protection and Use of Natural Resources 1998 Law on Payments for Nature Protection and Use of Natural Resources 2000 Law on Flora 2000 Law on Flora · 2000 Law on Fauna 2001 Law on Lake Sevan 2001 Law on Lake Sevan 2002 Law on Lake Sevan Annual Action Programme 2002 Law on Lake Sevan Annual Action Programme 2002 (1992) The Water Code 2002 (1992) The Water Code

1991 Law on Principles of Environmental Protection Specifies principles of environmental policy of the State Specifies principles of environmental policy of the State Establishes legal basis for development of environmental legislation Establishes legal basis for development of environmental legislation

1991 Law on Especially Protected Natural Areas Conservation of reference sites and ecosystems Conservation of reference sites and ecosystems Protection of natural monuments Protection of natural monuments Protection of biodiversity Protection of biodiversity Scientific research of nature Scientific research of nature Monitoring of environment Monitoring of environment Categories of protected areas Categories of protected areas

1991 The Land Code Specifies principles of land use policy of the State Specifies principles of land use policy of the State Establishes scope and framework for regulation of land use policy and relationships between different stakeholders Establishes scope and framework for regulation of land use policy and relationships between different stakeholders

1994 The Forest Code Conservation, reproduction and sustainable use of water protective, soil protective, climate mitigating, health, recreational and other values of forests Conservation, reproduction and sustainable use of water protective, soil protective, climate mitigating, health, recreational and other values of forests

1998 Law on Payments for Nature Protection and Use of Natural Resources payments for nature protection payments for nature protection payments for use of bioresources payments for use of bioresources scope of payers scope of payers forms of payments forms of payments amenability against violations amenability against violations

2000 Law on Flora Secure conservation of qualitative and quantitative values of flora, plant habitats and genetical diversity conservation of qualitative and quantitative values of flora, plant habitats and genetical diversity sustainable use of plant resources sustainable use of plant resources regulation of plant resource use regulation of plant resource useRegulate rights and responsibilities of plant resource users rights and responsibilities of plant resource users

2000 Law on Fauna Secure conservation, protection, natural reproduction of animal genus and species diversity conservation, protection, natural reproduction of animal genus and species diversity integrity of natural habitats integrity of natural habitats survival of animal species and populations survival of animal species and populations integrity of migration ways integrity of migration waysRegulate sustainable use of resources of wild animals sustainable use of resources of wild animals rights and responsibilities of plant resource users rights and responsibilities of plant resource users

2001 Law on Lake Sevan 2002 Law on Lake Sevan Action Programmes Regulate protectionprotection restoration,restoration, reproduction,reproduction, natural development,natural development, use natural resourcesuse natural resources of Lake Sevan, its watershed and ecosystems Secure 6 m water level increase 6 m water level increase sustainable use sustainable use drinking quality water drinking quality water fish stocks reproduction fish stocks reproduction recreation development recreation development biodiversity biodiversity administration improvement administration improvement effective water management effective water management

2002 (1992) The Water Code Establish the mechanisms of water resource management Establish the mechanisms of water resource management Protect and conserve water resource Protect and conserve water resource Prevent of negative reveal of water Prevent of negative reveal of water Water resource inventory Water resource inventory Sustainable water supply Sustainable water supply Water supply and removal system secure Water supply and removal system secure Hydropower plant use regulation Hydropower plant use regulation Water ecosystem management Water ecosystem management

International Cooperation: Conventions Biological Diversity (1993) Biological Diversity (1993) Climate Change (1993) Climate Change (1993) Wetlands (6 November 1993) Wetlands (6 November 1993) World Heritage (1993) World Heritage (1993) Combat Desertification (1997) Combat Desertification (1997) Aarhus (2001) Aarhus (2001) European Landscape Convention (2004) European Landscape Convention (2004)etc.

International Cooperation: Ramsar SGF in Armenia Inventory of Armenian Ramsar Sites Inventory of Armenian Ramsar Sites Ecologo-economical Valuation of Armenian Wetlands Ecologo-economical Valuation of Armenian Wetlands Regional Training Course on Wetland Management (21 participants from 6 countries) Regional Training Course on Wetland Management (21 participants from 6 countries) Regional Seminar “Conservation and Wise Use of Wetlands in the European NIS” Regional Seminar “Conservation and Wise Use of Wetlands in the European NIS” (64 participants from 17 countries)

International Cooperation: Wetland Perspectives Restoration of Lake Gilli (UNDP/GEF US$ 963,708) Restoration of Lake Gilli (UNDP/GEF US$ 963,708) Establishment of Protected Areas in Armenia’s Javakheti Region (German Ministry of Cooperation EUR 2,200,000) Establishment of Protected Areas in Armenia’s Javakheti Region (German Ministry of Cooperation EUR 2,200,000)

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