Partners for Biodiversity Protection in the Caucasus WWF Norway & WWF Caucasus

The Biological importance of Caucasus 6,500 species of vascular plants, - 25% endemic 632 species of vertebrates, - 59 endemic 20% of the region is covered by forest ecosystems, incl. relict forests Among the 30 most important biological hotspots worldwide (CI)

Caucasus has unique relict forests - forests that survived the ice age

Need of Economic Development UNDP Human Development Report 2005 (177 countries) Human Development Index - Armenia Rank 83 - Azerbaijan Rank Georgia Rank 100 GDP per capita - Armenia Rank Azerbaijan Rank Georgia Rank 121

Economic Development : Challenges & Prospects EcologicalWater Reserve or Deficit Withdrawals (%) Armenia % Azerbaijan % Georgia % Iran % Russian Fed % Turkey %

Need for cooperation / environmental security

Our countries are committed to saving Earth’s biodiversity: UN Millennium target 7 UN Convention on Biodiversity UN-ECE Kiev Declaration on Biodiversity Halting the Loss of Biodiversity by 2010 Why? Protection and sustainable use of ecosystems is the basis for long term development, prosperity and security (UN Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005)

Ecoregional Conservation Plan Integration of ecological and socio-economical aspects Conservation across borders A guiding document for medium-term targets National governments, NGOs and donors CBD implementation tool

Enabling Conditions Forests Freshwater Species Raise public awareness Establish Mtirala national park Improve Iori river management Protect Caucasian Leopard Support Caucasus Biodiversity Council Assist local NGOs Strengthen protected areas management Promote cross-border cooperation Rehabilitate communal infrastructure Protect and restore threatened Iori tugai forest Establish regional monitoring network ECP Contributions of the Norwegian Government to the Ecoregional Conservation Plan ECP

Caucasus Biodiversity Council

Regional Monitoring Network Evaluate the actual status of biodiversity in the Caucasus region Provide possibility to improve the Ecoregional Conservation Plan according to up-coming needs and priorities Inception workshop, 6-7 December, 2005

Establishing Mtirala National Park

Restore and Protect Iori Floodplain Forest

Contributing to Saving the Caucasian Leopard Regional Conservation Strategy Protecting key habitats

Protected Areas and Community Development Programme in Southern Armenia

Arevik SPNA Assistance to establishment Zangezur SPNA Assistance to establishment Arpi SPNA Assistance to establishment Shikahogh Reserve Upgrading basic infrastructure Khosrov Reserve Development of tourist program and infrastructure Protected Areas Development

Arevik SPNA area Aldara, Shvanidzor and Nrnadzor communities Zangezur SPNA area Kadjaran community Arpi SPNA area Shatin community Shikahogh Reserve area Shikahogh and Tsav communities Community Development

Partners for Biodiversity Protection in the Caucasus