Cbd third National Report Armenia (English version)

Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC)

The Conference of the Parties, in decision VI/9, annex, adopted the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation. Parties and Governments are invited to develop their own targets with this flexible framework. The Conference of the Parties considered the Strategy as a pilot approach for the use of outcome oriented targets under the Convention. In decision VII/10, the Conference of the Parties decided to integrate the targets into the reporting framework for the Third National Reports. Please provide relevant information by responding to the questions and requests contained in the following tables.

24. 
    
    

Target 1. A widely accessible working list of known plant species, as a step towards a complete world flora.
Has your country established national target corresponding to the above global target?
Yes	X
No
Please specify
Since 1950s by the funding from the state budget of Armenia they publish “The flora of Armenia” multi-volumes. The last volumes 9 and 10 have been published with the support of foreign sponsors.
Has your country incorporated the above global or national target into relevant plans, programmes and strategies?
Yes	X
No
Please specify
A range of programs of study of flora of Armenia are approved by Ministry of Science and Education – other programs by National Academy of Sciences.
Current status (please indicate current status related to this target)
So far they have published 10 volumes of “The flora of Armenia”, where they have included information about 90% of species of the country’s flora. Now they prepare the last volume dedicated to grains. Given the fact that more than 50 years have passed since preparation and publication of the last volume, they have started the revision of the data concerning the flora, which will be included in one volume of “The identification of the flora of Armenia”.
Measures taken to achieve target (please indicate activities, legislative measures and other steps taken with a view to achieve the target)
The “Law on Flora” establishes the order for conducting the registration of objects of flora and scientific researches in Armenia. The survey of taxonomic composition of the Armenian flora is a primary issue of the Institute of Botany of NAS. As a scientific-research program it is included in the working plan of NAS and approved by the Ministry of Science and Education.
Progress made towards target (please specify indicators used to monitor progress towards the target)
After the preparation of II National Report (2001) they have studied the families of monocotyledonous of Armenia; the state, spread and environmental characteristics of around 400 species have been identified. Indicators – total number of studied species; quantitative changes of known species (identification of new species for the republic’s flora; studies of new species for science; exclusion of species from the composition of flora); changes of areas of species.
Constraints to achieving progress towards the target
Lack of funding for taxonomic programs, especially for field works; lack of highly qualified plant specialists (classification, taxonomic specialists and florists).
Any other relevant information

25. 
    
    

Target 2. A preliminary assessment of the conservation status of all known plant species, at national, regional and international levels.
Has your country established national target corresponding to the above global target?
Yes
No	X
Please specify
No such national program has been identified; however the scientists, as well as the Government perceive the need for such process. The conservation of the species registered in the Armenian Red Book is regulated by “Law on Flora” and “Tariffs for compensation for the damage incurred to flora and fauna as a result of violation of environmental legislation”; Criminal Code; Administrative Code and a range of decrees of the Government.
Has your country incorporated the above global or national target into relevant plans, programmes and strategies?
Yes	X
No
Please specify
The following is mentioned in NBSAP as measures: - revise and publish new Armenian Red Book – using the updated information and advanced criteria; - implement research programs to evaluate the spread and state of population of commercially valuable species. The National Forest Plan envisages: - implementation of programs aimed at the prevention of loss of natural habitats of individual species of biodiversity and conservation of pivotal species; - identification, mapping and implementation of protective measures for etalon ecosystems for the conservation of rare and disappearing species of forest biodiversity.
Current status (please indicate current status related to this target)
In 2005 CEPF approved a draft according to which they shall develop the red list of the plants of Caucasus region. In Institute of Botany of NAS they have stared the preparatory activities for that project, during which they will list the species of Armenian flora that need to be evaluated according to IUCN criteria.
Measures taken to achieve target (please indicate activities, legislative measures and other steps taken with a view to achieve the target)
Within preparation of red list of the plants of Caucasus project for the first time they evaluated the state of certain rare tree-bush species’ population according to modern standards of IUCN. Within “Establishment of cadastre for specially protected area of nature” project they have inventoried and listed the sites of flora of the reserves and national parks of Armenia and within “Management of protected areas and biodiversity conservation” sub-component of “Conservation of natural resources and poverty reduction” project through the field researches they have registered the floristic diversity of “Sevan” and “Dilijan” national parks.
Progress made towards target (please specify indicators used to monitor progress towards the target)
Indicators – number of evaluated species.
Constraints to achieving progress towards the target
Lack of funding for field works; insufficiency of highly qualified specialists.
Any other relevant information

26. 
    
    

    Target 3. Development of models with protocols for plant conservation and sustainable use, based on research and practical experience.
    Has your country established national target corresponding to the above global target?
    Yes
    No	X
    Please specify
    Has your country incorporated the above global or national target into relevant plans, programmes and strategies?
    Yes
    No	X
    Please specify
    In NBSAP one strategic direction is fully dedicated to sustainable use of plants, including a range of activities for the implementation of that target, including: – develop and adopt amounts of use of bioresources (including medical herbs and edible plants); – develop procedures for the use of the most vulnerable species, etc.
    Current status (please indicate current status related to this target)
    Actually at present no scientific research is conducted in the aforementioned area. In the division of plants resources of Institute of Botany of NAS such programs are not funded.
    Measures taken to achieve target (please indicate activities, legislative measures and other steps taken with a view to achieve the target)
    In 2002 in Ministry of Nature Protection they have created an agency for bioresources management, which inter alia is also responsible for providing with the permissible amounts for the use of the natural resources of flora. However, so far during the issuance of permits for the collection/storage of natural objects they have not applied scientifically justified data about the amounts of the given flora and their use – due to the lack of the latter.
    Progress made towards target (please specify indicators used to monitor progress towards the target)
    The number of plant species, for which they have evaluated the existing resources and amounts of sustainable use. Number of plant species, for which they have developed sustainable use models.
    Constraints to achieving progress towards the target
    Lack of highly qualified professionals, lack of funding.
    Any other relevant information

27. 
    
    

    Target 4. At least ten percent of each of the world’s ecological regions effectively conserved.
    Has your country established national target corresponding to the above global target?
    Yes
    No	X
    Please specify
    See target 1.1.
    Has your country incorporated the above global or national target into relevant plans, programmes and strategies?
    Yes
    No	X
    Please specify
    See target 1.1.
    Current status (please indicate current status related to this target)
    See target 1.1 and 1.2.
    Measures taken to achieve target (please indicate activities, legislative measures and other steps taken with a view to achieve the target)
    In 2002 the Government approved “State strategy and national action plan for the development of specially protected area of Armenia’s nature”, within the framework of which the state budget allocates resources for the implementation of the measures aimed at the establishment of specially protected area. From the point of flora and vegetation conservation the establishment of “Arpi” national park is of great importance – with a purpose of conservation of Vayots Dzor marz biodiversity, especially wild relatives of the cultivations plants; unique monuments of nature; establishment of reserve with a purpose of protecting the rare isolated asp forests of Ashotsq, as well as the establishment of “Kirants” natural park with the purpose of protecting the biodiversity of the ecosystems, especially the relic species.
    Progress made towards target (please specify indicators used to monitor progress towards the target)
    - surface of specially protected area; - number of plant species growing in specially protected area, including endemic, rare and extinguishing.
    Constraints to achieving progress towards the target
    Any other relevant information

28. 
    
    

Target 5. Conservation of fifty percent of the most important areas for plant diversity assured.
Has your country established national target corresponding to the above global target?
Yes
No	X
Please specify
With the aforementioned formulation the target is not identified. The richness and uniqueness of the flora of the area are important preconditions for the establishment of specially protected area of nature.
Has your country incorporated the above global or national target into relevant plans, programmes and strategies?
Yes	X
No
Please specify
The aforementioned issue is included in “State strategy and national action plan for the development of specially protected area of Armenia’s nature” approved by the Government Protocol Resolution # 54 dated December 26, 2002. In SSDSPANAP they emphasize the development of criteria of the selection of SPAN, establishment of new SPAN (including with new status) and improvement of the present system of SPAN. (For details see box IV, target 1.2.) However, so far the territory of the republic is not assessed from the standpoint of richness of the plants diversity and important plants’ areas have not identified.
Current status (please indicate current status related to this target)
From the viewpoint of conservation of diversity of plants SPAN of Armenia include the most valuable parts of the country. In existing system of specially protected area of Armenia, which includes 3 reserves, 2 national parks and 23 forest reserves, as well as 2 internationally important Ramsar territories, around 70% of flora and 50% of endemic plant species are under control. In 2004 in the Institute of Botany of NAS they have begun activities for identification of important flora areas; at present they have identified only the areas containing endemic species. In 2005 they have inventoried the plants species of “Sevan” and “Dilijan” national parks, identified territories with reserve regime. They have prepared the list of plant species of “Khosrov Forest” and “Shikahogh” state reserves; “Sevan” and “Dilijan” national parks.
Measures taken to achieve target (please indicate activities, legislative measures and other steps taken with a view to achieve the target)
From the standpoint of the plant diversity the conservation of the important areas is regulated by the “Law on Nature Specially Protected Areas” (1991Ã.) and “Law on Flora” (1999). In 2002 they created the Biodiversity management agency of Ministry of Nature Protection, 3 sections of which (section of management of flora, SPAN management section and section of dendroparks management) perform the conservation of plant species and their habitats. In 2002 3 state reserves and 2 national parks, which have important significance for the conservation of the plants’ diversity, have been re-organized as SNCO and relevant decrees of the Government approved their statutes. “Platan Park” forest reserve, which has been established with the purpose of protecting the only platan park in Caucasus, upon decree No1044 of the Government dated 15.07.04, has been included in the composition of “Shikahogh” state reserve, for the improvement of rare eastern specie of platan and reduction of human impact.
Progress made towards target (please specify indicators used to monitor progress towards the target)
The separation of especially important plant areas in Armenia started since 1958, thanks to which they establish reserves in accordance with IUCN-IV category and a range of rare, endemic or rare plant species were taken under control (keni, argatkli, sochi, mrtavardeni, etc.). However, the provision of the relevant regime in the aforementioned reserves becomes difficult due to lack of their precise boundaries and administrative staff. The specification of the boundaries of the reserves and mapping of the territories are envisaged by 2006-2007 state programs. Indicators – the number of evaluated regions from the point of plants’ diversity; number of endemic plant species in the specially protected natural zones.
Constraints to achieving progress towards the target
The constraints to achieving progress towards the mentioned target are linked mainly with insufficiency of financial resources and material-technical base; lack of management plans and monitoring system, as well as human potential, especially professional staff. The public awareness level is weak. Armenia does not participate to “Global strategy of plants’ conservation” process and is not included into the programs determining crucial plants’ areas.
Any other relevant information