Cbd third National Report Armenia (English version)

Biodiversity and Climate Change

Has your country implemented projects aimed at mitigating and adapting to climate change that incorporate biodiversity conservation and sustainable use? (decision VII/15)
No	X
No, but some projects or programs are under development
Yes, some projects have been implemented (please provide details below)
Further comments on the projects aimed at mitigating and adapting to climate change that incorporate biodiversity conservation and sustainable use.
The National forest policy and strategy (2004) emphasizes the forest rehabilitation issue as a means to rehabilitate the carbon absorbents and assessment of impact of the climate on the forests. A range of measures envisaged by the National Forest Program (2005) are aimed at the development of these provisions: forest rehabilitation; evaluation of forest vulnerability; increase of adjustability, etc. “Armenia: increase of energy-efficiency of urban heating and hot water supply” GEF/UNDP project (2005) has a certain indirect link with the conservation of biodiversity, as it implies reduction of wood for heating, which respectively will improve the situation in the area of forest biodiversity.

Has your country facilitated coordination to ensure that climate change mitigation and adaptation projects are in line with commitments made under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification? (decision VII/15)
No
No, but relevant mechanisms are under development	X
Yes, relevant mechanisms are in place (please provide details below)
Further comments on the coordination to ensure that climate change mitigation and adaptation projects are in line with commitments made under the UNFCCC and the UNCCD.
In “Assessment of national needs for the global environmental management” project they have analyzed the obligations of the county undertaken within 3 environmental conventions and synergy issues of the aforementioned conventions. As an important result of the project hey have developed and in 2005 by the Government Resolution #800 a range of activities were established. They envisage development of coordination mechanism in forest management, hydro-construction and reduction of emissions.

42. 
    
    

Please elaborate below on the implementation of this article and associated decisions specifically focusing on: outcomes and impacts of actions taken; contribution to the achievement of the goals of the Strategic Plan of the Convention; contribution to progress towards the 2010 target; progress in implementing national biodiversity strategies and action plans; contribution to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals; constraints encountered in implementation.

The development of measures aimed at the mitigation and adaptation of consequences of climate change is its early stage and has not been introduced yet, that is the reason that at this point it is not possible to assess their results. Key difficulties are – lack of updated data about the impact of the climate change on biodiversity. Such surveys and monitoring has started only in 2005.

Article 7 - Identification and monitoring

◊ On Article 7(a), does your country have an ongoing programme to identify components of biological diversity at the genetic, species, ecosystem level?
No
Yes, selected/partial programmes at the genetic, species and/or ecosystem level only (please specify and provide details below)	X
Yes, complete programmes at ecosystem level and selected/partial inventories at the genetic and/or species level (please specify and provide details below)
Further comments on ongoing programmes to identify components of biodiversity at the genetic, species and ecosystem level.
The bulk of the activities in biodiversity area are performed on the level of species. They study the composition of species of individual taxonomic groups of fauna (for example – beetles; reptiles; birds, etc). Certain activities are performed for zoo-complexes and their formation. The vertebrate animals are the best studied animals – 524 species (around 100% of species) and invertebrates more than 5000 (only 30% of species). On the level of species they continue to study the flora of Armenia. So far they have published 10 volumes of “Flora of Armenia”, where they have included information about 90% of the country’s flora. In recent years the main focus in on grains’ families and to lesser degree the studies of vascular plants. On the genetic level they continue to study some relatives of grains; they have prepared and printed “Atlas of Armenian flora”. Approximately no studies are performed in the republic on ecosystem level. From this viewpoint best of all they have studied the water ecosystems. The Institute of Hydroecology and Ichthyology of NAS during 2004-2000 on the level of ecosystems within “Study of hydro-chemical and hydro-biological peculiarities of Sevan-Hrazdan hydro-ecosystem with the purpose of the water quality improvement of the Lake Sevan and the river Hrazdan and their use in various sectors” and “Identification of the role of the lake’s plankton and benthos substances in the trophic relations of Sevan’s lymnosystem” projects they study the ground and plankton fauna’s composition study of the Lake Sevan, rivers flowing to and out of the lake and identify the change of species under the conditions of human impact. The biodiversity studies on the genetic level also are rare and are mainly limited by the studies of chromosome composition’s studies or population-genetic survey and for several individual groups (helminthes; beetles; double-winged; fishes; amphibians; reptiles; from mammals the cheiroptera). The category of mosquito has been studied in the Institute of Molecular Biology of NAS; some minor mammals (rodents; insectivorous) has been studies in the zoology chair of YSU. With a range of foreign institutions they have stared joint studies on DNA level for some snakes and helminthes (Institute of Zoology) and minor mammals (YSU). The results of fauna studies are published in 14 volumes of “Fauna of Armenia”; 7 determinants and a range of monograms. Jointly with American University of Armenia they have implemented “Birds of Armenia” project and 2 monograms have been published (in English and Armenia) and a field determinant.

◊ On Article 7(b), which components of biological diversity identified in accordance with Annex I of the Convention, have ongoing, systematic monitoring programmes?
at ecosystem level (please provide percentage based on area covered)	X
at species level (please provide number of species per taxonomic group and percentage of total known number of species in each group)	X
at genetic level (please indicate number and focus of monitoring programmes )
Further comments on ongoing monitoring programmes at the genetic, species and ecosystem level.
During the development of scientific-research activities in various institutions of Armenia (mainly NAS Institutes of Botanic; Zoology; Hydro-ecology and Fish Breeding; YSY) the surveys performed for various purposes have often contained some elements of monitoring. However, the monitoring activities have not been coordinated and without targets. Often those activities have been stopped due to insufficient funding, as well as lack of highly qualified staff. Monitoring observations are also conducted in the Lake Sevan; the rivers Hrazdan, Debed: Argichi, Makenis; Marsik; Dzknaget, Gavaraget; Lichq and Tsakaqar. The Lake Sevan occupies 90% of total space of lakes and the aforementioned rivers 30% of the river system. They mainly study the fish world of the aforementioned water ecosystem, including in the Lake Sevan 6 species (around 3% of fish fauna). A regular monitoring for the fish reserves of the Lake Sevan is performed for the white fish that is of great economic importance. SNCO “Reserve-park complex” of Ministry of Nature Protection implements monitoring of Ararat vordan karmir beetle. Within “Natural resources management and poverty reduction” project since 2005 they develop mechanisms for the introduction of biodiversity monitoring system in “Sevan” and “Dilijan” national parks on ecosystem (5% of the country’s territory) and species (70-80 plant species, 2% of Armenian flora) levels. At present they implement the selection of indicators and their technical development. Recommendations are being developed for the selection of indicators and their technical development. Recommendations are being developed for the maintenance and management of monitoring and inventory data in GIS system. The Specially Dangerous Infections Prevention Center of Ministry of Health implements regular monitoring of 4 species of rodents and for additional 4 species they collect data, which can been deemed as an element of monitoring (all together 8 species – around 10% of mammals fauna). In the republic they have regularly performed registration and inventory activities of commercial animal species (fishes), some rare and extinguishing species (leopard, black eagle, bald eagle, Armenian Mouflon; Bezoar goat – see data in 2.2), as well as agriculture pests (see 6.1 and 6.2 – invasive species) and several species of rodents that are of medical importance. Annual monitoring of the status of Leopard, Armenian Mouflon and Bezoar goat populations is implemented by WWF in Southern Armenia (Ararat. Vayots Dzor and Syunik marzes).

◊ On Article 7(c), does your country have ongoing, systematic monitoring programmes on any of the following key threats to biodiversity?
No
Yes, invasive alien species (please provide details below)
Yes, climate change (please provide details below)
Yes, pollution/eutrophication (please provide details below)	X
Yes, land use change/land degradation (please provide details below)	X
Yes, overexploitation or unsustainable use (please provide details below)	X
Further comments on monitoring programmes on key threats to biodiversity.
“Environmental impact monitoring center” SNCO of the Ministry of Nature Protection every year regularly performs the monitoring of more than 40 rivers of Armenia. They evaluate the water use as by sectors and the amount of waste waters into the rivers. The monitoring of hydro-chemical indicators (dependant substances; PH; number of biological elements; heavy metals – iron, copper, zinc, synthetic surface active materials, oil products, DDT and DDE) enables to make forecasts about the state of water flora and fauna. The Institute of Hydroecology and Ichthyology of NAS every year performs hydro-chemical surveys of the Lake Sevan and its inflows. They study the lake’s etherification process under the impact of biological elements penetrated into the lake from watershed basin. A database of around 70 years of the lake’s hydro-chemical indicators has been established. “Armenian hydro-metrological and monitoring state service” SNCO performs regular collection of the data about the climate of the country. The data about the use of the land are accumulated in the State Cadastre Committee with the Government. Ministry of Agriculture’s Scientific Center of Land Studies, Agro-chemistry and Amelioration perform limited monitoring of the land deterioration. In 2005 by Government Resolution #1152 in Ministry of Agriculture they establish “State monitoring center of forests” SNCO, the main objective of which was to monitor illegal logging, transportation of timber; sales and other negative activities. They develop biodiversity monitoring projects for “Sevan” and “Dilijan” national parks, which will include the monitoring surveys of the impact of climate change and alien species. In 2005 they started the collection of the data about the impact of spread of invasive species on biodiversity; they have determined the key areas (pilot areas) for the monitoring of the impact of the climate change on the flora diversity of the republic.

◊ On Article 7 (d), does your country have a mechanism to maintain and organize data derived from inventories and monitoring programmes and coordinate information collection and management at the national level?
No
No, but some mechanisms or systems are being considered
Yes, some mechanisms or systems are being established
Yes, some mechanisms or systems are in place (please provide details below)	X
Yes, a relatively complete system is in place (please provide details below)
Further information on the coordination of data and information collection and management.
There are many entities in Armenia that maintain and partially manage the information flows (see 19-21). Apart from the aforementioned organizations some monitoring data are maintained and accumulated also in NAS Institutes (zoology, botanic, center of eco-noospheric studies, hydrology and fish studies, geology studies, etc.); Specially Dangerous Infections Prevention Center of Ministry of Health, as well as in state inspectorate of plants quarantine and land cultivation of Ministry of Agriculture. In the form of reports the results of all scientific-research activities are submitted to Ministry of Education and Science. The National Statistics Service of Armenia performs the collection and publication of data on socio-economic, as well as environmental situation. However; the collection of biodiversity data is not coordinated and information flows are not managed adequately. Although there are many organizations involved, today in the republic there is not coordinating body, which deals with collection, analysis and coordination of information on biodiversity. The data on water ecosystems at the disposal of Ministry of Nature Protection (water consumption, hydro-chemical indicators, contamination sources, etc) is available from the web page of the ministry: http://www.mnpiac.am. In the Institute of Hydroecology and Ichthyology of NAS they have created a data base of hydro-chemical and biological indicators of large rivers flowing into the Lake Sevan (fish fauna, especially ground animals, plankton species). In Institute of Botany of NAS there is a database on the longstanding surveys on flora of the republic. Now they have started the upgrading of the data.

◊ Does your country use indicators for national-level monitoring of biodiversity? (decision III/10)
No
No, but identification of potential indicators is under way (please describe)	X
Yes, some indicators identified and in use (please describe and, if available, provide website address, where data are summarized and presented)
Yes, a relatively complete set of indicators identified and in use (please describe and, if available, provide website address, where data are summarized and presented
Further comments on the indicators identified and in use.
In 2002 within “Needs assessment of the establishment of primary capacities of Armenian biodiversity” project in they have analyzed the state of biodiversity monitoring in the country. A concept has been developed and recommendations have been done for the selection of criteria. The Ministry of Nature Protection environmental monitoring concept contains principles of selection of monitoring indicators of biodiversity. Besides the relevant indicators are determined within “Natural resources management and poverty reduction” project during the formation of monitoring system in two national parks of Armenia.

43. 
    
    

Please elaborate below on the implementation of this article and associated decisions specifically focusing on: outcomes and impacts of actions taken; contribution to the achievement of the goals of the Strategic Plan of the Convention; contribution to progress towards the 2010 target; progress in implementing national biodiversity strategies and action plans; contribution to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals; constraints encountered in implementation.

Within “Self-evaluation of national capacities for global environmental management” project they have developed and since 2005 November launched “Development of institutional and legal potential in Armenia with the purpose of optimizing the information and monitoring system for global environmental management” PDF-A project. In case GEF funds a medium proposal (PDF-B) for the introduction of general monitoring system for 3 global environmental conventions there will be established an improved legal framework and institutional system. They key constraints are; lack of specialists in this domain; lack of experience coordinated monitoring observations and lack of data for pervious years.