Cbd third National Report Armenia (English version)

Article 13 - Public education and awareness

Is your country implementing a communication, education and public awareness strategy and promoting public participation in support of the Convention? (Goal 4.1 of the Strategic Plan)
No
No, but a CEPA strategy is under development	X
Yes, a CEPA strategy developed and public participation promoted to a limited extent (please provide details below)
Yes, a CEPA strategy developed and public participation promoted to a significant extent (please provide details below)
Further comments on the implementation of a CEPA strategy and the promotion of public participation in support of the Convention.
To implement provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Ministry of Nature Protection of Armenia closely collaborates with the local governments, NGOs and mass media. A great number of projects related to biodiversity conservation and public awareness are implemented by more than 10 NGOs.

Is your country undertaking any activities to facilitate the implementation of the programme of work on Communication, Education and Public Awareness as contained in the annex to decision VI/19? (decision VI/19)
No
No, but some programmes are under development
Yes, some activities are being undertaken (please provide details below)	X
Yes, many activities are being undertaken (please provide details below)
Further comments on the activities to facilitate the implementation of the programme of work on CEPA.
Public hearings on several draft laws, or proposed environmental impact of large-scale projects, as well as round tables, broad discussions are being organized and conducted under the umbrella of Aurhus Convention not only in Yerevan city but also at local level - in different marzes of the Republic. Division on Public Relations has been established within the Ministry of Nature Protection of Armenia, the web sites of the Ministry and Aurhus Center has been updated and improved. They now contain information on all projects and programs implemented by the Ministry. As an output of the “Ecological information, education and public awareness raising” project funded by TACIS, the draft “Regulations on ecological information collection and dissemination” was developed. The document is currently in the stage of finalization with the comments of stakeholders. “Armenian Center of Bird Lovers” implemented transboundary project, titled “Establishment and stimulate ecological movement in the South Caucasus” with the assistance of REC-Caucasus and Swiss Agency for Cooperation and Development.

Is your country strongly and effectively promoting biodiversity-related issues through the press, the various media and public relations and communications networks at national level? (decision VI/19)
No
No, but some programmes are under development
Yes, to a limited extent (please provide details below)	X
Yes, to a significant extent (please provide details below)
Further comments on the promotion of biodiversity-related issues through the press, the various media and public relations and communications networks at national level.
National Report on Biodiversity were prepared by the Ministry of Nature Protection and disseminated to different stakeholder organizations. The mentioned reports are also uploaded to internet pages for broader public use. Information and Analytic Center of the Ministry of Nature Protection is actively operating. One of its tasks is provision of the summary information on the projects implemented by the Ministry to the public. Agitation for biodiversity conservation is also done in the framework of various projects during the meetings with public through dissemination of leaflets, organization of round tables and through mass media. In the framework “Natural Resources Management and Poverty Reduction” project under the activity “Information dissemination on biodiversity conservation and protected areas in Gegharkunik and Tavush marzes” a number of workshops with local mass media were organized, relevant topics were identified and timetable for implementation of selected action was developed. About 30 various reference materials have been published, video films devoted to national parks have been shot, community-based awareness programs have been developed, internet sites of “Sevan” and “Dilijan” national parks are under construction. Presentation of information materials, movies and community-based awareness programs were conducted. Campaigning for biodiversity conservation in the country is being also implemented through regional organizations. With the assistance of REC-Caucasus, the “Eco-News” Environmental Journalists Union has implemented “Mass media and public participation: achievements, problems and perspectives of environmental journalism” project. The main objectives of the project included strengthening of environmental journalism, raising of environmental awareness among mass media, as well as promotion of cooperation between mass media and NGOs in the field of environmental issues and solving of local and regional environmental problems. In the framework of the project ecological tours for journalists have been organized with emphasis on the issues related to conservation of biodiversity in protected areas. In 2004 in the framework of technical assistance by European Union the project titled “Environmental Information, Education and Awareness Raising” has been implemented.

Does your country promote the communication, education and public awareness of biodiversity at the local level? (decision VI/19)
No	X
Yes (please provide details below)
Further information on the efforts to promote the communication, education and public awareness of biodiversity at the local level.
Activities on public awareness raising and information dissemination are actively implemented at local level in forms of organization of public hearings, round tables, establishment of regional environmental information centers, dissemination of booklets/brochures on relevant themes, conduction of lectures, shooting of video films, etc.

Is your country supporting national, regional and international activities prioritized by the Global Initiative on Education and Public Awareness? (decision VI/19)
No
No, but some programmes are under development
Yes, some activities supported (please provide details below)	X
Yes, many activities supported (please provide details below)
Further comments on the support of national, regional and international activities prioritized by the Global Initiative on Education and Public Awareness.
Each year the following internationally recognized dates are observed in Armenia: Earth Day; International Bird Day; Water Conservation day; Biodiversity Day (May 22). In addition “Kura-Araks basin conservation day” (regional level); “Debed-Khrami basin conservation day” (regional level); “Lake Sevan Day” (national level) are observed as well.

Has your country developed adequate capacity to deliver initiatives on communication, education and public awareness?
No
No, but some programmes are under development
Yes, some programmes are being implemented (please provide details below)	X
Yes, comprehensive programmes are being implemented (please provide details below)
Further comments on the development of adequate capacity to deliver initiatives on communication, education and public awareness.
Proper capacities exist in Armenia for public awareness raising and information dissemination. Those capacities include governmental structures. NGOs, coalitions, newsgroups, etc. Activities of this sphere are implemented by: Department of Environmental Protection, Bioresources Management Agency, Information-Analytical Center under the Ministry on Nature Protection, as well as State Nature Museum of Armenia and administration of Protected areas. Majority of environmental NGOs Environmental coalitions, such as “Armenian Forests”, “Protection of Yerevan Green Zones”, “Global Water Partnership”, “Public Council of Armenia for Sustainable Development”, “Ecological Council”, and others “Electronic forum of environmental NGOs”, “Global Info” Electronic network of the environmental NGO of the Caucasus – CENN, etc.

Does your country promote cooperation and exchange programmes for biodiversity education and awareness at the national, regional and international levels? (decisions IV /10 and VI/19)
No
Yes (please provide details below)	X
Further comments on the promotion of cooperation and exchange programmes for biodiversity education and awareness, at the national, regional and international levels.
Government of the Republic of Armenia continues cooperation with international organizations. Armenia cooperates with USAID in the sphere of water resources management. USAID included the conservation and sustainable use of water ecosystems into its strategic plan for 2004-2008 as an issue of priority importance. These issues cover the also water biodiversity component. Implementation of the “Natural Resources Management and Poverty Reduction” project funded by WB and GEF is currently underway which has several sub-components on public awareness raising. Since 2000 the Government of Armenia assists the REC-Caucasus in its activities. In 2001 as a result of cooperation with WWF international NGO the “Biodiversity of the Caucasus Ecoregion” report which is devoted to biodiversity of Caucasian Ecoregion.

Is your country undertaking some CEPA activities for implementation of cross-cutting issues and thematic programmes of work adopted under the Convention?
No (please specify reasons below)
Yes, some activities undertaken for some issues and thematic areas (please provide details below)	X
Yes, many activities undertaken for most issues and thematic areas (please provide details below)
Yes, comprehensive activities undertaken for all issues and thematic areas (please provide details below)
Further comments on the CEPA activities for implementation of cross-cutting issues and thematic programmes of work adopted under the Convention.

◊ Does your country support initiatives by major groups, key actors and stakeholders that integrate biological diversity conservation matters in their practice and education programmes as well as into their relevant sectoral and cross-sectoral plans, programmes and policies? (decision IV/10 and Goal 4.4 of the Strategic Plan)
No	X
Yes (please provide details below)
Further comments on the initiatives by major groups, key actors and stakeholders that integrate biodiversity conservation in their practice and education programmes as well as their relevant sectoral and cross-sectoral plans, programmes and policies.

Is your country communicating the various elements of the 2010 biodiversity target and establishing appropriate linkages to the Decade on Education for Sustainable Development in the implementation of your national CEPA programmes and activities? (decision VII/24)
No
No, but some programmes are under development	X
Yes, some programmes developed and activities undertaken for this purpose (please provide details below)
Yes, comprehensive programmes developed and many activities undertaken for this purpose (please provide details below)
Further comments on the communication of the various elements of the 2010 biodiversity target and the establishment of linkages to the Decade on Education for Sustainable Development.
In 2003 a Caucasian regional seminar took place with the participation of members of NGOs and educational institutions of Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Russian Federation on the preparations towards the UN Education For Sustainable Development decade. In this framework Armenia has participated: at the First regional workshop of the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) Task Force in 2004, at the Second workshop of the same group in 2005, at the working group meeting to develop UN ECE strategy “Education For Sustainable Development” at the first workshop of UN ECE experts (2005) to develop indicators for education In 2005 an inter-agency committee has been established to coordinate the further activities related to the UN Education For Sustainable Development decade.

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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.