Cbd third National Report Armenia (English version)

2010 Target

The Conference of the Parties, in decision VII/30, annex II, decided to establish a provisional framework for goals and targets in order to clarify the 2010 global target adopted by decision VI/26, help assess the progress towards the target, and promote coherence among the programmes of work of the Convention. Parties and Governments are invited to develop their own targets with this flexible framework. Please provide relevant information by responding to the questions and requests contained in the following tables.

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Goal 1	Promote the conservation of the biological diversity of ecosystems, habitats and biomes.
Target 1.1	At least ten percent of each of the world’s ecological regions effectively conserved
National target: Has a national target been established corresponding to the global target above?
No
Yes, the same as the global target
Yes, one or more specific national targets have been established					X
Please provide details below.
In the “National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan” (NBSAP) the following actions have been accepted as the national target objectives of the country: Preserve and restore the most endangered landscape, ecosystems and flora and fauna species; Expand specially protected network by increasing their efficiency; Expand the forest areas by protecting, restoring and sustainable using the forest resources; Improve the biodiversity conservation management system (including the management of specially protected area) to ensure the efficient activities of the system:
National targets for specific programmes of work: If such national target(s) ha(s) (ve) been established, please indicate here, and give further details in the box (es).
Programme of work		Yes	No	Details
Agricultural			X	To support the conservation of meadows of the valuable fodder plant species (natural pastures) in 2005 with its decree No800 the Armenian Government has stipulated the implementation of the following measures: Evaluation of the natural pastures and registration of the types; Improvement measures; rehabilitation of watering systems; Improvement of legal framework; development of local management plans; Development of evaluation criteria for biodiversity value and efficiency.
Inland water		X		The issues of the conservation of the natural resources of the Lake Sevan and its watershed basin are regulated by the “Law on the Lake Sevan” (2001) and among the key requirements of the law are: the sustainability of the Lake Sevan’s ecosystem; provision of the water’s positive balance and efficient use of the natural resources. According to the “Law on Approving the annual and complex program the Lake Sevan’s ecosystem rehabilitation; maintenance, reproduction and use” (2001) the following issues have been considered as priority: Prevention of the Lake Sevan’s level reduction and provision of at least 6 m. increase of its level by the introduction of complex measures, as a precondition for the rehabilitation of the lake’s previous qualitative and quantitative indicators and prevention of extrication; Through putting norms and regulating the natural resources us in the Lake Sevan and its water basin reduction of negative anthropogenic impacts on its ecosystem and its individual components and prevention of their further degradation; Conservation; rehabilitation and provision for reproduction of landscape and biological diversity, rare, endemic and scientific and economic high value species. 2004-2006 annual plans of ecosystem rehabilitation, conservation, reproduction and use of the Lake Sevan envisage: Study; evaluation and forecast of changes in the dynamics of ecosystem components; Scientific researches in “Sevan” national park; Registration of the plant and animal resources in the lake and lake’s watershed basin; - Replenishment of the fish resources. Provision for the reproduction of valuable and rare fish species. Maintenance of genetic fund.
Marine and coastal
Dry and sub humid land			X
Forest		X		In the “National Forest Program” (Government Protocol Resolution #1232 dated 21.07.2005) as target objectives of the country the following actions have been identified: a/ setting up and improvement of the forestry legal framework; b/ forest building; c/ state registration of the forests; state forest cadastre and state monitoring of forests; d/ maintenance of forests; e/ conservation of forests; f/ rehabilitation of forests and forest coverage; g/ use of forest, etc.
Mountain		X		Armenia is a mountainous country; 76.5% of the country is 1000-2500m. above sea level; chains of mountains occupy around 47% of the country’s territory; around 40% of the settlements are 1500-2000m. above sea level. Based on this the majority of the country’s target objectives are extended to the mountainous zones.
Has the global or national target been incorporated into relevant plans, programmes and strategies?
No
Yes, into national biodiversity strategy and action plan					X
Yes, into sectoral strategies, plans and programmes					X
Please provide details below.
“Conservation and rehabilitation of landscape and ecosystems” activity is aimed at the attaining the objective mentioned in NBSAP, which includes the following measures: Protect and rehabilitate the main water-marsh ecosystems (including the Lake Sevan and the lake Arpi); Protect and rehabilitate the main forest ecosystems, especially the forests harmed in 1990-1995; Rehabilitate the unique and economically important forests – providing with their natural reproduction; Rehabilitate the degraded landscapes and biodiversity harmed by the economics activities. Actually in regard of supporting the conservation of ecosystems; habitats and biodiversity NBSAP identifies measures only for water-marsh and forests systems, in case when other systems in Armenia also need conservation. The national target objective is included in different development strategies and program. It is fully reflected in “National Forest Policy and Strategy”; “National Forest Program of Armenia” document, as well as socio-economic development plans of marzes of the republic.
Please provide information on current status and trends in relation to this target.
The Lake Sevan is one of the most endangered ecosystems of the Republic of Armenia, which contains more than 80% of the country’s water resources. The lake is characterized by unique fish world; there are 3 endemic species in the lake – trout with its 4 sub-types; kogak and beglu. Because of the decrease of the lake’s level the ecosystem’s balance has been fully destroyed; as a result of drying of the places for spawning the lake biotypes of the endemic fish types are on the verge of extinction. In 2002-2005 annual plan for the rehabilitation, preservation, reproduction and use measures of the Lake Sevan’s ecosystem a special attention is drawn to the increase of the lake’s level, which is the main precondition for the rehabilitation of lymnosystem. With a purpose to solve the issue in 2002 there has been around 40% reduction of the water outlet from the lake for the irrigation purposes. At the same time around 300.6 million cubic water has been channeled to the lake through Arpa-Sevan canal, which is 30% more that the similar indicator of 2001. During 2003-2005 as a result of the relevant measures the level of the lake went up by 174cm. The following programs are being implemented for the preservation and reproduction of the natural resources of the Lake Sevan: a/ study of hydro-chemical and hydro-biological peculiarities of Sevan-Hrazdan hydro-systems with the purpose to improve the water quality in the Lake Sevan and river Hrazdan and its use for various purposes; b/ study of fish fauna’s population and biological indicators under the circumstances of the water level increase; c/ the identification of the lake’s plankton and benthos substances in trophic relations of Sevan’s lymnosystem; d/ study of ecological peculiarities of the Lake Sevan’s crayfish and the identification of its role in the trophic chain of lymnosystem. It has been identified that the state of fish fauna in the lake remains extremely intense. The industrial reserves of the white fish are about exhausted. The natural pastures of the republic cover around 30% of the total territory and are on 600m (semi-desert) - 2700-3500m (alpine zones) altitude and are characterized by the diversity of fodder plants, the majority of which are the representatives of grain-crops – around 300 species. The extensive development of land use, overgrazing; irregular harvest of industrial plants; insufficiency of the legal framework have lead to extreme degradation of the ecosystems; steep reduction of the type composition and even extinction of some species. Within the framework of “ICARDA – regional program of agriculture of development of mountainous countries” the have developed a range of new technologies for the surface and root improvement of natural fodder fields with the purpose to improve the pastures in the fodder diversity and extremely burdened state. The surface improvement technology is applied for the improvement of the worst pastures in Gegharkunik and Tavush marzes. Within the framework of “Natural resources management and poverty reduction” project in 9500 ha pastures of 59 communities of the republic they apply the sustainable management methods. The use of the pastures is implemented on the system of shift grazing. As a result of project implementation the pastures and grasslands of 3300 ha will be improved. At present in 1770 ha pastures and grasslands they have already implemented fertilizing measures. With the training purposes in 20 communities they have identified the worst state pastures, where for 1-2 years the grazing is prohibited. With a purpose to efficiently use the far pastures and ease the pressure on close pastures and forests they envisage to rehabilitate and build up 200 watering points. At present the activities have been completed in 45 communities. “Edible wild vegetable-plants selection and seed breeding” scientific-research topic (Scientific center of legumes and technical plants) is aimed at the reduction of use of the wild edible plants by the means of organizing their cultivation. Armenia is a country poor of forests, where the forest lands constitute around 10% of the country’s territory. As a result of economic and energy crisis in the republic since 1991 the forests of Armenia has been subjected to over logging – in violation environmental balance. As a result of irregular use, overgrazing, logging of the forests deep structural changes have taken place: the trees have lost their capacity of natural reproduction; the productivity decreased; erosion processes have increased; hydrological regime of the forest has been destroyed. The estimates show that during the last years around 30 thousand ha of forest has been logged, of which around 7 thousand ha forest has been fully logged. Because of inappropriate activities of the human being, besides the reduction of forest coverage of the republic there have also been undesirable changes in the forest biodiversity and genetic resources of the forests have been worsened. The preservation and sustainable use of the forest resources is considered as one of the priorities of the state. To regulate the aforementioned areas in 2003-2005 the Armenian Government has adopted a range of legal documents, in particular “National Forest Policy and Strategy”; “National Program of Armenian Forests” and “Action plan for mitigating actions to help address the problems associated with illegal logging” developed within the framework of “Natural Resources Management and Poverty Reduction” program. All the aforementioned documents contain measures aimed the rehabilitation of the forest areas and development of sustainable forms of forest use. In October 2005 the National Assembly adopted new Forest Code, which regulates the relations connected with the Armenian forests and forest lands. In particular a new category of forest target significance has been stipulated – industrial forests, as well as the have stipulated the idea of setting up community forests. With a purpose to support the preservation of ecosystems; habitats; biodiversity in the Caucasus region the international organization “Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund” (CEPF), including in Armenia, implemented a large-scale project, thanks to which they identified the territories, eco-corridors and the most endangered species that need urgent conservation. With the support of CEPF and BirdLife International in the Caucasus region, with the purpose to protect the bird fauna they have identified junction areas, including 5 in Armenia – lakes Sevan, Arpi, Armashi, chain of mountains Pambak and in Khosrov reserve. They developed and submitted to the approval of BirdLife-International a list of additional 13 areas, where they envisage taking under care all the endangered species of the republics’ birds. See target objective 1.2 for the information about biodiversity maintenance in specially protected area of the nature.
Please provide information on indicators used in relation to this target.
Change of water level of the Lake Sevan. Dynamics of the water’s physics-chemical indicators. Dynamics of type composition and spread of forest biodiversity. The area of specially protected area of Armenia and its percentage relations with the total area of the republic. Degree of the division of the pastures and grasslands; type composition of the vegetation; density, height and efficiency of the vegetation; green mass received from the unit area.
Please provide information on challenges in implementation of this target.
Lack of state registration, inventory and monitoring of the biodiversity. As a result of population’s poverty strengthening of human factors on the pastures and forests in the proximity of communities; insufficiency of the funding and high quality specialists; lack of sub-legislation. The coverage by the water the forest areas as a result of increase of the water level of the Lake Sevan is another concerning issues. The latter is harming not only the forests, but is also a serious danger from the point of view of lake’s pollution. At present as a result of the level increase of the Lake Sevan around 410 ha area (of which 215 ha covered by forests) is already under the water. By and large in case of 6 m increase of the lake’s level additional 3288 ha forests territories will be under the water.
Please provide any other relevant information.
By the decrees of the Government the issue of clearing up the water covered areas of the Lake Sevan is included in the priority list of 2005-2006. From the state reserve fund resources have been allocated to clear up the forest nurseries from the water covered areas.

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Target 1.2	Areas of particular importance to biodiversity protected
National target: Has a national target been established corresponding to the global target above?
No
Yes, the same as the global target
Yes, one or more specific national targets have been established					X
Please provide details below.
The national target objectives for the conservation of the zones of special biodiversity importance are mentioned in “State strategy for the development of the specially protected area of Armenia’s nature and national action plan” (SSDSPANAP) document (developed by UNDP “Needs assessment for the capacity enhancement for biodiversity” project (NACEB) (UNDP/GEF) approved by the Government Protocol Resolution # 54 dated December 26, 2002 The national target objectives for the conservation of the zones of special biodiversity importance are: 1. Improvement of the legal framework; 2. Improvement of the management system; 3. Improvement of NBSAP networks; 4. Improvement of NBSAP financial mechanisms; 5. Improvement of staff. The monitoring, evaluation, rehabilitation and sustainable use of the deteriorated pastures and ecosystems are one of the objectives of “Food safety policy of Armenia” program document (2004). “Strategy on Development of Agriculture in Armenia” pinpoints the need of natural rehabilitation of pastures and grasslands and pastures being regions of fodder plants concentration.
National targets for specific programmes of work: If such national target(s) ha(s)(ve) been established, please indicate here, and give further details in the box(es).
Programme of work		Yes	No	Details
Agricultural			X	The conservation of deteriorated pastures of great biodiversity importance is focused on their efficient use, development of new technologies, improvement of pastures and grasslands and pastures, evaluation of ecological state of pastures, broad use of local flora fodder plants to get new fodder perennial plants in the practical selection.
Inland water				The following measures concerning the inland waters are planned in SSDSPANAP: establish a range of new specially protected area, which will include different landscape types – alpine meadows, steppe, semi-deserts, water-marsh habitats and salty swamps; establish a new “Jermuk” national park – including two existing reserves (one of the reserves is hydrological); establish reserves for the conservation of high mountainous lakes; establish “Khorvirap” reserve for the conservation of wet areas of swamp zones; establish reserves for Shirak marz: a/ in watershed basin of Mantash river; b/ with the purpose of birds conservation in the watershed of the lake Arpi and Akhurian river; establish reserves for the conservation of residual lakes in Lori marz.
Marine and coastal
Dry and sub humid land
Forest			X	The following measures concerning the forests are planned in SSDSPANAP: establish “Kirants” natural part – with a purpose to protect the biodiversity of forest ecosystems, especially for the conservation of relic species and development of eco-tourism on the basis of rich nature and human legacy; establish reserves to protect Shirak marz Ashotsq relic oak forest; on the basis of “Boghaqar” reserve establish “Arevik” reserve to protect the endangered and unique species of biodiversity in the mountain chain of Zangezur in Megri and Bargushat mountains; unique natural monuments; transboundary habitats of endemic and rare animals (regional Armenia-Iran-Azerbaijan).
Mountain			X	Armenia is a mountainous country and the aforementioned forests are located in lower and middle mountains zones. With the purpose to protect the unique mountainous xenophile ecosystems the following measures are envisaged: establish “Vorotan” natural part – to protect the unique ecosystems of Southern Zangezur; unique natural geological; landscape; geomorphologic and historical-cultural monuments and their recreation sustainable use; establish “Arpi (Gnishik)” national part to protect the biodiversity of Vayots Dzor natural system; genetic fund of wild plants and unique monuments of nature.
Has the global or national target been incorporated into relevant plans, programmes and strategies?
No
Yes, into national biodiversity strategy and action plan					X
Yes, into sectoral strategies, plans and programs					X
Please provide details below.
A range of activities are included in NBSAP as individual directions (in-situ conservation), which are aimed at specially protected area of the nature: To improve the management of the system; Specification and expansion of the network; Personnel training; Direct support of the environmental activities. Within the framework of aforementioned activities 26 measures are to be implemented. SSDSPANAP also includes the relevant measures (see sections I and II of this target). The issues of conservation of specially protected biodiversity zones are included in socio-economic development plans of marzes.
Please provide information on current status and trends in relation to this target.
The conservation of rich landscape and biological diversity of the republic is performed mainly through SPAN. The total area of specially protected area is 311 thousand ha (including the mirror of the Lake Sevan), which makes around 10% of the total area of the republic. At present SPAN system of Armenia includes 3 state reserves, 23 reservations and 2 national parks. The lakes Sevan and Arpi are included in the list of Ramsar, as wet zones of international significance. However, 54% of these zones (and even 91%, if we exclude the water surface of the Lake Sevan) make up forest systems, i.e. even SPAN do not include the entire diversity of the republic’s landscape. Very important biodiversity ecosystems are not included in here, i.e. steppe; meadow; steppe-meadow and high mountainous. For the implementation of the measures stipulated by “State strategy for the development of the specially protected area of Armenia’s nature and national action plan” document in 2004-2005 the Government has funded the following mid-term projects: Development of SPAN 6 new protected area projects (“Arevik” state reserves; Arpi (Gnishik)” and “Jermuk” national parks; “Kirants” and “Vorotan” natural parks; “Araji Ler” reservation); Establishment of SPAN cadastre; Revision; boundary specification and mapping activities of SPAN (including “Khosrov Forest” state reserve; state reservations; “Erebuni” state reserve under “Reserve-park complex”; “Sochut”, “Vanadzor”, “Soranner” and “Ijevan” dendroparks); Development of nature’s monuments inventory, passport and list approval program. Within the framework of “Management of protected area and biodiversity conservation” component of “Natural resources management and poverty reduction” project they implement the activities of project development of participatory management; mapping of national parts; inventory and registration of biodiversity components and introduction of biodiversity monitoring system of “Sevan” national park (includes high mountainous fresh water Lake Sevan 125.2 thousand ha water surface and 24.9 thousand ha littoral land territory) and “Dilijan” national park (includes 24 thousand ha mainly forest territory). The “Law on Nature Specially Protected Areas” is in the process of adoption. The draft law is in the process of discussion. Within Caucasus initiatives according to Armenia-Germany inter-government agreement in October 2005 a contract was signed about implementing “Establishment of cross-border conservation zones in Armenia and Javakhk highland” (with the support of German development and reconstruction bank). The project implementation area will include the lake Arpi, as well as Georgian water-marsh areas bordering with Armenia.
Please provide information on indicators used in relation to this target.
The criteria for the specially protected area of biodiversity are: the percentage of SPAN surface in total territory of the country; the percentage of forests and other ecosystems in total area of SPAN.
Please provide information on challenges in implementation of this target.
The challenges in regard of implementation of aforementioned target are about insufficiency of financial resources and material-technical base; lack of management plans and monitoring system, human resources, especially professional staff. The challenges of preserving the large-scale plant diversity in pasture areas are connected with the need to improve the management mechanism by local self-governing bodies and rural population; lack of resources for monitoring and rehabilitation measures.
Please provide any other relevant information.