Cbd third National Report Armenia (English version)

5. 
   
   

Goal 2	Promote the conservation of species diversity
Target 2.1	Restore, maintain, or reduce the decline of populations of species of selected taxonomic groups
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.
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		In “Sustainable agricultural development strategy” (2004) one identifies the conservation and rehabilitation of entire gene pool of plants and crop wild relatives. In “Law on seeds” (2005) among the major issues one has also included the conservation of crop wild relatives.
Inland water		X		In the annual program of rehabilitation, conservation, reproduction and use of the Lake Sevan’s ecosystem (2002-2006) they have included “Replenishment of fish reserves” action, within framework of which the implement “Provision for reproduction of valuable and rare fish species”.
Marine and coastal
Dry and sub humid land		X		The conservation of endemic crop wild relatives and desert and semi-desert fauna species are among the statutory issue of “Erebuni” reserve; “Gorovan sands” and “Vordan karmir” reservations.
Forest				In “National Forest Program” they have included identification and mapping of etalon ecosystems (districts) for the conservation of unique and exterminating species of forest biodiversity; activities aimed at prevention of natural habitat loss of individual types of forest biodiversity and conservation of pivotal bio-types.
Mountain		X		Rehabilitation population of Armenian Mouflon and leopard in Central and Southern Armenia; re-introduction of bezoars goat from the territory of Armenia to its natural area – Borjomi-Kharaguli national park (Georgia) are important environmental programs and implemented with the support of WWF.
Has the global or national target been incorporated into relevant plans, programs and strategies?
No
Yes, into national biodiversity strategy and action plan					X
Yes, into sectoral strategies, plans and programmes					X
Please provide details below.
According to NBSAP as target issue the following is identified: - develop and implement a special action plan for the rehabilitation of the endangered species (Armenian Mouflon; leopard; vordan karmir, trout of Sevan, etc); - implement research projects to evaluate the state and spread of less studied taxons; - develop and implement an action plan for the conservation of crop wild relatives. According to “Agriculture sustainable development plan” as a target for the country it has been stipulated: - Measures to protect the gene pool of plants and animals (especially the crop wild relatives) and their use in selection; - Measures to improve the state of strictly tensioned pastures and fodder plants.
Please provide information on current status and trends in relation to this target.
To evaluate, rehabilitate, protect some endemic species of Armenian flora or to limit the reduction of population they have studied the state of those ecosystems, where around 60 endemic and around 40 rare species of Armenia grow. In 2004 in “Sevan” national park with the purpose of protecting the biodiversity the birds’ (silver pheasant, red duck, white-eyed diving duck, grey duck, crying duck, beaker, silver squeal, grey tarkh) registration, inventory and natural reproduction activities. The registration data serve to identify the annual hunting measures. Since 2003 the fish reserve replenishment of the Lake Sevan is taking place, as a result of which endemic fish species have been released into the lake (summer bakhtak, gegharkuni) and spawns and caterpillar of white fish. The ex-situ conservation of the Lake Sevan’s trout (gegharkuni and summer bakhtak sub-species) gene pool is implemented within the framework of “Collection, incubation, receipt of caterpillars from the mother body grown in artificial conditions of summer bakhtak and release of spawns to the Lake Sevan” project. In artificial conditions they have created a stable reserve of sub-species that are on the verge of extinction, thanks to which their status has been tangibly improved. Though serious measures are undertaken for reproduction of disappearing fishes, however, the results can be expected only in case of their natural reproduction in the lake. Within the framework of the World Bank and Global Environmental Facility financed “Natural resources management and poverty reduction” project’s “Management of protected area and biodiversity conservation” component they have studied the fish-fauna composition of the Lake Sevan and determined the quantitative indicators of industrial fish species. “Center for Armenia’s bird lovers” NGO in 2003-2004 with the support of ANSEF international organization has implemented “Study of Armenia’s bird fauna in artificial lakes of Armash” project. During the project the organization has identified a colony made of 5000 birds and studied the composition of its species. With the support of World Wild Fund (WWF) they implement the projects “Conservation of Leopard in Caucasus Ecoregion”, “Sustainable use of medical herbs in the Caucasus Ecoregion”; “Rehabilitation of Bezoar Goat in its natural area”, which are aimed at effective conservation, rehabilitation and reduction of population’s limitation of plant and animal species in mountainous areas. Within “In-situ Conservation of Crop Wild Relatives through Strengthening of Information Management and Use of Modern Technologies” UNEP/GEF project at present they identify the national criteria to organize the conservation and effective use of key crop wild relatives for the republic. Within “Conservation of wild relatives of Armenia’s grain and use in selection” – in Central Asia and South Caucasus agriculture sector studies international cooperation (ICAR) project they collect, protect, study and use of the seeds of wild wheat, grain, bailey, rye. The task “Study, conservation, enrichment, use of genetic collections of traditional species of crop wild relatives and agricultural crops and preparation of electronic samples’ database for the conservation of their natural diversity” is aimed at the conservation of grains and legumes. They also perform the collection, conservation and use in selection activities of wild species of legumes (melon, cucumber, pumpkin, tomato, egg-plant), as well as building activities of the seeds of primary agricultural crops genetic resources for the agriculture and food of the republic. In the laboratory of the plants’ genetic resources of Armenian Agriculture University within “Conservation of wild relatives of Armenia’s grain and use in selection” project they have collected and put for short-term conservation the seeds’ sample of wild wheat, grain, bailey, rye and analyzed the areas of their spread in Armenia and trends for reduction.
Please provide information on indicators used in relation to this target.
The number of the species (populations), for which they have developed and perform rehabilitation, conservation or population reduction’s limiting measures. The animals or plant species under the risk of extinction or having diminishing area in specially protected area and their number. The number of collected or kept in collection samples, the data on which have been input into international catalogues or databases.
Please provide information on challenges in implementation of this target.
In Armenia no taxonomic groups have been identified that have special status. Lack of updated data about populations of rare species; their non-assessment according to modern criteria; insufficient financial provision of the studies and lack of specialists.
Please provide any other relevant information.

6. 
   
   

   Target 2.2	Status of threatened species improved
   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 rare species or species on the verge of extinction are included into the Red Book of Armenia and their conservation is performed according to the “Law on flora” (1999) and “Law on fauna” (2000). There are 387 species registered in the Red Book of Plants (1989) and 99 species in the Red Book of Animals. The use of the species include in the Red Book is done in exclusive cases – upon the decision of the Government.
   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				The activities aimed at the quantitative rehabilitation of crop wild relatives - (Triticum urartu); certain types of goat grass (Amblyopyrum muticum, Aegilops crassa, A. biuncialis, A. ëmbellulata), traditional species of grape and certain fruits are among the priorities of the country. After a while one can judge about the results of improvement activities of the state of certain species on the verge of extinction based on the monitoring results of population state of rare and disappearing species.
   Inland water		X		In the annual programs of measures aimed at the rehabilitation, conservation, reproduction and use of the ecosystem of the Lake Sevan (2002-2006) they approve the activities for the rehabilitation of fish fauna, within the framework of which they collect, incubate, grow caterpillars from the spawns from the valuable endemic species, i.e. Sevan’s trout and its sub-types up to growing of small fishes and their release into Sevan.
   Marine and coastal
   Dry and sub humid land
   Forest				By the Resolution # 49 dated 23.01.2001 “On improving the conservation of valuable tree species of the forests of the Republic of Armenia” the Government has stipulated measures aimed at the improvement of the state of a range of valuable trees (walnut tree; oak tree; pear tree, etc).
   Mountain				See target 2.1
   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.
   See target 2.1, section III.
   Please provide information on current status and trends in relation to this target.
   Ministry of Nature Protection performs serious measures aimed at the reproduction of disappearing fish species; however, the results might be expected only after their population in the natural habitat. The specific data of the regularly conduction monitoring of the biodiversity registration and species/population come to speak about the improvement of the state of disappearing species. In 2005 they developed “Establishment of biodiversity monitoring system in Sevan and Dilijan national parks”, thanks to which they will describe the state of valuable species. A database is being developed about unique and disappearing invertebrate animal species and their status is determined. They have started the evaluation of rare and disappearing species of Armenia’s flora as by IUCN and determination of changes in their population. Within the framework of “Conservation of wild relatives of Armenia’s grain plants and their use in the selection” project (ICAR) in 4 marzes of the republic they have conducted an assessment of the growing habitats of the grain wild relatives. Within the framework of “Conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources of wild grape in Caucasus and Black Sea Northern region” (IPGRI) project they determine; collect; evaluate; protect and sustainable use the genetic resources of the grape, including the wild species, ancient and selection species. Based on the specific data they have proven that the presence of leopard in Southern Armenia considered as disappeared in recent pas, the state of which has been considerable improved thanks to the making the conservation regime strict in “Shikahogh” state reserve; establishment of anti-poacher points system and improvement of the leopard’s nutrition.
   Please provide information on indicators used in relation to this target.
   The number of species registered in the Red Book; number of the animal species populating in natural conditions, number of plant species evaluated as by IUCN criteria.
   Please provide information on challenges in implementation of this target.
   The Armenian Red Book has been published around 20 years ago and at present it needs to be revised. It is necessary to evaluate all the species included in the Red Book according to IUCN modern criteria, as well as the endemic species and other species with limited spread. As a result of which they will specify the states of the species, based on which one can judge about efficiency of the environmental measures and change of the number of rare and disappearing species. In regard of protecting the sub-species of Sevan’s trout one of the major threats is poaching. After sexual maturity for reproduction the fish rises up to the rivers, which are flowing mainly through settlements. It is extremely difficult to perform the control over the illegal fishing. To inspect the entire length of the river the inspectors of “Sevan” national park are not sufficient and there is lack of the relevant equipment. One of the major reasons of illegal fishing is the low welfare level and unemployment of population in the basin of the Lake Sevan. Serious obstacles are also the lack of modern complete information about rare or disappearing species and insufficiency of financial resources – to monitor and organize annual studies’ expeditions.
   Please provide any other relevant information.
   In 2005 CEPF approved the program, as by which the Red List of Caucasus plants shall be developed. According to IUCN criteria they will assess the species of rare and disappearing plants in the Caucasus ecoregion, including 300 species from the Armenian flora.