Cbd third National Report Armenia (English version)

Goal 3	Promote the conservation of genetic diversity
Target 3.1	Genetic diversity of crops, livestock, and of harvested species of trees, fish and wildlife and other valuable species conserved, and associated indigenous and local knowledge maintained
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.
As a national target of NBSAP stipulates: - ensure the sustainable use and rehabilitation of the genetic resources, including agro-biodiversity; - support the sustainable development of the country – by integrating the management of resources into the development programs of the rural communities.
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 conservation of genetic diversity of agricultural crops and animals is the major objective of a range of budgetary programs and grant projects performed in the scientific centers of Ministry of Agriculture and Armenian Agriculture Academy. The implementing programs and researches are aimed at: - conservation of Sevan’s basis agro-ecosystem and agro-environmental monitoring; - conservation of genetic diversity of agricultural crops and their hybrids; - conservation of the gene pool of the local sheep genes; - short-term conservation of the genetic resources of crops in seeds’ collection; - establishment of technical possibilities for long term conservation of gerplazma.
Inland water				“Replenishment of fish reserves, reproduction of valuable and rare fish species and conservation of gene pool” has been approved as a national objective in the annual program for the rehabilitation, conservation, reproduction and use measure of the Lake Sevan’s ecosystem.
Marine and coastal
Dry and sub humid land
Forest
Mountain
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.
As priority measures in NBSAP they have included: - develop and implement an action plan for the conservation of crop wild relatives; - develop nurseries of crop wild relatives in the proximity of protected area to ensure the re-introduction and conservation; - develop and implement pilot project for the sustainable use of new agriculture technologies and agro-diversity; - develop a range of pilot projects to spread the traditional approaches of biodiversity use. One of the objectives of “Agriculture sustainable development strategy” (2004) is the conservation of the agriculture plants (in particular crop wild relatives) and gene pool of the animals and effective use in the selection. “Food safety policy of the Republic of Armenia” chases an objective to ensure effective management and use of agriculture gene diversity, especially fodder plants and domestic animals, as well as evaluation, monitoring and rehabilitation.
Please provide information on current status and trends in relation to this target.
In 2005 they established inter-governmental commission of plants’ genetic resources for agriculture and food, which has got an objective to coordinate the sustainable use of the genetic resources of the plants and development of national programs and strategy in the domain of conservation. They also develop complex measures for the agro-environmental monitoring of the agro-ecosystems of Sevan’s basin. They evaluate the genetic diversity of the species and hybrids of agriculture plants based on their potential value for the selection purposes, as well as inventory of sheep gene and characterization to approve the gene purity and homogeneity. The samples of the plants’ gene pool are kept in the collections of seeds. They have already started development of a database to keep in safety in medium term the genetic resources of plants for food and agriculture activities. “In situ Conservation of Crop Wild Relatives through Strengthening of Information Management and Use of Modern Technologies” project is implemented with the support of UNEP/GEF. In 2005 they started to develop the management plant for “Erebuni” reserve, thanks to which they will improve the conservation of grain plants and a range of rare species included in the Red Book.
Please provide information on indicators used in relation to this target.
The number of species or samples of plants and animals kept in collections and ex-situ conditions.
Please provide information on challenges in implementation of this target.
- Lack of the national genetic database in the country; - Lack of sub-legislation for the enforcement of a range of biodiversity conservation laws; - Lack of monitoring complex system for the evaluation of agriculture impact on biodiversity.
Please provide any other relevant information.
In 1981 in the suburbs of Yerevan, i.e. in Kotayk marz they established “Erebuni” state reserve. It covers 89 ha and is located in the transitional zones of mountainous-steppe zones. 61 out of 278 species encountered there are the golden fund of the broadly recorded crop wild relatives. The plant cohabitations are mainly made of annual grains - triticum araraticum; T. boeoticum; T. urartu; Secale vavilovii; Aegilops and several types of rye. One can also encounter other rare and disappearing species, which are registered in the Red Book. Those are Rhizocephalus orientalis; Hohenackeria excapa); Cundelia tournefortii, etc. Many crop wild relatives can be found in other specially protected area of nature – “Dilijan” national park (around 10% of flora); “Khosrov Forest” (around 11% of flora) and “Shikahogh” (around 12% of flora) state reserves; a range of forest reserves.

Goal 4	Promote sustainable use and consumption.
Target 4.1	Biodiversity-based products derived from sources that are sustainably managed, and production areas managed consistent with the conservation of biodiversity
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.
NBSAP stipulates as a target the following activity – to ensure the sustainable use and rehabilitation of bioresources, including agro-biodiversity. NBSAP stipulates the importance of bioresources as a means of human existence and the dependence of the local communities on those resources. It has been acknowledged that the sustainable use is the mechanism, by means of which the use is compared with the conservation needs, taking into account the population needs they emphasize the immediate value of the bioresources and the need for biodiversity conservation.
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				Within “Natural resources management and poverty reduction” project in Tavush and Gegharkunik marzes of Armenia in 59 communities on 9500 ha pastures and 1770 ha pastures and grasslands they implement methods of sustainable management. The use of pastures is performed on the basis of shift grazing. As a result of project implementation 3300 ha pastures and grasslands’ state will be improved.
Inland water		X		The Government Resolution # 1380 dated 22.08.2002 “On approving the order for issuing licenses to use the sites of fauna with the purpose of agriculture and industry and concluding contracts” regulates the industrial fishing in the Lake Sevan and decree No84-N dated 18.03.03 Minister of Nature Protection has approved the composition and working procedures of professional commission issuing the licenses to use the natural animal reserves.
Marine and coastal
Dry and sub humid land
Forest				The fostering sustainable use of the forest reserves is tightly interconnected with the development and introduction of forest entities management plans, which is stimulated by the Forest Code adopted by the National Assembly in 2005 and envisaged by National Forest Program (2005).
Mountain
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.
In “Sustainable use” direction of NASP they have included the following actions, which in their turn include 50 measures: - Evaluation improvement of rates of biodiversity use; - Fostering sustainable use of methods of biodiversity in agriculture; - Fostering sustainable use of forest resources; - Fostering sustainable fishery; - Fostering sustainable use of bioresources by local communities; - Development of mechanisms for the sustainable use of resources in specially protected area of the local communities; - Establishment of mechanism to reduce the impact of the forests and rehabilitation of forest resources. “National Forest Plan” envisages to implement the following measures: - support to the storing growth of timber forest products in overall forest use volumes: a/ increase of volumes of efficient use of forest products and b/ development of hunting farms; - development of the national standard for forest passportization; - introduction of the national forest certification system, etc.
Please provide information on current status and trends in relation to this target.
The sustainable industrial fishery mechanism of the Lake Sevan is based on the registration and evaluation of the fish reserve and identification of the fish reserves. The regular registration of the industrial fish reserves in the lake has been conducted up to 1999, after which due to financial difficulties it was not performed for 5 years. As a result due to scientifically unjustified overuse the quantity of white fish has been drastically reduced. Since 2004 upon the order of the Government the research of industrial populations of the Lake Sevan and evaluation of reserves have been restarted (“Registration of the Lake Sevan fish and crayfish reserves” and “Registration of industrial fish species in the Lake Sevan” projects), which came to prove the fact of the white fish reserves reduction. To protect and rehabilitate the reserves of industrial fish species in 2005 the minimal industrial fishing rate has bee established for the white fish and from July 1, 2005 up to December 25, 2005 they have banned to fish white fish in the Lake Sevan. The sustainable use of forests can be implemented in forest ecosystems managed in a sustainable manner. With this purpose within the “Natural resources management and poverty reduction” project in a range of forest farms they have registered the forest resources and inventoried the biodiversity. The development management plans for 5 forest farms are in the process. In 2005 they have also started the development of the management plans for “Sevan” and “Dilijan” national parks.
Please provide information on indicators used in relation to this target.
Sizes of the forests managed in sustainable manner.
Please provide information on challenges in implementation of this target.
Lack of financial resources for the development of management plans.
Please provide any other relevant information.

Target 4.2	Unsustainable consumption, of biological resources, or that impacts upon biodiversity, reduced
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
Inland water		X		“Law on approving the annual plans for rehabilitation, conservation, reproduction and use of the ecosystem of the Lake Sevan” (2001) stipulates the issue of establishment of norms and regulations of natural resources use in the Lake Sevan and its basin, the implementation of which will enable to reduce the negative anthropogenic impact on the lake’s ecosystems and its individual components and prevent their further dissolution.
Marine and coastal
Dry and sub humid land
Forest				According to Government Resolution #7 (15.01.2004) in the area of forests conservation, maintenance, reproduction and use Ministry of Agriculture is the authorized state body and the supervision is performed by Ministry of Nature Protection. By the Government Resolution #96 dated 29.01.2004 forest management agency was established in the structure of Ministry of Agriculture. In Ministry of Nature Protection the forest inspection is performed the forest supervision division of Environmental state inspection. In “National Forest Policy and Strategy”; “National Forest Program”; “Action plan for mitigating actions to help address the problems associated with illegal logging” documents a range of complex measures have been envisaged, which are aimed at the conservation of the forest biodiversity; reduction of logging; rehabilitation of forests and planting of new forests.
Mountain
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
Please provide details below.
See target 4.1; section III. A range of provisions of National Forest Program (2005) are dedicated to the prevention of logging and sustainable use of forest resources.
Please provide information on current status and trends in relation to this target.
The water ecosystem of industrial significance of Armenia is the Lake Sevan, where fish and crayfish are grown. The main industrial fish species of the lake are white fish and crucian carp. White fish has been acclimatized in the Lake Sevan since 1920s and by the end of the 20^th century it would constitute 80% of the total fishery share. The crucian carp appeared in the lake in 1980s and within short period of time achieved high quantitative development. The crayfish appeared in the lake by the end 1970s and its industrial use began in 1990s. Every year in the period of their reproduction (November-December), with the purpose of reserving the industrial fish species, Ministry of Nature Protection puts a ban on the fishing. The inspectors of “Sevan” national park and environmental state inspectorate perform environmental supervision activities. In 2003 the national park has identified 98 cases of violation of environmental legislation and in 2004 83 cases, of which 41 case for violation of rules of industrial fishing. In recent years there has been a reduction of irregular use of forest resources, especially connected with the improvement of electricity supply and development of gas supply infrastructure. To prevent the illegal use of forest resources in 2003 adjacent to Ministry of Nature Protection they have established a board to support the solution of issues connected with illegal logging and after the Government Resolution “On introducing the state monitoring system of forests” (28.06.05) it has been replaced with a new entity, i.e. state forest monitoring board coordinating the combat illegal logging in Armenia. In 2005 the Government approved “Action plan for mitigating actions to help address the problems associated with illegal logging”, which was aimed at the reduction of illegal use of forests in Armenia.
Please provide information on indicators used in relation to this target.
Please provide information on challenges in implementation of this target.
The main issue is the population’s poverty, especially in rural areas and in small settlements, due to which the human impact on ecosystems has been reinforced and illegal use of natural resources. There is lack of updated information about bioresources, as well as amounts subject to use.
Please provide any other relevant information.
In the structure of the National Academy of Sciences there is a section of plant resources, which shall ensure the relevant information about bioresources of the republic. However, the economic hardships of recent years do not permit to conduct broad-based researches.