Cbd third National Report Armenia (English version)

Forest Biological Diversity

General

Has your country incorporated relevant parts of the work programme into your national biodiversity strategies and action plans and national forest programmes?
No
Yes, please describe the process used	X
Yes, please describe constraints/obstacles encountered in the process
Yes, please describe lessons learned
Yes, please describe targets for priority actions in the programme of work
Further comments on the incorporation of relevant parts of the work programme into your NBSAP and forest programmes
General concepts and provisions of the “Forest biodiversity” working program are included in a number of strategic components of the NBSAP (in-situ conservation, ex-situ conservation, sustainable use, identification and monitoring, etc) as well as in “Forest National Policy and Strategy of Armenia”, “National Forest Program of Armenia», “Action plan for mitigating actions to help address the problems associated with illegal logging” documents. A set of activities are envisaged to implement that are aimed at conservation of forest biodiversity, reduction of forest logging, restoration of the areas impacted by logging, development of new forests.

67. 
    
    

Please indicate what recently applied tools (policy, planning, management, assessment and measurement) and measures, if any, your country is using to implement and assess the programme of work. Please indicate what tools and measures would assist the implementation.

68. 
    
    

Please indicate to what extent and how your country has involved indigenous and local communities, and respected their rights and interests, in implementing the programme of work.

Forest management plans for forestry enterprises of Gegharkunik and Tavush marzes are developed within the “Improved Management of State Forests” component of the “Natural Resources Management and Poverty Reduction” project. This activity had participatory approach: local communities were actively involved in development of management plans. The concepts of their rights protection are included in the “Decree on forest development and forest management plans preparation for the state forests of the Republic of Armenia”. Since the Forest Code adopted in 2005 envisaged establishment of community forests, the works on development of community forest management plans have already started in a number of communities.

69. 
    
    

Please indicate what efforts your country has made towards capacity building in human and capital resources for the implementation of the programme of work.

Since 1990 the Armenian State Agricultural Academy prepares specialists of forest sector through two specializations–“forest, garden and park industry” (agro-biological aspects) and “Forest Engineering” (Engineering aspects). In 2001 those two specializations were integrated into one “Forest industry and green zoning of settlements” specialization, which comply with the current interests of forest industry in Armenia. In 2003 Department of Forest Sciences is established in Armenian State Agricultural Academy. The Department coordinates the above mentioned specialization, prepares specialists on forest sector for Armenia, as well as cooperates with Sweden Agricultural Academy in educational-methodological and technical spheres and capacity building. An educational centre of the Department of Forest Sciences has been established in Kotayk marz, where visiting specialists from Sweden provide practical educational trainings for students pursuing master degree. Zikatar regional training centre was established under “Natural Resources Management and Poverty Reduction” project for capacity building in forest sector. During the period of 2003-2005, the center trained 91 specialists in the following subjects: - Sustainable forest management - GIS and forest management, - Forest restoration and organization of seed-plot industry, - Community-based forest management - Organization of logging for sanitary and commercial purposes

70. 
    
    

Please indicate how your country has collaborated and cooperated (e.g., south-south, north-south, south-north, north-north) with other governments, regional or international organizations in implementing the programme of work. Please also indicate what are the constraints and/or needs identified.