Cbd third National Report Armenia (English version)

Ecosystem Approach

The ecosystem approach is a strategy for the integrated management of land, water and living resources that promotes conservation and sustainable use in an equitable way.
Application of the ecosystem approach will help to reach a balance of the three objectives of the Convention. At its second meeting, the Conference of the Parties has affirmed that the ecosystem approach is the primary framework for action under the Convention
(decision II/8). The Conference of the Parties, at its fifth meeting, endorsed the
description of the ecosystem approach and operational guidance and recommended the application of the principles and other guidance on the ecosystem approach. The seventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties agreed that the priority at this time should be
facilitating implementation of the ecosystem approach. Please provide relevant information by responding to the following questions.

◊ ^1 Is your country applying the ecosystem approach, taking into account the principles and guidance contained in the annex to decision V/6? (decision V/6)
No
No, but application is under consideration
Yes, some aspects are being applied	X
Yes, substantially implemented

◊ Is your country developing practical expressions of the ecosystem approach for national policies and legislation and for implementation activities, with adaptation to local, national, and regional conditions? (decision V/6)
No
No, but development is under consideration	X
Yes, practical expressions have been developed for applying some principles of the ecosystem approach
Yes, practical expressions have been developed for applying most principles of the ecosystem approach

Is your country strengthening capacities for the application of the ecosystem approach, and providing technical and financial support for capacity-building to apply the ecosystem approach? (decision V/6)
No	X
Yes, within the country
Yes, including providing support to other Parties

◊ Has your country promoted regional cooperation in applying the ecosystem approach across national borders? (decision V/6)
No
Yes, informal cooperation (please provide details below)
Yes, formal cooperation (please provide details below)	X
Further comments on regional cooperation in applying the ecosystem approach across national borders.
On 24.03.2000 they established and up to date run Regional Environmental Center-Caucasus (REC-Caucasus), which has got management body, i.e. executive director, consultative body and special representatives. From Armenian in the composition of consultative body there are representatives of governmental; scientific and non-governmental organization. The activities of REC-Caucasus are aimed at the analysis of water resources management system in country; evaluation of existing monitoring system, water quality and state of biodiversity. The REC-Caucasus has got Armenian branch, which is implementing environmental issues. In the beginning of 2003 they launched “Pilot projects of Caucasus mountainous regions sustainable development – Agenda 21” project, which inter-alia aims at establishing practical grounds for the second round of Caucasus convention. For the conservation of Caucasus regional biodiversity in the border zones of Armenia and Georgia the establishment of cross-border specially protected area, which will be implemented with the support of German Rehabilitation and Development Bank, is aimed the provision of joint conservation of Javakhk plain ecosystem (“Establishment of cross-border conservation zone in Javakhk plain” project). In 2000-2004 with the funding of USAID Development Alternatives Inc. (DAI) implemented “Water Resources Management in South Caucasus” project, which included the basin of the river Kur. The goal of the project is to develop Armenia’s capacities for sustainable management of water resources through applying eco-systemic approach, which in its turn will contribute to the improvement of the environment and economic development. With the purpose to increase the public awareness in the basin of the river Debed public hearings have been organized on the topic “Environmental problems of the river Debed”. The issue of the water resources, in this case of the river Debed, has been discussed in the general context, based on the eco-systemic approach. The implementation of “Reduction of cross-border deterioration of Kur-Araks river basin” project began in 2004 (GEF/UNDP). This is the first UN funded project, which is directly aimed at the management and improvement of water eco-systems and includes 5 states located in the territory of basins of Kur-Araks rivers. NAKRES (Georgia) and “Environmental Survival” (Armenia) non-governmental organization in the border zone of two countries have implemented a joint project “Conservation of South Caucasus arid and semi-arid eco-systems”, which was aimed at the study of the relevant eco-systems and biodiversity, as well as increase of public awareness on environmental issues.

Is your country facilitating the exchange of experiences, capacity building, technology transfer and awareness raising to assist with the implementation of the ecosystem approach? (decisions VI/12 and VII/11)
No
No, some programmes are under development	X
Yes, some programmes are being implemented (please provide details below)
Yes, comprehensive programmes are being implemented (please provide details below)
Further comments on facilitating the exchange of experiences, capacity building, technology transfer and awareness raising to assist with the implementation of the ecosystem approach.
No practical measures are being implemented, as the activities to introduce environmental approach are in the very early stage of development. The information-analytical center of the Ministry of Nature Protection (1998) and public centers of environmental information (2002) perform public awareness activities. In 2004-2005 within “Cooperation in the countries of Southern Caucasus” project (UNDP) sub-project “Support to the comprehensive management of water resources in the countries of Southern Caucasus” (Eurasia foundation) they have created Akhtala public environmental information center, which gains and disseminates among public information about the environmental state of the river Debed.

Is your country creating an enabling environment for the implementation of the ecosystem approach, including through development of appropriate institutional frameworks? (decision VII/11)
No
No, but relevant policies and programmes are under development
Yes, some policies and programmes are in place (please provide details below)	X
Yes, comprehensive policies and programmes are in place (please provide details below)
Further comments on the creation of an enabling environment for the implementation of the ecosystem approach.
In 2003 a range of sub-divisions in Ministry of Nature Protection have been consolidated into a greater structure - environmental conservation department. The divisions on conservation of atmosphere air; lands; biodiversity and water resources were included into the department. According to the approved statute the functions of the aforementioned department is development of principles and strategic directions for environment (atmosphere, water and land resources, biodiversity) conservation policy development and implementation. With the purpose to solve the issues of water resources management in the composition of Ministry of Nature Protection they established water basin district management sub-divisions, the functions of which is to ensure the conservation of sanitary stream and biodiversity in the rivers.