Cbd third National Report Armenia (English version)

Article 14 - Impact assessment and minimizing adverse impacts

◊ On Article 14.1(a), has your country developed legislation requiring an environmental impact assessment of proposed projects likely to have adverse effects on biological diversity?
No
No, legislation is still in early stages of development
No, but legislation is in advanced stages of development	X
Yes, legislation is in place (please provide details below)
Yes, review of implementation available (please provide details below)
Further information on the legislation requiring EIA of proposed projects likely to have adverse effects on biodiversity.
Ecological expertise on the possible harmful impact of proposed projects upon the biodiversity is implemented according to the “Law on Environmental Expertise” adopted in 1995. The following Laws and Government Resolutions contain direct or indirect provisions on mandatory environmental impact assessment in above mentioned cases: Government Resolution #608 (May 2, 2003) “On approving procedures for development, expertise, approval and changing of the construction proposal” Government Resolution #96 (February 2, 2002) “On approving procedures for expertise of urban construction documents” “Law on Amendments in the Administrative Violations Code of the Republic of Armenia” (2002) Water Code (2002) Entrails Code (2002) The threshold values of harmful impact on environment including biodiversity, for the projects that require ecological expertise are currently under review. New “Law on Environmental Expertise” was drafted and passed public hearings in 2005. It aims at application of contemporary Environmental Impact Assessment procedures in Armenia.

◊ On Article 14.1(b), has your country developed mechanisms to ensure that due consideration is given to the environmental consequences of national programmes and policies that are likely to have significant adverse impacts on biological diversity?
No
No, mechanisms are still in early stages of development	X
No, but mechanisms are in advanced stages of development
Yes, mechanisms are in place (please provide details below)
Further comments on the mechanisms developed to ensure that due consideration is given to the environmental consequences of national programmes and policies that are likely to have significant adverse impacts on biodiversity.
Distinct inventory of ecological consequences of national programs and policies that can cause harmful impact on biodiversity has not implemented yet. One of the reasons is lack of mechanisms for post-project assessment of ecological impacts although respective provisions are included in the “Law on Environmental Expertise” Inventory of ecological consequences (harm caused) of the natural disasters is implemented partially. “Law on Environmental Control” (2005) envisaged enforcement mechanisms for control over activities with possible negative impact on biodiversity.

◊ On Article 14.1(c), is your country implementing bilateral, regional and/or multilateral agreements on activities likely to significantly affect biological diversity outside your country’s jurisdiction?
No
No, but assessment of options is in progress	X
Yes, some completed, others in progress (please provide details below)
Yes (please provide details below)
Further information on the bilateral, regional and/or multilateral agreements on activities likely to significantly affect biodiversity outside your country’s jurisdiction.
In the framework of Armenia-Iranian economic cooperation, based on mutual agreement, preparatory works are being implemented for construction of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline. Scope of works, selection of location, and distribution of the junctions of the pipeline is implemented by participation of local and international specialists. This promotes reduction of the pipeline sections crossing forested areas, which, consequently leads to minimization of harmful impact on biodiversity not only in Armenia but also outside of its borders. In order to ensure biosafety and prevent negative impacts on biodiversity a new proposal for construction of Iran-Armenia highway has been developed and approved. The proposed highway has less environmental impact, and rounds almost the whole territory of “Shikahogh” state reserve and minimizes the impact on mountainous forest ecosystem not only within the territory of Armenia but also outside of its borders.

◊ On Article 14.1(d), has your country put mechanisms in place to prevent or minimize danger or damage originating in your territory to biological diversity in the territory of other Parties or in areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction?
No
No, mechanisms are still in early stages of development	X
No, but mechanisms are in advanced stages of development
Yes, mechanisms are in place based on current scientific knowledge

◊ On Article 14.1(e), has your country established national mechanisms for emergency response to activities or events which present a grave and imminent danger to biological diversity?
No
No, mechanisms are still in early stages of development
No, but mechanisms are in advanced stages of development
Yes, mechanisms are in place (please provide details below)	X
Further information on national mechanisms for emergency response to the activities or events which present a grave and imminent danger to biodiversity.
The following national emergency response mechanisms are developed and applied in Armenia for such activities and events that cause direct and inevitable danger to biodiversity: - Rescue and rehabilitation mechanisms for negative impact on environment including biodiversity from technical and anthropogenic disasters, accidents - Hydro meteorological mechanism for emergency responding to natural disasters, such as droughts, showers, heavy snow, landslides, flooding, etc. - Mechanisms for climate predictions - Mechanisms for emergency warning of population Effectiveness of national emergency response mechanisms is ensured by the Emergency Management Administration with the participation of territorial divisions of Environmental inspection of the Ministry of Nature Protection. Improvement of national emergency response mechanism is currently implemented in the framework of “State long-term program on seismic risk reduction” through extension of monitoring network particularly from the point of regional biosafety provision.