Management plan
PART II E V A L U A T I O N
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| PART II
E V A L U A T I O N 2.1 CONSERVATION STATUS AND HISTORY According to RA legislation, the site is a specially protected area of Republican importance under status of a Reserve. State reserve: an international or republican area of scientific, educational, historical and cultral value with specific conservational, artistic characteristics, where evolution of natural environment is not affected by human intervention. The law of RA “On specially protected areas of nature” , article 1 The status of the Reserve corresponds to I “a” management category of IUCN protected areas. Necessity and importance of establishing a Reserve in this area was stressed as early as 30s of the previous century, when wild species of wheat were discovered in Armenia. For this discovery the scientific world is indebted to Proff. M. Tumanyan, an Academician of the Academy of Sciences of Armenian SSR, honored scientist. In 1934, following special studies, and pointing to the global importance of the rich diversity of wild wheats for humankind, N. Vavilov suggested to secure 50-100 ha of the area for conservation. He further noted “Undoubtedly, in terms of biodiversity this is the most outstanding area in the world. I had a chance to visit and conduct research in many agricultural countries, however, I have to state that it is hard to find a site that is richer and more interesting than Shrobulagh.” Unfortunately, it took 47 years to turn this recommendation into reality. The Reserve was established mainly through efforts of Armenian scientists, particularly late P. Ghandilyan. The Reserve was established in 1981 by the decree N324 of Armenian SSR Council of Ministers, on 89 ha area. According to the decree, the site was named “Erebuni reserve for wild wheat species and other cereals”. By the same decree responsibility for the protection of the Reserve was assigned to the State Committee of Forestry of Armenian SSR. In 1986 responsibilities for managing the Reserve were transferred to newly established state committee for Nature Protection and in 1992 to its successor -- Ministry of Nature Protection of RA. 2.1.1 Legal framework Listed below are the legal acts regulating conservation and sustainable use issues as they relate to the Reserve:
In addition, related to the protection of the Reserve are:
Other legal acts. 2.1.2 Description of boundaries The borders described in the annex to the decree N324 (May 27, 1981) are outdated. They don’t specify adjacent communities, neither there is reference for administrative borders neighboring the site. Detailed description of coordinates outlining protected area and maps are not available. Delineation of borders of Erebuni Reserve was scheduled to implement in 2007, within the framework of state-funded project on “Revision, border delineation and mapping of boundaries of Specially Protected Areas of Nature”. 2.2 EVALUATION OF FEATURES 2.2.1 Size and location Erebuni state reserve is the youngest (fourth, given that the status of Dilijan reserve was changed to National Park in 2001) and the smallest in Armenia. Nevertheless, in terms of value it possesses, it is unique in Armenia and Globally. It should be also noted that its size is adequate for sustaining the populations of wild wheats and ecosystems. Location of the Reserve is not favorable, as it is situated in a close proximity to extremely urbanized Yerevan city (in fact, it is within administrative boundaries of Yerevan city). Pastures of adjacent rural communities are also located close to the Reserve. Both factors are potential threats to implementation of protection procedures. 2.2.2 Biodiversity Conservation and versatile studies of wild wheats are extremely important in breeding and practical genetics. Studies of ecological and biological characteristics serve ground for theoretical developments in the field of biological communities. These studies are in their infancy for many species. From wild wheats listed in the Red Data Book of Armenia the Reserve is home to wild einkorn wheat (Triticum boeoticum Boiss.), wild urartu wheat (T. urartu Thum. ex Gandil), ararat wheat (T. araraticum Jakubz), Apart from wheats the Reserve also harbors many species of barley, particularly Hordeum bulbosum L., H.murinum L., H. geniculatum All., rye (Secale vavilovii Grosh.), Goatgrass (Ae. tauschii Cosson., Ae.cylindrica Host. (Images 31,32), Ae. triuncialis L.,Ae. columnaris Zhuk.,), Amblyopyrum muticum, etc. The Reserve is also notable for the richness of endemic species (Image 15) diversity of rare and threatened species (Image 26). Many species are listed in the Red Data Book of Armenia (See Annex 3). The species of economic value include crop wild relatives (Image27), medicinal plants (Image 28) and ornamentals (Image 29), etc. 2.2.3 Uniqueness Three out of four known wild wheat species occur in the Reserve. Also here grows the only population of T. urartu in Armenia. For a long time the species was considered to be endemic of Armenia, however, recently it was discovered in Iran, Turkey and Lebanon. Scientists believe that T. urartu was the donor of A genome, present in tetraploid and hexaploid wheat. American geneticist American geneticist B. Lennart Johnson insisted that this wheat is also the donor of soft and hard wheat B genome. N.I.Vavilov, after his visit to Armenia in 1926, and study of the flora of the Reserve, stated that Armenia as one out 8 sites of crop origin in the world. 2.2.4 Vulnerability As mentioned above (see 1.2.4) natural threats are not present in the area, however human-induced threats are significant, making ecosystem vulnerable. Species growing in the area and ecosystems alike become vulnerable when the protection regime of the area is violated. Among others, cattle grazing, collection of wild edible and medicinal plants disturbs soil and affects natural developmental processes. Another potentially harmful factor is the deposit of unknown chemicals, which is located not far from the Reserve. These chemicals can leak into groundwatres with precipitation and reach the Reserve with groundwater flows, harming vegetation of the site. Landslides, though not directly affect the area, can disturb entity of the chemical burial site, causing leakage of chemicals to the environment. A group comprised of rescue services representatives and representatives of Non-governmental organizations has conducted filed inspections on April 28, 2007. They concluded that the landslide is active, and compared with inspections conducted 2 years ago in certain areas it moved up to 1 m, increasing the threat of chemical leakage. 2.2.5 History of the site Actual conservation history of the site counts 25 years, however, its value for conservation was recognized 70 years ago. 2.2.6 Improvement perspectives There is no need for improvement. Efforts should be directed at controlling and managing external human-induced threats. 2.3 FACTORS INFLUENCING MANAGEMENT 2.3.1 Internal human-induced factors Before protected area designation, about 31 ha of the site was planted with trees of wild almond (Amygdalus fenzliana). They are gradually degrading, but in some areas are still well preserved. With elimination of human intervention, the ecosystem of the Reserve gradually recovers to its natural state (anthropodynamic changes that will gradually lead to the formation of a vegetation cover, which is in equilibrium with internal and external factors). The Reserve and its adjacent areas are rich in other plants of economic importance, which are collected by the local population to be used in food, for medicinal purposes (Image ), etc. Uncontrolled intensive collection, especially outside the Reserve has reduced the regeneration potential of the populations. 2.3.2 External natural factors According to the forecasts of scientists, climate change will affect the floristic composition of Armenia. Some species will disappear altogether, whereas others will move to higher elevations (areas with more favorable climate). However, higher zones surrounding Erebuni state Reserve are occupied by agricultural lands. In fact, the crop wild relatives of the Reserve have no chances to “escape” to more favorable elevations. It should be born in mind, however, that the wild cereals of the site are characterized by rich polymorphism, assuming also high potential for adaptability. Therefore, it can be predicted that with climate change the present population of the Reserve will be replaced with more drought-resistant forms and the populations of crop wild relatives will survive (Fajvush, G.M. Vegetation and Flora Forecasts in Armenia as affected by climate change. Climate change issues, Yerevan, 1999 (in Armenian). 2.3.3 Obligations Authorities and responsibilities of the bodies in charge of managing the Reserve are covered in RA Government decree N 1046 (July 18, 2002) on Restructuring “Reserve-Park Complex” State Organization and approving the charter of “Reserve-Park Complex” State Non-Commercial Organization, (See Annex 4). It is the responsibility of SNCO to ensure conservation, protection, restoration, regeneration, accounting, monitoring, scientific research and use of the natural ecosystems, landscape and elements of biological diversity and nature heritages in Erebuni State Reserve and other protected areas under its administration. Listed below are the factors that pose limitations to adequate protection and scientific activities in the site:
2.3.4 Legal constraints The legal framework regulating conservation and use of the Reserve is adequate. There is no need to revise the available legal acts or to develop new ones. 2.3.5 Managerial constraints The obstacles to the fulfillment of responsibilities listed under 2.3.3 are caused by insufficient financing of research and security activities. 2.3.6 Impact assessment
PART III Goals and Objectives 3.1 LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT GOALS The long-term goal of the Reserve is to ensure conservation and natural evolution of wild cereals with their interspecific diversity and their natural habitats. 3.2 FACTORS AFFECTING LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT GOALS Listed below are likely constraints in reaching the long-term goal: a) Cattle grazing b) Invasive species c) Fires d) The deposit of chemicals in the area adjacent to the Reserve. It is obvious that the major threats are human-induced. To prevent or mitigate them, it is imperative to ensure adequate protection, research and monitoring of the site, implement fire-preventing measures as well as to translocate the deposit of chemicals from the landslide area. 3.3 DEFINING OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVES Operational objectives of the Reserve are:
3.4 MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES The main objectives to reach long-term managerial goal are:
3.4.1 Habitat management The major objective of habitat management is to eliminate or mitigate adverse human impact over the Reserve. To reach this objective, it is imperative to improve its protection, ensure proper regulation of permitted forms of use, eliminate (e.g. translocation of the deposit of chemicals), or prevent (e.g. fire preventing measures) potentially harmful factors 3.4.2 Species management The management of species largely depends on the success of the previous task: i.e. management of their habitat. Indicators for this are data of population study and monitoring. 3.4.3 Use management According to the RA Law “On Specially Protected Areas of Nature”, only few types of use are permitted in reserves. Therefore, main objective of use management is maintaining conservation regime, defining carrying capacity (optimum number of visitors to the site) and developing routes for them. 3.4.4 Accessibility management Main objective in managing accessibility is making information about the Reserve and its biodiversity available to general public. 3.4.5 Education Educational activities permitted at the Reserve are internships for students of related specialties, as well as trainings of the personnel responsible for research and monitoring. Routes, timetable and optimum load (optimum number of people at the reserve) have to be developed for the Reserve as a part of this activity. 3.4.6 Research Research activities should strictly follow those indicated in the Action plan and implemented by the assigned working group. Part IV Action Plan The Action Plan was developed for 5 years (2008-2012). Activities are grouped according to the fields specified under Part III, required to reach its long-term goal, given the priorities of objectives described and evaluated in Parts I-III. The Action Plan is comprised of two parts running concurrently on the early stages. The group of activities envisaged for establishing prerequisites for the implementation of the Action Plan is shorter and scheduled to be finished in 2008. The implementation of the second part (actual five-year Action Plan) depends on the success of the first part. According to the requirements of RA law “On budget system of the Republic of Armenia”, operational plans for each year are developed based on project requests for the upcoming three years, within the limits specified for mid-term expense programs to be financed from the state budget. It should be also noted that activities indicated in the first part of the present Action Plan completely depend on financial contribution of donor organizations. ACTION PLAN Of Erebuni State Reserve 2008-2012
Annex 1 STRUCTURE Of Reserve-Park Complex State Non-Commercial Organization as of 2007
Annex 2 Taxonomic composition of the flora of Erebuni State Reserve and its adjacent area and Ararat concavity
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