UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT FACILITY
Project of the Republic of Armenia
PROJECT DOCUMENT
PDF, Block A

UNDP/GEF and cost sharingfinancing

Project Number:         ARM/99/G41/A/1G/99     

Project Title:              Restoration of Lake Gilli

Duration:                   4 months

GEF                            $ 20,000 
UNDP:                        $5,000 

In-kind Contribution:
Government:                $2,500
Khazer (NGO)            $800

Estimated Starting Date:       March 2000

Brief Description: The PDF A is the first step in an effort to develop a GEF medium-sized project to protect rare and endemic biodiversity in Lake Gilli and provide a first-best habitat for threatened wetland biodiversity in Armenia.This Block A will undertake the preparatory activities for the restoration of Lake Gilli’s hydrological regime to its original condition; the development of a long-term management plan; build up of capacity building of local staff in charge of the special protected area; and the strengthening of environmental awareness among local communities as well as fishing and hunting groups.

Part I: Eligibility         

1.      Project Title: Restoration of Lake Gilli         

2.      GEF Implementing Agency: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

3.      Country in which project is being implemented: Armenia

4.      Country’s Eligibility: Armenia ratified the CBD in March 1993

5.      GEF Focal Area: Biodiversity

6.      Operational Programme: Coastal, Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems

7.      Project linkage to national priorities, action plans, and programmes: The restoration and conservation of Lake Gilli and its associated fauna and flora is an objective of the Biodiversity National Action Plan, and is also reflected in the Sevan Basin environmental Action Program, which specifically mentions Lake Gilli as a priority conservation area.

8.      Status of National Operational Focal Point Review (dates): Submitted: March 1999Acknowledged:Endorsed: June 1999

9.      Project Rationale and Objectives:

Lake Gilli is situated in the south-eastern part of Lake Sevan basin in the mouth of Masrik river. It’s a wetland complex with surface of about 1,000 hectare and is known to be a nesting area for more than 100 species of migratory water birds. The migration of Melanita nigra, Stercorarius parasiticus, S. Pomarinus, and the southern Marmaronetta angustrirostris takes place during spring and autumn. The lake remains as the largest highlands nesting for waterfowls in Armenia and hosts about 25 local species of water and near water birds. Among these, 15 are representatives of the group Passeriformes, while the remaining 10 species correspond to Tachybaptus ruficollis, Podiceps cristatus, Circus aeruginosus, Anas platyrhynchos, Aythia marila, Himantopus himantopus, Vanellus vanellus, Charadrius dubius, Tringa totanus, Sterna hirundo, and Fulica atra. The project target area hosts the largest colony of Armenian sea-gull, a endemic species.

Lake Gilli also shows a number of endemic and very rare kinds of plants such as Falcaria falcarioides, Peucedanum zedelmeyerianum, Isatis arnoldiana, Isatis sevangensis, Eleocharis transcaucasica, Puccinelia grosshemiana, Puccinelia sevangensis, Astragalus goktschaicus, and Menyanthes trifoliata, Astragalus goktschaicus Grossh, Astragalus schuschensis Grossh, Carum komarovii Karjag; Eleocharis transcaucasica Zinseri; Isatis sevangensis N.Busch, Peucedanum zedelmeyerianum, Puccinellia grossheimiana Krecz (A.M. Barsegian 1990). 

Thanks to its geographical position and unique microclimatic conditions, Lake Gilli has acquired international significance. This is also due to the scarcity of wetland habitats in Armenia. The majority of other large rivers, lakes, and ponds do not contain wetland vegetation and therefore do not provide good habitat for near-water birds and waterfowls that are present in Armenia, or using Armenia as a migratory path. In fact, the ornithofauna of all reservoirs of the republic depends to a great extend on habitat conditions in Lake Gilli, which acts as an intermediate link between the largest ornithofauna of the eastern and western Palaearctic, in particular of the largest water basins of the Caucasus and Mediterranean regions (Mediterranean, Black and Caspic seas).

In 1960, the government of the Soviet Republic of Armenia decided to drain the lake Gilli and turn its land into agricultural activities. The river Masrik, the water source of Lake Gilli, was redirected away from the lake. The result has been a drastic decrease in the lake’s area and a severe impact to the associated biodiversity. However, while the wetland ecosystem took a serious blow, the lake could not be completely drained. The particular type of soil and a water table close to the surface helped to preserve some sections of this wetland and its associated biodiversity.

The impact to local biodiversity took the form of first a drastic decrease in species and populations that followed the initial drastic change in the lake water level. But a less noticeable impact has been taking place along the years, since the preservation of some wetland areas has not stopped the gradual and steady erosion of the remaining biodiversity. Among the species that have completely disappeared, the most notable are Podiceps grisegena, Phalacrocorax carbo, Pelecanus crispus, Bubulcus ibis, Plegadis falcinellus, Platalea leucorodia, Anas strepera, Oxyura leucocephala, Porzana parva, Glareola nordmanni, Aythia nyroca, and Haliaeetus albicilla.

While the government succeeded in partially draining the lake, land conversion to agriculture turned out to be a total failure. The lake’s soil proved to be unsuitable for farming activities and therefore the area, after a few years, had to be left unused. However, in spite of the environmental impact, the river Masrik was not redirected back to the Lake. Finally, in 1978, or eighteen years after the attempt to drain the lake, the Government of Armenia founded Sevan National Park and expressed its desire of restoring Lake Gilli thus providing a viable habitat for local rare and endemic species.

While certain irreversible changes have taken place, there is a considerable potential for rehabilitation of significant existing biodiversity. This Medium Size Project will restore Lake Gilli, thus halting the degradation of the wetland and ensuring the protection of the existing endemic and rare species.

The restoration would need to redirect the Masrik river back to Lake Gilli area, an objective that counts with the strong support of local populations. In fact, locals have offered their own labor as an in-kind contribution to the restoration activities proposed by this GEF project. The existence of the lake used to provide local populations with income opportunities, which were compatible with biodiversity conservation. The draining of the lake took that subsistence income away while giving nothing in return.

The project would also develop a Lake Gilli management plan, one of the priority actions indicated in the Armenian BSAP. The restoration of the Lake and its management plan will also attempt to provide a viable habitat to rare species currently found in second-best habitats, species whose numbers are declining and which used to have Lake Gilli as their main habitat.

The management plan will need to combine strong protection activities in critical sectors of the Lake with the regulation of local subsistence activities compatible with biodiversity protection. It is expected that the latter objective will be facilitated given the unusual degree of environmental awareness shown by local populations. Nevertheless, the project will undertake public awareness activities for specific groups such as fishermen and hunters. The fine-tuning of the restoration and management plans will be based on a biodiversity monitoring system that should be established at the end of the first year of the project. Finally, there will be a need of providing technical capacity programs for local staff in charge of special protected area management.

The Project Main Objective is the protection of rare and endemic biodiversity already present in Lake Gilli, and the provision of a first-best habitat for threatened wetland biodiversity in Armenia (currently found in second-best habitats)

·        To restore Lake Gilli’s hydrological regime to its original conditions;

·        To develop the Lake Gilli management plan;

·        To increase technical capacity of local staff in charge of the special protected area;

·        To increase environmental awareness of local communities as well asfishing and hunting groups.

10. Expected Outcomes:

·        Lake Gilli restored as an effective wetland habitat;

·        A long-term management plan for biodiversity protection;

·        A biodiversity monitoring system.

11. Planned Activities to Achieve Outcomes:

·        To complete selected biodiversity information gaps for lake Gilly/Masrik catchment area;

·        To assess the optimal rate of water replenishment (the restoration of the water level should be carried out gradually so as to not produce undesirable impact on currently present biodiversity);

·        To redirect River Masrik to Lake Gilli (this will need the removal of specific ditches and the restoration of about 5 Km of the original Masrik river course);

·        To develop and implement the Lake Gilli long-term management plan in collaboration with local population;

·        To design and implement a biodiversity monitoring system;

·        To carry out capacity building activities for local fishermen and hunters;

·        To carry out technical capacity programs for local staff in charge of the special protected area.

12. Stakeholders Involved inthe Project:

·        Ministry of Nature Protection;

·        Local and Regional Authorities;

·        Local populations adjacent to Lake Gilli;

·        Academic and Research Institutions, Universities;

·        Environmental NGOs.

Part II: Information on Block A PDF Activities

13. Activities to be Financed by the PDF:

·        National consultants: national consultants will develop the schedule of works for the lake’s water replenishment stage. Currently, there are three alternatives for restoring the flow of water into the lake. In consultation with local populations, a team of hydrologists, biologists, engineers, and economists will select the most cost-effective alternative (I - III months).

·        In-country travel: this item comprises the costs of data gathering and field expeditions into Lake Gilli (I-IV months).

·        Workshops and consultations: the choice and extent of the lake’s replenishment will be discussed and agreed with local populations, who are offering their own labor as a contribution to this GEF project (II-IV months).

·        Preparation of the Medium Sized Project: this item comprises the translation of studies from Russian and Armenian into English, an incremental cost analysis, and the final preparation of a Medium Size Project Document (IV month).

14. Expected Outputs and Completion Dates:

A fully developed project brief to be presented to the GEF 4 months after initiation of PDF-A activities.

15. Other Possible Contributors/Donors and Amount:

The UNDP office in Armenia will contribute US$5,000.The Government of Armenia will contribute US$2,500 (in kind).Khazer, a local NGO, will contribute US$800 (in kind).

16. A Focal Point:

Christopher Briggs, GEF Regional Coordinator for Europe and CIS

17. Linkage of Project to IA Program:

This project follows UNDP’ s sustainable human development (SHD) mandate. This has been clearly reflected in the Country Cooperation Framework (CCF) prepared jointly by UNDP and the Government for the period 1997-2000.

 

Intermediate Report in PDF format