Laws to protect biodiversity were first adopted in Armenia during the Soviet era. However, no comprehensive legislative base existed for natural resource protection in Armenia, and government regulation was limited to a number of sectors such as forestry, fisheries and hunting (the latter being regulated through 'Hayhuntunion', an association of State hunting organisations and NGOs). The issue of over-grazing was only addressed by guidelines for collective and state farms issued by the Ministry of Agriculture (including dates for summer grazing and limits for livestock density).

Following independence in 1991 environmental legislation was reviewed, with the aim of developing a more comprehensive State policy towards ecological protection and sustainable use. This has resulted in a series of new laws being developed, including regulations relating to protected areas, a land code (both 1991) and a forest statute (1994). A law relating to the protection of flora and fauna is currently being prepared by the Ministry of Nature Protection, and this will be reviewed by NGOs and scientific institutions. The key laws relating to biodiversity are explained in more detail below.

Key laws and regulations relating to biodiversity conservation
and natural resource use in Armenia

· Law on Principles of Environmental Protection (1991)
· Law on Especially Protected Areas (1991)
· The Land Statute (1991)
· The Water Statute (1992)
· Law on protection of the Atmosphere and Air Quality (1994)
· The Forest Statute (1994)
· Law on Environmental Impact Assessment (1995)
· Government decree on Fishing activities in Lake Sevan (1996)
· Law on Payments for Nature Protection and Use of Natural Resources (1998)
· Law on Flora (in draft)
· Law on Fauna (in draft)

The Forest Statute provides for the conservation, protection and efficient management of forests taking to account their ecological, social and economic significance, and basing decisions on available scientific information. The aims of this regulation are to conserve natural forest features, increase regeneration and productivity of forest areas, enable efficient use of forest resources, protect rights of use with respect to forests, and to strengthen the legal enforcement of forest protection. However, the Forest Statute does not take account of the implications of land privatization, and still recognises all forests as absolute property of the State. This restricts local authorities and the private sector from taking over some of the responsibilities for forest protection, and increasing forest cover. At present the Ministry of Nature Protection is involved in drafting amendments to the Forest Statute, in order to bring it up to date.

Since all forests are considered as State property, the government is responsible for overseeing the protection and management of forests, through relevant local authorities ('marz') and a special State agency ('Hayantar', under the Ministry of Nature Protection).

· The Government is responsible for: determining priorities for management, classifications of forests, procedures for conservation and management, and forest use fees; approving appropriate forestry projects; setting quotas for timber extraction; implementing research and forest management practices; monitoring of forest stocks; and collaboration with international authorities relating to forestry practices and conservation.

· Local authorities are responsible for: provision of temporary concessions and supervision of construction, industrial and mining activities in forest areas.

· The authorised State agencies ('Hayantar') are responsible for: the development and implementation of forestry projects; registry of forest stock; ensuring forest regeneration, management and sustainable use; and for addressing issues linked to mismanagement of abuse of forest resources, including illegal felling and the effects of pollutants.

A range of other provisions are made within the Forest Statute, including: age of maturity and felling; forest use; rights and obligations of forest-users; methods for timber extraction and processing; use of forests for research, hunting and recreation; measures for forestry in protected areas, and urban regions; rates of forest regeneration; charges for forestry use; supervision of forestry; measures for resolving disputes and reactions to violation of forest legislation; and development of international agreements relating to forestry.

The Law on Specially Protected Areas outlines the procedures for establishing protected areas and guides their management. The aims are as follows: to maintain the balance of natural ecosystems, to preserve natural monuments of national importance, to conserve the biodiversity of the country, to control use of natural habitats, to promote environmental education and public awareness and to ensure recognition of natural resource depletion within the legal framework. The law specifies that protected areas be established trough government decree, and that overall responsibility for their management lies with the Ministry of Nature Protection. The law also refers specifically to the development of a State listing for protected areas, mechanisms for protected area identification and gazettement, and the status and management regimes for different types of protected area. However, this law does not address a number of relevant issues, such as socio-economic benefits of biodiversity, land privatization, and the role and rights of the private sector, and might therefore be improved by revision.

The draft laws on Flora and Fauna set out policies for the conservation, protection, regeneration and management of natural populations of plants and animals, and regulations for human impacts on natural diversity.

The Law on Flora aims to ensure sustainable conservation of plants, their genetic diversity and natural habitats, to develop scientific assessments of levels for sustainable use of natural plant populations, to ensure a sustainable conservation of flora, and to protect the rights of those involved in plant conservation and management. The implementation of this law will be overseen by the Ministry of Nature Protection, and by local government and other agencies. The draft law provides for: inventory, study and monitoring of plant populations; development of a State listing for plants and their use; further elaboration of the Red Data Book for plants; investigation of issues relating to plant conservation; conservation of rare and threatened plant species; use of plants; rights and obligations of plant collectors; restriction or termination of rights to collect particular plants; measures for dealing with disputes over use of plants; and international agreements relating to plant conservation issues.

The Law on Fauna aims to: ensure conservation of animals and their genetic diversity, maintain the integrity of animal populations, protect animals from inappropriate disturbance, protect migration routes and regulate use of animal species. The responsibilities of different agencies (including the government, ministries and other State bodies, local authorities and local self-government institutions) are outlined. The draft law make provision for: survey, study and monitoring of animals; listings of animals and their use; elaboration of the Red Data Book for animals; setting goals for animal conservation; measures for dealing with disputes; and international agreements relating to animal conservation issues