| In 1997 Armenia received GEF assistance in the sum of USD
$174,800 to implement the project "First National Report, Biodiversity Strategy
and Action Plan to CBD". In 1999, the combined work of eight groups of specialists
resulted in a "First National Report on Biodiversity of Armenia" and a "Biodiversity
Strategy and Action Plan" (BSAP), which were prepared in line with CBD guidelines
and the priority development goals of Armenia.
The strategy is a series of strategic approaches or techniques
for conservation, which can be applied to meet the objectives and aims of the BSAP.
These explain what approaches will be applied to resolve the issues linked to biodiversity
loss in Armenia. These strategic components also provide a framework for the action
plan. In addition, the strategic approaches provide a direct reflection of the articles
of the Convention on Biological Diversity, and thus provide a clear way to monitor
the progress of the country in meeting its obligations to the convention. Fourteen
strategic approaches have been identified:
· In-situ conservation
· Ex-situ conservation
· Sustainable use of biological and landscape resources
· Development of institutional potential and training
· Ecological education and public participation
· Identification and monitoring
· Research
· Information exchange and accessibility
· Co-operation (technical, scientific, inter-state, and technology transfer)
· Impact assessment
· Incentive measures
· Legislation
· Financial resources
· Co-ordination of the Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP)
The Action Plan documents the specific activities, which must
be completed to achieve the overall aims and objectives of the BSAP. The actions
are organised around the framework of the 14 Strategic Approaches outlined in section
3.2.3 of the BSAP. Within each action, a series of more specific activities are
listed. The actions and activities have been developed within an integrated, holistic
structure, and therefore may link to activities listed under separate Strategic
Approaches.
Since March 2001 a project has been launched as a second phase
of Biodiversity Enabling Activity. It received additional financing from GEF totalling
$143,130 and includes the following components:
1. Assessment of Capacity-building needs for
· Implementation of measures for in-situ and ex-situ conservation and sustainable
use
· Initial assessment and monitoring programmes, including taxonomy
· Access to genetic resources, benefit-sharing and formulation of mechanisms
for these purposes
2. Establishment of a Clearing House Mechanism in Armenia
3. Preparation of the Second National Report.
23. An objective of the Pan-European Biological and Landscape
Diversity Strategy is the integration of biological and landscape diversity objectives
into sectoral policies, as well as into the decision-making processes on global
environmental networks (see question 13).
Armenia seeks information and guidance on inter-sectoral
relationships in the area of biodiversity conservation. As with most newly-independent
CIS States Armenia has inherited a strictly separated institutional system from
the Soviet era, although some changes have been made in order to incorporate some
scientific centres within the structures of the Ministry of Agriculture.
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