Context

The Republic of Armenia is a relatively small, mountainous and landlocked country located in the Caucasus region of Eurasia, and borders Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkey. Armenia became independent of the Soviet Union in 1990, and has since undergone a dramatic economic transition.

During the Soviet era, Armenia underwent substantial industrial and agricultural development. However, political transition coupled with conflict in the region, as well as economic and energetic blockades, have since undermined the infrastructure and economy of the country. Most industries are no longer operating, and agriculture has declined as a result of land privatization and unsustainable farming practices. Economic collapse has resulted in large-scale inflation, high levels of poverty and mass emigration. Declines in socio-economic conditions have in turn resulted in substantial over-use of biological resources, and declines in the effectiveness of environmental protection.

Biodiversity in Armenia

The country of Armenia shows clear altitudinal and climatic zonality, reflected in a diversity of landscapes and species. The location and topography of the country have resulted in biological richness - with high levels of endemism, and rich agrobiodiversity.

Armenia is an important centre of origin for many plants and animals of economic importance. Much of the biodiversity of the country has been used traditionally by local communities, and has a strong cultural importance. Many of the ecosystems have provided the basis for economic development (natural pastures, meadows and forests). The botanical resources of Armenia have been used by humans for up to 6000 years, as a source of food, animal fodder and medicine. Forests have been used to provide timber and fuel wood. The Armenian Plateau is considered to be one of the places where agriculture first developed, and still supports many wild relatives of crop plants and domestic livestock, as well as a diversity of cultivars and breeds.

The biodiversity of Armenia also has an important functional ecosystem role. The maintenance of natural systems helps to regulate the country's climate, water resources (rivers, lakes) and water quality. It has therefore been recognised that a loss of biodiversity in Armenia will directly or indirectly impact the living conditions of the human population.

During recent years the use of biological resources in Armenia has become unsustainable, as a result of increasing human pressures linked to economic collapse. As a result, certain habitat types have been significantly degraded (including forests, mountain pastures and wetlands), and a number of species face extinction. Around 470 species are considered to be at particular risk, including 66 bird and 18 mammal species. At present, the economic situation constrains the effectiveness of conservation measures to limit use and recover threatened species.

Status of conservation

There is a long history of environmental protection in Armenia, both through in-situ and ex-situ approaches to conservation. A network of protected areas (including State Reserves, State Conservation Areas, National Parks and Natural Monuments) covers 10% of the land in Armenia. However, many important habitat types are not represented in this network, and protected area management has been undermined by a lack of finances. Outside protected areas, conservation is approached through a series of laws and regulations to limit the use of biological resources. Few species are maintained in ex-situ conditions, and captive breeding for reintroduction does not currently take place.

Environmental issues are gradually becoming integrated within the policy frameworks for socio-economic development, as the link between the biodiversity conservation and human sustainable development is recognised. Within Armenia, there is a growing recognition of the need to maintain biological resources and use them in a sustainable manner.

The Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

In 1993 the Republic of Armenia was among the first countries to ratify the Convention on Biological Diversity. Under its obligations to this convention the Government of Armenia has undertaken the production of a First National Report on Biodiversity in Armenia, and the development of a Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP). These were financed by GEF via UNDP, and undertaken by the Ministry of Nature Protection with the collaboration of a range of leading national specialists.

The Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan outlines a national strategy for biodiversity conservation, defines the priorities for implementation of this strategy, and integrates these priorities with plans for sustainable development and other relevant projects and programs. The BSAP provides the basis for effective and integrated conservation, taking into account the current socio-economic conditions, and incorporates a range of short-, medium- and long-term actions to promote biodiversity conservation, sustainable use and regeneration.

Expected outputs as a result of the BSAP include:

· Adoption of the BSAP as an official government document, which can be related to policy development in other spheres, and will actively be implemented.
· Implementation of the BSAP which will provide a guarantee for the conservation of biodiversity and genetic resources in Armenia, and thus will contribute to human development.
· The BSAP will enable an agency will co-ordinate biodiversity conservation and sustainable use throughout the country, within a regional structure.