The Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP) for the Republic of Armenia has been developed to provide an integrated framework within which biodiversity conservation in Armenia can be organised and co-ordinated over the coming years. The BSAP has been developed in line with the Convention on Biodiversity, and provides guidance on how the plan will be implemented, monitored and evaluated. The plan relates directly to the preceding information review contained in the Country Study (section 2), and incorporates the constraints and opportunities for biodiversity conservation identified within the problem analysis (section 2.9).

The Biodiversity Strategy and Action plan is divided into three main sections. The Strategy (section 3.2), the Action Plan (section 3.3) and some guidelines for implementation procedures, including monitoring and reporting (sections 3.4, 3.5 and 3.6). The Strategy and Action Plan provide an integrated outline for biodiversity conservation in Armenia, and should be used together. The Strategy and Action Plan are inter-related through the Strategic Approaches (which provide a framework for the Action Plan), and by relating specific activities back to the various objectives which they contribute to. All activities listed in the Action Plan will contribute to the overall aim of the Biodiversity Strategy.

The Strategy and Action Plan has been planned for a four year period, 2000-2004. This period was considered sufficient to be able to realistically monitor the impacts of the BSAP, and the plan will be revised at the end of this period.

The Biodiversity Strategy outlines:

· What this process aims to achieve (the Aim).
· What will change (the Objectives).
· What mechanisms or techniques will be used to bring about these changes (the Strategic Approaches).

The overall aim of the Biodiversity Strategy is:

The 13 objectives listed below provide a more detailed expression of the overall aim, providing quantifiable targets to be attained through the implementation of the plan. The order in which they are presented does not indicate their importance.

1. To develop mechanisms which mitigate economic activities that negatively affect biodiversity, while ensuring that a more realistic market value is placed on biological resources by 2001.

2. To increase internal and external investments in order to conserve and regenerate landscapes and biodiversity by 30% by 2004.

3. To conserve, regenerate and sustainably use forest resources, with a resulting increase in healthy forested areas of 3000 ha by 2004.

4. To support and extend the capacity to use science as a vital tool in guiding conservation management (including both research and monitoring), through increased investment of 15% in both relevant scientific programmes and professional training by 2004.
5. To improve management systems relating to biodiversity conservation (including protected areas management) with the result of increased effectiveness by 2001.

6. To improve legislation and economic mechanisms for the conservation and sustainable use of biological and landscape diversity, in line with the other objectives.

7. To improve and strengthen the ecological education and training system, along with increasing public awareness of biodiversity, so that knowledge improves by 30% by 2004.

8. To ensure the use of appropriate ecologically-friendly technologies in support of biodiversity conservation, through increased investment in this field of 10% by 2004.

9. To ensure the participation of NGOs and other relevant stakeholders in all stages of project development and implementation, and improve their opportunities to take a direct role in conservation management, with an increased involvement of 20% by 2004.

10. To conserve and regenerate species, ecosystems and landscapes, so that a further 3% is in a natural condition by 2004.

11. To extend the network of specially protected areas, and to improve the effectiveness of the system by 5% by 2004, in an appropriate manner, which takes into account the size and terrain of the country.

12. To ensure the sustainable use and further regeneration of biological resources, including agrobiodiversity, to maintain 90% of genetic resources by 2004.

13. To support and contribute to sustainable development, including the further integration of biological resource management into the development of rural communities, to help to reduce the levels of poverty by 30% by 2004.

The strategy is a series of strategic approaches or techniques for conservation, which can 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 are also used to 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. This approach recognises the importance of undertaking conservation within the natural environment. It highlights the importance of maintaining communities and ecosystems, both within and outside protected areas.

Ex-situ conservation. Conservation away from the natural environment is seen as a back-up to in-situ conservation. This provides a safety net to ensure protection of a wide range of genetic resources, with the aim of eventual reintroduction wherever possible.

Sustainable use of biological and landscape resources. This approach recognises the importance of biodiversity as a resource, and the dependence of local communities, and others, on this resource. Sustainable use is a mechanism by which conservation can be put alongside these needs, thus reinforcing the immediate value of these resources, and the need for conservation, while also meeting the needs of local people. The concept is a particularly important tool for in-situ conservation outside protected areas, and is closely associated with the development of incentive measures.

Development of institutional potential and training. A wide range of changes are proposed in this action plan. The implementation of these changes will rely on parallel capacity building of individuals and organisations to support increased or novel activities.

Ecological education and public participation. Any conservation activity requires the understanding and support of the wider populace if it is to be successful and sustainable. Informing the public underlies any activities taking place outside protected areas, and ecological education promotes a wide involvement in conservation activities.

Identification and monitoring. It is important for any plan to be able to assess the impacts of new or changed activities. Since biodiversity conservation is the target of this plan, long-term monitoring of species and ecosystems is necessary to enable its impact to be evaluated. This will ensure that future threats are identified as early as possible.

Research. In order to manage biodiversity effectively, management decisions (such as those for in-situ conservation and for monitoring) must be based upon the most appropriate and detailed information. A complex biological system requires ongoing research to better understand its conservation needs, and to adjust management practices if necessary.

Information exchange and accessibility. For effective conservation, information on biodiversity and activities affecting biodiversity, needs to be available to a wide range of people. This ensures that activities are not duplicated, decisions are made on the best information available, and promote transparency within conservation. Information may be exchanged at a range of levels - locally, nationally, regionally or internationally.

Co-operation (technical, scientific, inter-state, and technology transfer). Biodiversity does not observe boundaries - be they between parts of society, communities or states. Effective biodiversity conservation must, therefore, rely upon co-operation to ensure fairness and equity with respect to biological resources. Furthermore, co-operation between neighbouring, and distant, states is important to ensure effective co-ordination of activities towards the common goal of conserving the world's biological resources.

Impact assessment. This provides an important technique to monitor the effects of a range of activities on biodiversity. Through monitoring, it is possible to ensure appropriate responses to mitigate negative impacts on biodiversity. Impact assessment also provides a clear basis for assessing appropriate incentive and disincentive measures.

Legislation. Any changes in approaches, or activities, in this plan will need to be supported by appropriate regulations. Legal measures will underpin the other strategic components in this plan (including incentive measures). In many cases, existing legislation will need to be reviewed or up-dated in order to enable effective support of the planned activities.

Incentive measures. One of the most important factors contributing to biodiversity loss is the lack of true economic value associated with natural resources. The use of economic (and other) incentives and disincentives, allows this to be re-balanced, by linking some of the true value to such resources, and thus promoting favourable conservation behaviour.

Financial resources. Implementation of this plan will require financial support. The sources of these finances need to be considered within the plan - be it a review of existing mechanisms, or the development of novel funding avenues for conservation.

Co-ordination of the Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP). In order to support its successful implementation, the structures for administrating and managing planned actions need to be considered within the plan itself. By identifying the mechanisms for co-ordination of the plan at this stage, an integrated approach can be taken to implementation of all other strategic components. These include clarification of responsibilities for promoting the plan, and mobilising co-ordinated action.