Stakeholder Workshop in the scope of Terminal Evaluation of the “Adaptation to Climate Change Impacts in Mountain Forest Ecosystems of Armenia” UNDP-supported, GEF-financed project took place on 28 March 2013.

Knowledge and capacities of forest managers in Syunik Marz to monitoring forest pests and pestholes were increased through two trainings organized on 14 and 15 March 2013 in the scope of the “Adaptation to Climate Change Impacts in Mountain Forest Ecosystems of Armenia” UNDP-supported, GEF-financed project in the Public Environmental Information (Aarhus) Centers of Goris and Kapan cities.

Against the backdrop of increasing risk of climate change induced impacts in the unique mountain forest ecosystems of Armenia and especially the intensifying forest fire problem under the country’s aridifying climate conditions, the UNDP-supported GEF-financed “Adaptation to climate change impacts in mountain forest ecosystems of Armenia” project has carried out a range of activities during the project implementation starting from 2009 to build the capacities of relevant stakeholders to address the forest fire risk and to enhance the resilience of forests under climate change. Importantly, by building the capacities of the forests to resists and respond to the changing climate conditions, the project has aimed also to protect the provision of ecosystem services critical for the adaptation of rural population to climate change.

Opportunities to employ scenario planning in Armenia’s forest management under changing climate conditions were considered during the seminar organised on October 17, 2012 in the scope the UNDP supported and GEF funded “Adaptation to Climate Change Impacts in Mountain Forest Ecosystems of Armenia” Project implementation.

On September 6, 2012 the fire was noticed on the lands of Geghi community of the Syunik region threatening to the nearby forest managed by the Kapan Forest Enterprise. The grassland fire was detected by the ranger of the Kapan Forest Enterprise, while he was monitoring the area on horseback. He raised an alarm about the fire to the Kapan Forest Enterprise of “ArmForest” SNCO of the Ministry of Agriculture of Armenia, as well as to the Kajaran Fire and Rescue Detachment of the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

The progress made by the UNDP-GEF “Adaptation to climate change impacts in mountain forest ecosystems of Armenia” Project in the reporting period 2010-2011 was highlighted in the Annual Performance Report of UNDP supported GEF financed projects for the same period.

Sharing knowledge and experiences effectively and in a timely manner with stakeholders, practitioners and the wider audience is a key to successful and sustainable project implementation. Social media – e.g. Facebook and Twitter – and other web-based platforms open ways for new, innovative communication. Rethinking project reporting and opening up for truly real-time, two-way communication,

The 8th issue of quarterly E-Newsletter “UNDP Armenia on Record” produced by the UNDP Country Office in Armenia released. The article on “Strengthening of Forest Fire Management Capacities in Syunik” published under the “Green” Updates” heading presents the extent the forests of Armenia have suffered from fires, the activities towards strengthening the local capacities of

The issues related to eco-tourism under changing climate conditions, as well as the reduction of tourism impact on forest ecosystems of Armenia vulnerable to climate change were considered in the scope of the seminar on “Sustainable Tourism in Forest Areas under Climate Change Conditions”, March 2^nd, 2012, Yerevan. The seminar was organized under the “Adaptation to Climate Change Impacts in Mountain Forest Ecosystems of Armenia” UNDP/GEF Project aimed inter alia at raising awareness of tourism sector representatives on climate change impacts as well as sustainable eco-tourism development in Armenia.

The growing occurrence of grassland and forest fires throughout the last decade in Armenia is increasing the threat to vulnerable forest ecosystems and biodiversity. The most of the forest fires are directly or indirectly caused by the humans factor and about 96% of cases are because of human indifference. The main cause of forest fires is the prevailing tradition of burning agricultural plant residues in fields, pastures and meadows.

The joint efforts of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Armenia and UNDP towards prevention of forest fires and early response, as well as OSCE and Global Fire Monitoring Centre in the scope of the Environment and Security Initiative brought together nearly 300 participants in the forest and grassland fire management field exercise and conference held in Kapan and Yerevan between the 12^th and 14^th of September, 2011.

The donation ceremony of forest fire early response equipment to “Syunik” and “Kapan” Forest Enterprises of “Hayantar” SNCO  and “Arevik” National Park took place in Goris, Syunik region on 22 July 2011. Together with the donation ceremony, the local foresters demonstrated the use of the newly-received forest fire early response equipment in a nearby forest area of the “Syunik” Forest Enterprise. Leading the demonstration was Mr. Nikola Nikolov, International Expert on Forest Fire Management under the UNDP/GEF Project.

As a part of the seminar series on climate change and forest adaptation issues held in secondary schools in Kapan, Goris and Verishen village in April 2011 in Syunik, the pupils were challenged to write essays about climate change and relevant environmental issues.

On-the-ground adaptation response measures to enhance the adaptive capacities of mountain forest ecosystems to climate change impacts are piloted on three field study sites in the Syunik region under the “Adaptation to Climate Change Impacts in Mountain Forest Ecosystems of Armenia” UNDP/GEF/00051202 Project. The target of the pilot projects is to apply chosen selected adaptation measures against the climate change impacts in the region, and based on the experiences of these pilots, draw recommendations for larger scale applications of measures to improve forest ecosystem resilience to climate change.

Pupils from Yerevan’s school #156 proved to be the real experts on the impacts of climate change on forests and forests protection in an International Year of Forests 2011 event organized to children at the State Museum of Nature of Armenia on the 29^th of April, 2011.

Mr. Karen Arzumanyan was awarded for the best article on forest vulnerability and adaptation to climate change at the Climate Change Information Center of Armenia offices in Yerevan on the 21^st of April 2011.

The launching workshop on the second phase of National Forest Programme (NFP) Facility supported activities was organized by “Hayantar”(ArmForest) SNCO of the Ministry of Agriculture of Armenia and UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The two-day event took place on 15-16 March, 2011, in Hotel Ani, Yerevan. The objective of the workshop was to bring all project stakeholders together to identify problems and constraints related to the forestry sector within the framework of NFP.

Signboards for promotion of fire prevention attitude and actions in Syunik marz were developed under the “Adaptation to Climate Change Impacts in Mountain Forest Ecosystems of Armenia” UNDP/GEF Project.

35 signboards were installed in September 2010 in recreational and tourist attractive sites in Syunik(Goris) and Kapan Forest Enterprises, “Arevik” National Park and “Shikahogh” State Reserve.

Seminar on “Vulnerability of Mountain Forest Ecosystems and Enhancement of Adaptation to Climate Change Impacts” took place on 17-18 September 2010 in Goris, Syunik region in the scope of the “Adaptation to Climate Change Impacts in Mountain Forest Ecosystems of Armenia” UNDP/GEF Project. ...

Japanese Government granted 28 fire engines to Armenian Rescue Service. This will afford an opportunity to improve the preparedness of the Rescue Service...

Meeting of the Board of the "Adaptation to Climate Change Impacts in Mountain Forest Ecosystems of Armenia" UNDP/GEF Project was held on July 23, 2010...

Within the frames of "Adaptation to Climate Change Impacts in Mountain Forest Ecosystems of Armenia" UNDP/GEF project, UNDP Armenia Country Office has signed a Letter of Agreement with "Hayantar" SNCO to implement forest ecosystems rehabilitation pilot projects in the Syunik region...

Through the dates of May 13-15, 2010, seminars on Forest Biodiversity and Climate Change issues were organized for secondary schools teachers and schoolchildren in Goris and Kapan towns...

The subject of climate change risks intergration into management of forest ecosystems in Syunik region was discussed during the workshop held on May 7th , 2010. The meeting was arranged in the frame of the "Adaptation to Climate Change Impacts in Mountain Forest Ecosystems of Armenia" UNDP/GEF Project...

Through the dates of April 15th to 22nd, 2010 the UNDP Armenia Climate Change Projects, jointly with Young Biologists Association (YBA), Armenia Tree Project (ATP) and Public Environmental Information (Aarhus) Center in Yerevan, participated in organisation of a number of events in the frames of the "Earth Day 2010 Armenia" campaign. This campaign was organized to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Earth Day...

Round-table discussions took place in Kapan and Goris Aarhus Centers on November 6th and November 7th respectively. Main goal and objectives of the project and the major reasons for particular pilot projects location, as well as main streams of project implementation were briefly presented...

As part of the global 350 International Day of Climate Action, Armenia Tree Project initiated the youth campaign devoted to the climate change on 24 October, 2009...

UNDP Armenia and the RA Ministry of Nature Protection organized inception workshop of  the “Adaptation to Climate Change Impacts in Mountain Forest Ecosystems of Armenia” UNDP/GEF/00051202 Medium-sized Project on July 3, 2009...

The seminar on Climate Change Issues was organized within the frames of the "Enabling Activities for the Preparation of Armenias Second National Communication to the UNFCCC" UNDP/GEF project on April 15, 2009. The seminar aimed at introduction of climate change issues to the students of the Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Geography of the Armenian State Pedagogical University...

A Local Programme Appraisal Committee (LPAC) meeting on UNDP/GEF ‘Adaptation to Climate Change Impacts in Mountain Forest Ecosystems of Armenia’ (a brief version is here) Medium-Size Project Proposal was held on 2 December 2008...

"Armenia: Climate Change Impacts" 2009 calendar in Armenian and English, prepared by CC Information Center, was published this week. The calendar presents CC Impacts on the RA teritory...

UNDP Armenia organized a seminar on "Vulnerability of South-East Forests in Armenia and Adaptation to Climate Change Impacts in Mountain Forest Ecosystems of the Marz of Syunik" in OSCE "Aarhus" Center in Kapan, Syunik, on May 24-25, 2008...

The seminar was organized on February 22, 2008 in the framework of UNDP/GEF Enabling Activities for the Preparation of Armenias Second National Communication to the UNFCCC Project and served an introduction to Adaptation of Armenias Mountainous Ecosystems to Climate Change Impacts project preparation activities...