About WWF Armenia
Established in 1961, WWF operates in more than 100 countries and employs over 5,000 people worldwide. Based in Switzerland, the secretariat for WWF's global conservation organization began its activities in the Caucasus in 1992 and extended its conservation work in Armenia since 2002.
WWF has identified the Caucasus as one of ecoregions globally outstanding for biodiversity. Historically interpreted as the isthmus between the Black and Caspian seas, the Caucasus ecoregion covers a total area of 580,000 km, including the nations of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, the North Caucasus portion of the Russian Federation, Northeastern Turkey, and part of Northwestern Iran. The total population is approximately 34,7 million.
As of November 2006, WWF Armenia has been registered as an official branch of WWF and currently implements more than 10 projects focused on environmental as well as socio-economic issues.
WWF has identified the Caucasus as one of ecoregions globally outstanding for biodiversity. Historically interpreted as the isthmus between the Black and Caspian seas, the Caucasus ecoregion covers a total area of 580,000 km, including the nations of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, the North Caucasus portion of the Russian Federation, Northeastern Turkey, and part of Northwestern Iran. The total population is approximately 34,7 million.
As of November 2006, WWF Armenia has been registered as an official branch of WWF and currently implements more than 10 projects focused on environmental as well as socio-economic issues.
WWF Armenia
11 Proshyan, Str.
Yerevan 0019, Armenia
Tel/Fax: +374 (10) 54 61 56
+374 (10) 58 89 83
Email:office_am@wwfcaucasus.org
www.panda.org/armenia
11 Proshyan, Str.
Yerevan 0019, Armenia
Tel/Fax: +374 (10) 54 61 56
+374 (10) 58 89 83
Email:office_am@wwfcaucasus.org
www.panda.org/armenia
How we work for the environment in Armenia
After many years spent actively pursuing the protection of the environment and the life it supports, we at WWF have learned that only by working together in willing and honest partnerships with governments, business, other organizations, local populations, and society as a whole can we succeed in alleviating poverty and conserving the renewable, life-sustaining resources of our fragile planet.
From 2004 to 2006, WWF coordinated the development of an Ecoregional Conservation Plan (ECP) for the Caucasus, a comprehensive strategy for the region that was signed by the Environmental Ministers of all member countries including Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, the North Caucasus portion of the Russian Federation, northeastern Turkey, and part of northwestern Iran.
- WWF focuses on critical places and issues, and forges partnerships to make a measurable difference to the state of the world. In doing this we have prioritized those areas around the world which represent globally outstanding examples of biodiversity: we call these the "Global ecoregions".
- Three Biomes: WWF works on the the conservation of the three biomes of Forests Ecosystems, Freshwater Ecosystems, and Marine Ecosystems. These contain the bulk of the world's biodiversity and provide the environmental goods and services upon which all life ultimately depends.
- The question of Species: WWF has also identified a small number of flagship species whose conservation is of special concern and which act as powerful icons for the conservation of other species and habitats.
- The most pervasive Global Threat: WWF has targeted the most globally pervasive and insidious of the threats to biodiversity: the phenomenon of Climate Change.
- The world's biologically important areas: We call them "ecoregions" - there are more than 200 of them - and WWF is focusing its efforts in those that it has scientifically judged to be the most in need of help, while having the widest possible positive impacts.
- Programmes that have targets to meet: All WWF programmes of work have established clear conservation targets that identify those actions required for WWF to achieve its ambitious mission. They must also stand up to rigorous conservation standards.
From 2004 to 2006, WWF coordinated the development of an Ecoregional Conservation Plan (ECP) for the Caucasus, a comprehensive strategy for the region that was signed by the Environmental Ministers of all member countries including Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, the North Caucasus portion of the Russian Federation, northeastern Turkey, and part of northwestern Iran.
FOCUS AREAS FOR CONSERVATION
WWF-Armenia implements projects in the following 6 focus areas:
- Institutional strengthening and capacity building through providing technical assistance to existing protected areas (PAs);
- Creating a network of protected areas (Econet) through establishing new protected areas planned by the Government;
- Conserving threatened species (Caucasian leopard, Armenian mouflon, Bezoar goat, etc.);
- Conserving priority biomes: forests, high mountains, wetlands;
- Promoting sustainable use of resources and alternative livelihood in rural communities;
- Promoting public awareness on environmental issues through mass media and communications.
