Project Description:
This long-term project focused on biodiversity conservation in harmony with developing local communities through strengthening of southern Armenia’s protected areas (Khosrov Forest and Shikahogh reserves), fostering effective nature protection in wildlife corridors, raising awareness among local people and creation of opportunities for alternative livelihood in rural communities through development of sustainable tourism and implementation of educational activities.

Many representatives of south Armenia’s rich biodiversity, especially large mammals, lead mobile life and thus require vast areas to survive. This is especially true for such species as leopard, Armenian mouflon (wild sheep), brown bear, Eurasian lynx and bezoar goat. Unless provided with movement corridors, these species are doomed to extinction. Most of such corridors are located outside of protected areas so are highly prone to degradation because of human activities. The project enabled to assess the biodiversity, socio-economic, legal and management status of the corridor.

Objective:
The overall objective of the project was to help ensure effective protection of biodiversity and sustainable management of natural resources in southern Armenia, providing an operational model that can contribute to the development, prosperity and peace in the Caucasus region.

Project Outcomes/Outputs/Deliverables:

Khosrov Forest State Reserve
2007 – 2008
1. Visitor program incorporated to the management plan
2. Visitor Centre constructed and fully operating in Garni Part
3. One ecotourism trails marked with directional signs
4. Website - www.khosrov.am
5. Billboards, multilingual information boards, road signs
6. Leaflets, guidebook and other information materials
7. Documentary film about Khosrov State Reserve 
8. Collaboration with Armenian Tour Operators

2008 – 2009
1. Visitor Centre launch in Garni Part
2. Ecotourism resources and capacities assessment
3. Ecotourism Monitoring Program
4. Workshop on reserve’s vision up to 2012
5. Ranger station constructed
6. Camp site and two more trails arranged for eco-tourists
7. Uniforms, equipment and an off-road vehicle for reserve rangers

2009 – 2010
1. Tourist Centre constructed in Vedi Part through co-financing by ASSOGAL Toscana (EU funded project) and MFA of Norway
2. Tourist Centre will be co-managed by the community and the reserve
3. Familiarization Trips for Tour Operators presenting tourism opportunities

Shikahogh State Reserve
2007 – 2008
1. Draft management plan for the reserve
2. Administration building rehabilitation
3. Biodiversity monitoring program
4. Staff training

2008 – 2009
1. The visitor program prepared and incorporated to the draft management plan
2. Website – www.shikahogh.am
3. Billboards, multilingual information boards, road signs
4. Leaflets, guidebook and other information materials
5. Workshop on reserve’s vision up to 2015
6. Uniforms, equipment and an off-road vehicle for reserve rangers
7. Administration building furnished, equipped, provided with additional management capacities (internet, water piping, heating system, office equipment)
8. Outside of the administration building renovated

2009 – 2010
1. Visitor accommodation facility in the administration building
2. Documentary film about Shikahogh State Reserve
3. Local guides training
4. Collaboration with Armenian Tour Operators
5. Familiarization Trips for Tour Operators presenting tourism opportunities

Zangezur State Sanctuary
2010 – 2011
1. Ranger station created, furnished and equipped
2. Biodiversity monitoring programme
3. Training on monitoring programme
4. Off-road vehicle provided to the Sancuary

Arevik National Park
2010 – 2011
1. Draft management and business plans
2. Ranger station build, furnished and equipped
3. Off-road vehicle provided to the Park

Gnishik Planned Protected Area
2010 – 2011
1. Draft management and business plans
2. Visitor Centre established, furnished and equipped including posters and signs in Noravank Canyon of Gnishik area
3. The anti-poaching unit established and provided with an off-road vehicle, uniforms and binoculars
4. Four road blocks installed in the roads leading to the main habitats of bezoar goats
5. A three-room wooden house purchased and set up as a guest house at the recreational site of the Gnishik area. Two picnic areas are arranged for tourists.

Wildlife Corridor
2008 – 2009
1. Assessment of flora and fauna, especially threatened and endemic species, through GIS mapping and database maintenance
2. Wildlife corridor in southern Armenia mapped and described
3. Reports on legal and socio-economic status of the corridor and the corridor management guidelines
4. Protected area planning, community development projects and spatial prioritization of urgent conservation activities

2009 – 2010
1. Initial database compilation and GIS mapping on land tenure pattern in Gnishik protected area
2. The regional conservation inspections in Gegharqunik, Vayots Dzor and Syunik provinces including advanced training courses, equipment, uniforms, off-road vehicles and travel expenses
3. A kick-off workshop on the establishment of Gnishik protected area

Awareness-Raising
2007 – 2008
1. The leopard conservation campaign plan (international expert Mr. Karl Wagner from Austria)
2. Popular games, dissemination of illustrated materials, contests and award-winning ceremonies organized in 5 villages and 2 towns of southern Armenia with involvement of 341 schoolchildren

2008 – 2009
1. A month-long campaign organized at the Marriott Hotel including the sales of nature-oriented souvenirs, photo exhibition and presentation of a film and a video clip
2. The World Environment Day on June 5 2009 marked by production and presentation of a documentary “Poaching” and photo exhibition
3. Nationwide promotion of campaign and The World Environment Day through electronic and publishing mass media, radio and TV

2009 – 2010
1. Wall, pocket and desk calendars of 2010 published in English and Armenian and widely disseminated
2. A series of environmental contests organized at 5 secondary schools of Yerevan in March-April 2010
3. The Leopard Day organized on 22 May, 2010 at the Yerevan Zoo with participation of schoolchildren, puppet theatre, students, officials and mass media

Community Development
2007-2008
1. A model project on community-based ecotourism development launched in Shatin village, Vayots Dzor Province
2. The wildlife-spotting pavilion (observation point) constructed in Shatin, with particular emphasis on watching threatened bezoar goats (Capra aegagrus)
3. Binoculars and spotting scopes for the pavilion
4. Billboards and leaflets for the promotion of the pavilion

2008 – 2009
1. Awareness-raising in the Symphony of Stones Natural Monument (Garni Village)
2. Establishment of bee-keeping farms in Gnishik and Nerkin Hand villages in Vayots Dzor Province

2009 – 2010
1. The B&B facility furnished and equipped in Shatin village
2. Goods, materials and equipment (barley seeds, a tractor, etc.) provided to Gnishik village near the planned Gnishik protected area

2010 – 2011
1. One B&B in Tatev village in Syunik Province renovated, furnished and equipped
2. The Nature Tourism Development Centre established, renovated, furnished and equipped in Yerevan
3. The website for the Development Center

2011 – 2012
1. Marketing organic products produced in the communities - packaging and labeling of the organic products, advertising and testing store for the organic products in the Nature Tourism Development Centre
2. Publication of the booklets on the organic products
3. Training on B&B services and products marketing for communities
4. Publication of a colorful book on Protected Areas and services provided by them
5. Updates of the Development Center website with products by communities and new services by Protected Areas