Developing the Protected Area System of Armenia: Improving Capacity Building and Management Regime

Project Description:
Armenia’s biodiversity is threatened by overexploitation of biodiversity, unregulated tourism activity, habitat loss and climate change. The cumulative impacts include the accelerated loss of vulnerable habitats and associated species and the growing insecurity of ecosystem services. Opportunities for communities to realize the potential social and economic benefits accruing from biodiversity are lost. Government agencies, site managers and communities have very limited experience with the management of protected landscapes that allow for creative ‘multiple-use’ approaches. Establishing new and improving existing sanctuaries will generally require the commitment and inclusion of local communities.

Project investment will be in community areas to improve management of productive landscapes while helping to promote connectivity and alleviate poverty. The Project will enhance the financial sustainability of Armenia’s protected area system.

This Project is complementary with the UNDP/GEF Medium-Size Project Developing the Protected Area System of Armenia.

Objective(s):
The Project will focus upon institutional capacity building by piloting a suite of sanctuary management tools largely absent from Armenia’s current protected area management regime.

Project Expected Results:
Project efforts will result in a national protected area system better equipped to conserve currently underrepresented ecosystems and associated species. These ecosystems outside the shelter of Armenia’s protected areas are critical to the long-term conservation of several globally significant species, inclusive of many endemic agrobiodiversity resources.