Water-related Ecosystems Conservation in Armenia and Perspectives for Transboundary Conservation

1. Water-related Ecosystems Conservation in Armenia andPerspectives for Transboundary Conservation Karen Jenderedjian

2. Content • Forests and Forests Values • Conflicts and Threats to Forests • Wetlands and Wetlands Values • Conflicts and Threats to Wetlands • Environmental Legislation • International Cooperation

3. Diversity of Forests in Armenia • 334,100 ha or 11.2%of the total territory 120,000 ha oak 96,600 ha beech 55,100 ha hornbeam 17,700 ha pine 44,700 ha other

4. Timber • 41,74 million m3 timber reserve • Average density 0.53 • Average quality indicator 3.8

5. Conflicts and Threats to Forests • Over-exploitation and factor of disturbance • Deforestation

6. Inland Wetlands Rivers/streams/ creeks Lakes Salineflats Marshes Peatlands Freshwater springs Geothermal wetlands Subterranean hydrosystems Human-made wetlands Ponds Irrigated land Seasonally flooded land Water storage areas Excavations Wastewater treatment areas Canals and drainage channels, ditches Diversity of Wetlands in Armenia

7. Plants biodiversity of Armenia Number of Number of recorded species wetland species Algae388 245 Fungi4166 ca. 200 Lichens300 ? Moss430 135 Vascular plants3555 622

8. Animals biodiversity of Armenia Number of Number of recorded species wetland species Invertebratesca. 17,000 ca 1,000 Fishes36 36 Amphibians 8 8 Reptiles53 4 Birds 349 135 Mammals837

9. Wetlands Values and Poverty Alleviation • Products of abiocen origin: Water fresh & mineral sand, gravel Peat

10. Wetlands Values and Poverty Alleviation • Plant products Hay Food Medicine Bouquets

11. Wetlands Values and Poverty Alleviation • Animal products Fish Crayfish Frog Game Pets

12. Wetlands Values and Poverty Alleviation • Socio-economical functions: Water for irrigation and electric power Sspace for grazing and watering, fish-farming

13. Conflicts and Threats to Wetlands • Water loss and water balance disturbance • Soil deterioration, erosion and sedimentation

14. Conflicts and Threats to Wetlands • Mudflows and waterlogging • Pollution

15. Conflicts and Threats to Forests • Over-exploitation and factor of disturbance • Deforestation

16. Environmental Legislation • 1991 Law on Principles of Environmental Protection • 1991Law on Especially Protected Natural Areas • 1991 The Land Code • 1994 Law on Protection the Atmosphere and Air Quality • 1994 The Forest Code • 1995 Law on Environmental Impact Assessment • 1998 Law on Payments for Nature Protection and Use of Natural Resources • 2000 Law on Flora ·   2000 Law on Fauna • 2001 Law on Lake Sevan • 2002 Law on Lake Sevan Annual Action Programme • 2002 (1992) The Water Code

17. 1991 Law on Principles of Environmental Protection • Specifies principles of environmental policy of the State • Establishes legal basis for development of environmental legislation

18. 1991 Law on Especially Protected Natural Areas • Conservation of reference sites and ecosystems • Protection of natural monuments • Protection of biodiversity • Scientific research of nature • Monitoring of environment • Categories of protected areas

19. 1991 The Land Code • Specifies principles of land use policy of the State • Establishes scope and framework for regulation of land use policy and relationships between different stakeholders

20. 1994 The Forest Code • Conservation, reproduction and sustainable use of water protective, soil protective, climate mitigating, health, recreational and other values of forests

21. 1998 Law on Payments for Nature Protection and Use of Natural Resources • payments for nature protection • payments for use of bioresources • scope of payers • forms of payments • amenability against violations

22. 2000 Law on Flora Secure • conservation of qualitative and quantitative values of flora, plant habitats and genetical diversity • sustainable use of plant resources • regulation of plant resource use Regulate • rights and responsibilities of plant resource users

23. 2000 Law on Fauna Secure • conservation, protection, natural reproduction of animal genus and species diversity • integrity of natural habitats • survival of animal species and populations • integrity of migration ways Regulate • sustainable use of resources of wild animals • rights and responsibilities of plant resource users

24. Regulate protection restoration, reproduction, natural development, use natural resources of Lake Sevan, its watershed and ecosystems Secure 6 m water level increase sustainable use drinking quality water fish stocks reproduction recreation development biodiversity administration improvement effective water management 2001 Law on Lake Sevan 2002 Law on Lake Sevan Action Programmes

25. 2002 (1992) The Water Code • Establish the mechanisms of water resource management • Protect and conserve water resource • Prevent of negative reveal of water • Water resource inventory • Sustainable water supply • Water supply and removal system secure • Hydropower plant use regulation • Water ecosystem management

26. International Cooperation: Conventions • Biological Diversity (1993) • Climate Change (1993) • Wetlands (6 November 1993) • World Heritage (1993) • Combat Desertification (1997) • Aarhus (2001) • European Landscape Convention (2004) etc.

27. International Cooperation: Ramsar SGF in Armenia • 1997 - Inventory of Armenian Ramsar Sites • 1999 - Ecologo-economical Valuation of Armenian Wetlands • 2000 - Regional Training Course on Wetland Management (21 participants from 6 countries) • 2002 - Regional Seminar “Conservation and Wise Use of Wetlands in the European NIS” (64 participants from 17 countries)

28. International Cooperation: Wetland Perspectives • Restoration of Lake Gilli (UNDP/GEF US$ 963,708) • Establishment of Protected Areas in Armenia’s Javakheti Region (German Ministry of Cooperation EUR 2,200,000)

29. Thank you!