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NATIONAL ACTION PROGRAMME TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION IN ARMENIA MINISTRY OF NATURE PROTECTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA NATIONAL ACTION PROGRAMME TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION IN ARMENIA YEREVAN 2002 NATIONAL ACTION PROGRAMME TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION IN ARMENIA NATIONAL ACTION PROGRAMME TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION IN ARMENIA Project Director and Coordinator ASHOT VARDEVANYAN Executive Editor SAMVEL BALOYAN Consultant NUNE DARBINYAN The Ministry of Nature Protection of the Republic of Armenia expresses grateful acknowledgement to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Secretariat of Convention to Combat Desertification (UN CCD) for financial support in preparation of the National Action Programme to Combat Desertification, as well as to the United Nations Development Programme Resident Mission in Armenia for its administrative support and constancy services. Preparation of the National Action Programme to Combat desertification in the Republic of Armenia has been carried out by the Interagency Committee of the Ministry of Nature Protection for compliance to Armenia’s obligations of the Republic of Armenia under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. © MINISTRY OF NATURE PROTECTION 35, Moskovyan str., Yerevan, Republic of Armenia, 375002 Tel.: / +3741 / 52-10-99, 53-24-72 Fax: / +3741 / 53-18-61 E-mail: [email protected] 2 NATIONAL ACTION PROGRAMME TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION IN ARMENIA Foreword Combating desertification is one of the global environmental issues of the Earth. Given the geological-climatic conditions Armenia is also subject to desertification and is greatly damaged, mainly due to land degradation, reduction of biodiversity and biological resources and, as a result, deterioration of social state of population. So combating desertification is a strategical issue for republic. Mitigation and prevention of desertification is a precondition for sustainable development of the country. With UNCCD Armenia undertakes a number of international obligations where the priority is given to developing the National Plan to Combat Desertification. UN CCD being an essential achievement of Rio summit is closely related to UN Conventions on Biological Diversity and Climate Change. Armenia is a member of these Conventions as well. UN CCD is an innovation document, a new achievement in the international law on environmental protection. I consider developing the National Plan to Combat Desertification in Armenia as a modern task both for ecological and economical development of the country. The witness for its strategical importance is approving the project by RA Government (28.03.2002.), which will encourage effective implementation of environmental measurements in the different fields. Special significance is given to analysis of ecological and socio economical status of the republic, identification of executive and local authorities, land users role in combating desertification. Essential scientific significance have the computer-based mappings, where a detailed description of environmental, including state of natural resources and features of desertification processes is represented. I hope implementing the National Plan to Combat Desertification will facilitate mitigation of nature vulnerability by means of conservation, rehabilitation and sustainable use of natural resources and lead to poverty reduction by improving the socio-economic state of the country. Minister of Nature Protection Vardan Ayvazyan 3 NATIONAL ACTION PROGRAMME TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION IN ARMENIA TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction............................................................................................................…………….....…… 6 PART I Chapter 1. Natural and Climatic Conditions in Armenia 1.1. Geographic Description Relief, Vertical Zoning..……………………………………….... 7 1.2. Climate…………………………………………………………………………………….. 10 1.3. Geological Structure……………………………………………………………………..... 17 1.4. Soils………………………………………………………………………………….......... 18 1.5. Hydrology………………………………………………………………………….............. 20 1.6. Flora……………………………………………………………………………………….. 21 1.7. Fauna ...……………………………………………………………………………………. 25 Chapter 2. Socio-economic Conditions and Natural Resources in Armenia 2.1. Legislation in the Republic of Armenia……………………………………...…………..... 31 2.2. The Population and Settling Characteristics………………………………………………. 33 2.3. Territorial Division, Settlements………………………………………………………..… 39 2.4. General Trends of Economic Development………………………………………………. 42 2.5. Social Security Issues……………………………………………………………………... 45 2.6. Industry…………………………………………………………………….…………….... 49 2.7. Agriculture…………………………………………………………………….…………... 51 2.8. Energy Sector…………………………………………………………….……………….. 55 2.9. Land Resources……………………………………………………………………..……... 59 2.10. Water Resources…………………………………………………………………………... 60 2.11. Biological Resources..........……………………………………………………………...... 62 2.12. Mineral Resources……………………………………………………………………….... 65 2.13. Specially Protected Natural Areas……………………………………………………...…. 67 2.14. Recreation………………………………………………………………………………..... 73 2.15. Economic Mechanisms of Nature Use…………………………………………………………. 77 Chapter 3. Desertification in the Republic of Armenia 3.1. Desertification Criteria and Factors……………………………………………………..… 89 3.1.1. Desertification Criteria…………………………………………………………….. 89 3.1.2. Desertification Factors……………………………………………………………... 90 3.2. Peculiarities of Landscape Desertification………………………………………………... 99 Chapter 4. Socio-economic Consequences of Desertification 4.1. Correlation of Desertification and Economy…………………………………………....… 104 4.2. Economic-and-environmental Predictions for Desertification………………………...….. 108 PART II Chapter 1. Strategy Trends of Actions to Combat Desertification in Armenia 1.1. Enhancement of Legislation and Management System………………………………….... 110 1.1.1.Enhancement of Legislation…………………………………………………………. 110 1.1.2. Improvement of Management System…………………...……………………...….. 112 1.2. Economic Development………………………………………………………………….... 117 1.2.1. Agriculture………………………………………………………………………….. 117 1.2.2. Urban Development……………………………………………………………...…. 118 1.2.3. Industry…………………………………………………………………………….. 119 1.2.4. Energy…………………………………………………………………………….... 120 1.2.5. Transport………………………………………………………………………….... 121 4 NATIONAL ACTION PROGRAMME TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION IN ARMENIA 1.3. Improvement of Economic Mechanisms for Natural Resources Management.................... 123 1.3.1. Use of Water Resources…………………………………………………………... 124 1.3.2. Use of Entrails…………………………………………………………………….. 124 1.3.3. Land Use…………………………………………………………………………... 125 1.3.4. Biological Resources Use ……………………………………………………...….. 126 1.3.5. Recreational Industry…………………………………………...…………………. 127 1.3.6. Reserves……………………………………………………………………..……... 128 1.4. Conventions Related Joint Actions……………………………………………………….... 129 1.5. International Cooperation…………………………………………………………….…..... 131 Chapter 2. The Role of Education and Science in Combating Desertification 2.1. Environmental Education Issues…………………………………………………..……….. 133 2.2. Scientific Research……………………………………………………………………….... 134 Chapter 3. Public Participation in Combating Desertification 3.1. Provision of Public Awareness………………………………………………………..….... 136 3.2. Provision of Public Participation in Decision-making and Implementation of Actions…………………………………………………….……… 137 3.3. Public Stakeholders………………………………………………………………...…….... 137 PART III Priority Projects of Local Importance 1. Recovery of Lands Subject to Desertification in the Garni Community in the Province of Kotayk of the Republic of Armenia………………………….………… 138 2. Goris River Non-structural Mudflow Mitigation in the Province of Syunik of the Republic of Armenia….................................................……………………………….…... 144 3. Project for Engineering and Geological Survey of the Site of Makaravank Memorial Complex in the Tavush Province of the Republic of Armenia............................................. 153 4. Mitigation and Neutralization of Harmful Impact of the Shamlugh tail Storages in the Syunik and Lori Provinces of the Republic of Armenia…………………………………... 157 PART IV MAPPING OF AREAS SUBJECT TO DESERTIFICATION 1. Methods of computer-based mapping of areas subject to desertification……………......... 162 2. Land cover………………………………………………………………………………… 162 3. Seismic situation in Armenia ………………………………….…………………..……… 174 4. Natural fodder holdings …………………………………………….…………………….. 175 5. Forests…………………………………………………………………….……………….. 177 6. Landslide dangerous areas……………………………………………………………….... 178 7. Mudflow riskiness in river basins………………………………………..…………….….. 180 8. Lake Sevan problem…………………………………………………………………...…... 181 9 Desertification on the territory of RA…………………………………………………….... 181 10. Computer-making maps........................................................................................................ 182 Authors.................………..................…………………………...……....................................... 182 5 NATIONAL ACTION PROGRAMME TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION IN ARMENIA INTRODUCTION Desertification as a global environmental problem includes the integrity of undesirable and disastrous processes and their consequences. This is the reason why combating desertification includes efficient administration of conservation and rational use of natural ecosystems, their components and natural resources, but also such efforts targeted at mitigation of impacts on violation of ecological balance of the environment, such as social and economic factors. Therefore, efficiency of combating desertification