Forest Restoration and Protection Related Challenges in Armenia
by Areg Gharabegian Adviser to the Minister of Nature Protection of Republic of Armenia
May 7, 2018 Ministry of Nature Protection
Main governmental body responsible for environmental issues
Responsibilities include: • Developing laws and procedures • Issuing permits and licenses • Reviewing environmental impact assessments • Monitoring • Managing seven National Parks and Reserves as well as forests • Hayatar (Armenian Forest Service)
www.mnp.am Historic Map of Forests Forests as of Today
Since the turn of the 19th century, Armenia witnessed a dramatic plunge in forest cover from 25 percent of its territory to the current low, estimated at 8-9 percent. Armenian Forest Services • The management of forest lands under supervision of “Hayantar” is 342,400 ha, of which 277,100 ha is covered by trees. This is approximately 75% of forests in Armenia. • Areas under management of seven national parks is 300,000 ha, of which 55,000 ha is covered by trees. This is approximately25% of forests in Armenia. • Hayantar has branches in different states. • Main tree types are: oak, beech, hornbeam, pine. • From 2012-2017 Hayantar has planted 1500 ha from which 647 ha were new forests and 853 ha were reforestation.
Priorities of the Armenian government is the preservation, protection, and reproduction of forests Deforestation Reasons The following are some of the key drivers of deforestation in Armenia: • The best trees are cut illegally for commercial purposes, such as construction, furniture making, and export • Grazing of livestock in forest areas prevents regeneration • Lack of education and awareness of the forest’s value • Lack of community ownership and responsibility for forests • Lack of sustainable forest management practices Illegal Logging
35000 32766
30000
25000 21703
20000 19253
15000 number of cut trees cut of number 10000
5784 4503 5000 2520 2488 2080 2287 1972 1320 928 1063 1107 0 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Dilijan National Park Major issue with illegal logging • Two villages next to the park – Hagarzein and Teghout • Hired private security firm and they will use fire arms • Installed online cameras and will expand • Designing special sensors • Will be developing a special software to manage legal firewood removal Reforestation
6000
5032 5000 5000
4000 4000
3000
2435 ha 2107 2000 2000 1648 1700
1115 1103 1000 940 689 584 523 418 453 411 321 265 303 157 183.6 100 120 28.4 105.8 166.4 48 75 100 34 0 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 year Reforestation is planned ԱնտառմշակույթներիPlanting new trees ցանքս = 3,820 և տնկում ha -3820 հա for approximately 2120 ha ՕժանդակումAssisting in անտառի natural բնական growth վերաճին with հանքայնացման = 5,786 ha միջոցով - 5786 հա in 2018, mainly in
ՕժանդակումGrowth by անտառի clearing կոճղաշիվային multiple branches վերաճին =- 8527 8,527 հա ha northern part of the country ՕժանդակումNatura growth անտառի by բնական protecting վերաճին the areaցանկապատման by fencing միջոցով = 14,032 14032 ha հա Reforestation Programs • UNDP - Implementation of sustainable land management and landscaping in mountainous landscapes of northeastern Armenia – Estimated planting 4,932 ha in 2018 and 2019 • IFAD - Sustainable Land Management for Increased Productivity in Armenia – planting trees in 800 ha of degraded lands • UNDP - Forest Fire Prevention Project • FAO/GCF - Forest resilience of Armenia, enhancing adaptation and rural green growth via mitigation (at the proposal stage) – Planting to plant trees at 5,000 ha • ATP – A Diaspora NGO that has planted approximately 5,500,000 trees since 1994 Plans for Forest Fire Prevention • Creating 20 fast response teams (now there are only 3) • Providing firefighting training • Building small water reservoirs at high elevations • Updating management plans
Funds secured: • $1 million from Russia • €100,000 from CNF Questions?