REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA MINISTRY OF NATURE PROTECTION MINISTERIAL REPORT 2007 - 2011 YEREVAN 2011 2 REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA The 2007-2011 Ministerial Report was developed by the working group of the Ministry of Nature Protection of the Republic of Armenia. The 2007-2011 Ministerial Report was translated and published with financial assistance of the United Nations Development Programme in Armenia MINISTERIAL REPORT 2007-2011 3 CONTENTS Foreword of Mr. Aram Harutyunyan, Minister of Nature Protection of the Republic of Armenia ............................................................................ 4 Introduction ................................................................................................. 7 1. State Governance of the Environment. Mechanisms for Nature Protection ............................................................................................ 8 1.1 Legislation Regulating the Environmental Sector and Institutional Issues .......................................................................... 8 1.2 Economic Mechanisms ................................................................. 10 1.3 Awareness, Participation and Environmental Education .............. 22 1.3.1 Participation and Public Awareness .................................... 22 1.3.2 Environmental Education .................................................... 24 1.4 Environmental Monitoring ............................................................. 25 1.5 Inspection Control .......................................................................... 31 1.6 International Cooperation .............................................................. 34 2. Environmental Protection ............................................................... 43 2.1 Conservation of Natural Resources ................................................ 43 2.1.1 Biological and Landscape Diversity. Specially Protected Areas. ................................................................... 43 2.1.2 Water Resources .................................................................. 50 2.1.3 Land Resources .................................................................... 58 2.1.4 Environmental Impact of Mining Industry .......................... 60 2.1.5 Atmosphere .......................................................................... 62 2.2 Management of Hazardous Wastes and Chemicals ....................... 63 3 Global Issues within National Context ............................................ 67 3.1 Climate Change .............................................................................. 67 3.2 Ozone Layer Protection ................................................................. 68 3.3 Combating Desertification ............................................................. 70 4 National Priorities ............................................................................ 72 4.1 Lake Sevan Issue ............................................................................ 72 4.2 Forest Protection ............................................................................ 74 4.3 Environmental Issues Associated with Mining Industry ............... 76 4.4 Towards “Green” Economy ........................................................... 78 4.4.1 Introducing Green Technologies .......................................... 79 4.4.2 Organic Agriculture ............................................................. 82 4.4.3 Introduction of relevant environmental management schemes in business operations ..................................................... 85 5 Major Achievements of 2007-2011 ................................................. 88 Abbreviations .............................................................................................. 89 Annexes ....................................................................................................... 90 4 REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA Dear Reader, This Report represents an overview of the system operations by the Minister of Nature Protection of the Republic of Armenia and encompasses the current situation within the sector; the operations carried out throughout the period of 2007- 2011, the issues of high priority and the development trends. The Report seeks to summarize the accomplished activities, to assess the achievements and identify prospective opportunities. Additionally, the realities that evolved in the result of the operations carried out during the period from Belgrade to Astana have also been covered by this Report. The reportable period is distinguished by several key features: as a primary achievement among the internal developments in Armenia, it can be tentatively characterized as a period of “establishment of national parks” having in mind the creation of two new national parks, namely “Arpi Lich” and “Arevik” along with the existing two others. Apart from that, efforts have continued towards the resolution of Priority One Environmental Issue in Armenia, the problem of Lake Sevan, where the results obtained can be evaluated as efficient. The efforts in this particular area have been visible and accessible not only for the limited circle of experts, but also for the general public who are full of optimism due to the consistent undertakings towards the resolution of the problem of Lake Sevan, both in terms of present-day state of affairs and future prospects. The Belgrade Declaration encourages the movement towards international issues by means of implementing the activities incorporated in nationwide projects, the enforcement of mechanisms for environmental assessments and reportability, development of transboundary cooperation, and internationalization and standardization of ecology problems through the expansion of regional collaboration. Given the above, during the period of 2007-2011, Armenia made its contribution as a member of the global community to ensure that within the scope of the UNEP certain principles of the global environmental governance initiative are revised with the incentive to make it more practical, to direct it towards the MINISTERIAL REPORT 2007-2011 5 enhancement of international agreements’ effectiveness and to avoid replication of efforts. In the area of sustainable development, the National Council for Sustainable Development headed by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia has become more dynamic. Furthermore, the 2009-2012 Action Plan ensuring sustainable development in the country is underway. Armenia is planning to partake in the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development that will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2012. The government of the Republic of Armenia has already issued its Resolution and supported the establishment of a Commission to coordinate the preparatory activities associated with participation of the Republic of Armenia in the 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro. Collaboration with the Global Environment Facility has become more functional. Armenia has developed and presented to GEF its national portfolio of project proposals for funding within the framework of GEF-5. Along with 21 other countries who had pending requests to join the GEF Small Grant Programme (SGP), Armenia joined the SGP, which has provided opportunities for the enhancement and strengthening of communities and non government organizations dedicating their work to environmental issues. During the reportable period another project was developed and approved by the government of the Republic of Armenia in 2008. That is the strategic document called Second National Environmental Action Programme. A new phase commenced in 2010 for the development of cooperation between the Republic of Armenia and the European Union related to the signing of the “Armenia-EU Association Agreement”. Armenia has made its contribution to the activities of the Committee on Environmental Policy of the UN Economic Commission for Europe. To ensure Armenia’s proper participation in the Seventh "Environment for Europe" Ministerial Conference to be held in Astana, Kazakhstan, a special commission was established in 2011 whose agenda, among other important issues, included the discussion and formulation of the country’s position on the principal documents prepared by the UNECE Committee on Environmental Policy for the Seventh Environment for Europe" Ministerial Conference, namely “Sustainable Management of Water and Water-Related Ecosystems” and “Inclusion of Environmental Regulations in Economic Development Programmes” /Green Economy/. During the period of 2007-2012 the Republic of Armenia ratified four more international agreements on the environment. 6 REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA Dear Reader, This report is concurrent with the Twentieth Anniversary of Independence in the Republic of Armenia. September 21 is the Independence Day in Armenia. In addition, this Report recapitulates the twenty-year operation of the Authorized Environmental Entity of Armenia during the period that followed the establishment of independence in this country. Our success supported by scientific, professional and public involvement, allows looking at our future with more optimism and confidence, targeting at more challenging issues and achieving their resolution. n Aram Harutyunyan Minister of Nature Protection of the Republic of Armenia MINISTERIAL REPORT 2007-2011 7 Introduction The territory of the Republic of Armenia lies in the north-eastern part of the Armenian Highland, within the borderline of Caucasus and Western Asia/Middle East. The Republic of Armenia is bordered