REGIONAL#4-5 / 2019 20 Caucasian Leopard: The Mystical Beauty of the POSTCAUCASUS Armenian Highlands Returned 04 RA Minister OF ENVIRONMENT: “Armenia is Actively Involved in the International Processes of Envi- ronment Protection” 14 DANIEL Haas: “BMZ Pays Particular Attention to Cross-Country Exchange” 40 SEVAMOD PROJECT: Predicting the Future Development of Lake Sevan 60 AUA Acopian CENTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT: The Independent Voice of Nature within GREEN ISSUE: Armenian Society THE NEW ecological IDENTITY OF ARMENIA presents Regional Podcast listen to OUR podcast ON OUR WEBSITE: regionalpost.org/podcasts/ THE podcast IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON director’S note Dear reader, We are extremely happy to present you our spe- The leopard, which was considered extinct in the cial issue entirely dedicated to the environment, territory of Armenia only a few years ago, is now its challenges and potential solutions. back to the Khosrov Reserve. The recovery of The Green Issue has been in production for the leopard population was made possible only more than six months. During that time, we not because of the recovery of the entire food-chain, only tried to understand and assess all the eco- an extremely complicated and multilayered task. logical challenges that Armenia and the Cauca- And that in itself is symbolic – we need new com- sus Region face or will face in the near future plex solutions, new modern approaches and new but we also tried to uncover the organizations philosophies to deal with sometimes overwhelm- and individuals who are making the overall posi- ing environmental problems. The good news is tive tone of our publication possible. we now have more and more organizations and Yes, there are a lot of challenges – from global individuals who focus their attention on envi- warming to deforestation, from devastating im- ronment dedicating their time and efforts and of pact of mining to the issues surrounding Lake course, money to the ecological challenges. Sevan, from substantial losses in biodiversity to I would also like to use this introduction to thank the much needed rethinking of the ecological our many partners, especially the Ministry of responsibility of the organizations and so on… Environment of the Republic of Armenia and but when we dived into all those issues we Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusam- found some positive, encouraging signs which menarbeit (GIZ), without whom this Issue would filled us with hope and maybe even with the simply be impossible. They do so much to pre- expectation that many of the challenges we serve our nature and bring new solutions to our face, at least on the national level, will be ad- ecological challenges. dressed adequately. So, please enjoy the Green Issue, listen to its The symbol of the changes that we are just now podcasts, which are available on our website, starting to witness in various fields of environ- and decide for yourself what actions you your- ment is undoubtedly the Caucasian Leopard. self can undertake in order to contribute to The Government of Armenia declared the year a better future for our children, for our country of 2019 “The Year of the Caucasian Leopard”. and for our planet. Executive Director ARSHAK TOVmasYAN REGIONAL POST CAUCASUS CONTENT EXCLUSIVE GREEN ISSUE 04 ERIK GRIGORYAN: 20 THE Leopard “WE SHOULD BE Both THE MYstical BEAUTY OF THE Optimistic AND AMBITIOUS” ARMENIAN HIGHLANDS RETURNED RA Minister of Environment talks Caucasian Leopard, King of Armenian about the biggest ecological topics, Highlands, returns to Armenia after from mining to climate change. years of absence. Cover Photo: WWF Armenia Executive Director Art Director ARSHAK TOVmasYAN NONA IsaJANYAN Editor in Chief Layout Designer ArtaVAZD YEGHIAZARYAN ArtaK SARGSYAN Proof Editing Sales Manager 08 SAVING THE PLANET: 26 BIRDS AND BUTTERFLIES: SILVA HOVAKIMYAN BELLA KNYazchYAN Paradox OF CENTURIES Indicators OF EcosYstem DYNAMICS Deputy Minister of Environment Soon Armenia will have its first Contributors of Armenia Irina Ghaplanyan bird and butterfly atlases. MARGARIT MirzoYAN, KARINE GHAZARYAN, ANI YaVrents, explains why is the idea ARSHAK TOVmasYAN, AREG DAVTYAN, IBiS of saving the planet 30 Practical Approaches FOR Photos and illustrations paradoxical. ENVironmental AWARENESS-RAISING ANGIN ARAKELYAN, EMILIA PAYTYAN, GIZ, UNDP, AND Education to Protect ARMENIA’S AUA, PROPER CompanY, SOLARON, GOV.AM, 12 SAVING THE LIFE-GIVING RICH BIODIVERSITY RA MinistrY OF ENVIRONMENT, EmbassY OF GEORGIA to SPECIES OF OUR ECOSYSTEM GIZ and the RA Ministry of Environment THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY Vardan Melikyan, the newly launched an environmental awareness appointed Deputy Minister raising campaign in Armenia. Regional Post LLC of Environment, talks Address: Aygedzor 62/1 about the ambitious project 34 SAFEGUARDING THE RICH BIODIVERSITY regionalpost.org of restoration of Armenia’s AND EcosYstem SERVICES OF Pastures email: [email protected] forests. AND Grasslands OF ARMENIA phone: +374 55 387887 Why has GIZ been promoting sus- Printed in “TIGRAN METS” PUBLISHING HOUSE CJSC 14 DANIEL Haas: tainable use and management of “BMZ paYS particular pasture and grassland ecosystems? © 2016-2019 Regional Post attention to CROSS-countrY Any use of the materials or extracts from the exchange” 38 Integrated EROSION CONTROL: magazine in any language is permitted exclusively Interview with the Head of COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP upon the written consent of Regional Post LLC German Development Cooperation as A KEY FOR Success in the South Caucasus. The maintenance of good soil quality can play a large role in food security and the livelihoods of people. 40 SEVAMOD PROJECT: PREDICTING THE FUTURE DEVelopment OF LAKE SEVAN Գրանցման վկայական՝ N 03Ա962676 German scientist Dr. Martin Schultze Գրանցման ամսաթիվ՝ 07.05.2014 explains the project, its initial Հասցե՝ ք. Երևան, Այգեձոր 62/1 results, and future outlook. 2 #4-5 / 2019 44 SHAPE OF Water 52 ARMENIAN Forests FOR PRESENT 74 INTEGRATING ENERGY EFFICIENCY CULTURE USAID and the Urban Foundation AND FUTURE Generations IN THE BUILDING SECTOR OF ARMENIA started the PURE Water project What is the condition of the remain- Energy efficiency was always at the to help Armenia not to lose one ing Armenian forests today, and focus of UNDP, and in the past years of its biggest natural treasures what does their future look like? it has implemented various relevant with the help of locals. projects all across the country. 56 ARMENIAN Forests: UNDP PERSPECTIVE UNDP introduced two initiatives tackling the problems of forests and providing hands-on solutions. 60 AUA Acopian CENTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT: THE INDEPENDENT Voice OF Nature WITHIN ARMENIAN SOCIETY 46 EcosYstem-Based ACE has been around for over 25 years 78 SOLARON: PLANNING Approach with a mission to make the environ- “SOLAR POWER IS THE best CHOICE AND For PUBLIC SERVants AND LOCAL ment a central point at the global solution IN EVERY FIELD” SELF-GOVERNMENT BODIES discussions taking place in Armenia. Regional Post's interview with Artur “Integrating Ecosystem Services Alaverdyan, the head of the first into Development Planning” (IES) 64 REDESIGN/RETHINK, company in Armenia to manufacture guide is an important methodologi- REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE solar batteries. cal tool, applied in Armenia. Waste GOVERNANCE initiatiVES BY THE AUA Acopian CENTER FOR 80 EcoFarm by ICARE 48 PAYments FOR THE ENVIRONMENT A unique project of EcoFarm, founded EcosYstem SERVICES (PES): Regional Post talked about the ACE by the International Center for Agri- INNOVatiVE Approach to FINANCE projects and their results with business Research and Education. Nature CONSERVation Harutyun Alpetyan, the Circular PES Schemes reveal a potential Economy Specialist at ACE. 82 OFF THE RECORD: to increase the financing for REC Caucasus REGIONAL Mandate the management of natural 66 THE URBAN Foundation: COVERING THE TOPIC OF EcosYstem resources by drawing on public A PLAYER OF FROM THE CSO SUPER league SERVICES IN THE SOUTH Caucasus and private funds Organization has undertaken more Nune Harutyunyan, Executive than 80 successful initiatives Director of REC Caucasus, talks 50 GLOBAL INNOVATION FORUM 2019 throughout Armenia, and plastic about the regional mandate of the TRANSFORMING INTELLIGENCE recycling is one of its key projects. organization with a particular focus FAST Foundation’s second GIF on ecosystem services. had its focus on “Transforming 68 PROPER solutions Intelligence.” FOR THE PROPER FUTURE 86 HAYBUIS FestiVAL Proper Plastic addresses plastic HayBuis Festival annually celebrates pollution and waste management, by the unique Armenian herbs and tra- converting waste plastic materials ditional knowledge used to harvest into commercially viable products. and prepare them. 72 ENERGY CHALLENGES IN RURAL ARMENIA ARTIFACT There is a need to increase the efficiency of households’ heating, to 88 WILDLIFE protection posters explore and promote the alternatives. IN SOVIET ARMENIA REGIONAL POST CAUCASUS EXCLUSIVE commitment made by the developed countries under Paris Agreement from 2020. Armenia has a number of climate projects financed by the GCF includ- ing the National Adaptation Plan for the amount of close to USD 3 million, a USD 20 million project on retrofitting buildings for energy efficiency, as well as Readiness support. It is also important to note that Armenia is the first country in the region to have a national accred- ited entity under the GCF – which is the Environmental Project Implementation Unit. I am also happy to inform, that Deputy