“Enhancing Livelihoods in Rural Communities in Armenia through Mainstreaming and Strengthening Agricultural Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization” project has been launched

“Enhancing Livelihoods in Rural Communities in Armenia through Mainstreaming and Strengthening Agricultural Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization” project has been launched on March 1. The project is implemented by the Ministry of Nature Protection, financed by GEF and supported by UNEP.

The target areas are Ararat Valley, Syunik Region, Sevan basin and adjacent territories. The activities envisaged in the above mentioned areas on the one hand will improve the conservation of plants and biodiversity; on the other hand they will provide grounds for increasing income growth of rural population and involvement of new markets of consumption. As a result of coordinated collaboration of relevant departments and local authorities, farmers and gardeners applying and improving their skills and abilities will be able to run economy and method of work relevant to agricultural economic biodiversity which will promote preservation and utilization of traditional crops, herbs, pollinators and other useful insects.

Aramayis Grigoryan, Minister of Nature Protection of Armenia greeted the participants of the workshop. Emphasizing the importance of the project, he particularly noted: “The Republic of Armenia is coping climate change consequences and adaptation problems. Nowadays, our country is facing a number of environmental challenges; within the scope of activities envisaged for combating challenges and adaptation problems it is envisaged to introduce sustainable management mechanisms of agricultural biodiversity such as up to date practice of sustainable management of lands, provision of mechanisms of collections of wild plants and sustainable harvest, improvement of farming technologies”.

Marieta Sakalian, GEF Senior Programme Management/Liaison Officer, Biodiversity greeting the participants appreciated the RA willingness and engagement in sustainable management of environment and agricultural biodiversity and development of rural communities.

Armen Danielyan, National Project Coordinator, referring to the program goals and problems stated: “Agricultural biodiversity program has the objective to ensure increase of income of rural communities and sustainable management of agricultural biodiversity by reducing environmental risksthrough improvement of mechanisms of national institutional structures.