The National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan were developed in 1999. During the period of March-September 2010 the review of NBSAP was initiated under the GTZ Project “Sustainable Management of Biodiversity, South Caucasus”. In particular, priority areas for biodiversity conservation in Armenia were reviewed, as well as national objectives and priorities for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use were identified. As a result of that study, a list of recommendations was presented to review the NBSAP to be consistent to recently defined new Strategic Goals. The process of NBSAP revision will start with identification of national biodiversity targets, principles and main priorities, which can be fit under the five strategic goals defined in Aichi. The CBD Strategic Plan, adopted at CBD CoP-10 in 2010 in Nagoya (Japan) envisages that each country should develop, by 2012, national biodiversity targets and indicators for 2020, and update its NBSAP by 2014 in line with the Aichi targets. The process will also include such activities as the review of existing plans and strategies in relevant cross-sectors, identification of main stakeholders (including: state and public organizations, governing bodies and individuals who relate to the current proposed project activities and mechanisms to be established), actual development of the new strategy and action plan, as well as activities aimed at institutional monitoring and reporting.
The current version of NBSAP is not sufficient to implement the CBD COP-10 decisions. Specifically, the NBSAP of the national needs to complete the following elements of the CBD Strategic Plan, such as:
Aichi Biodiversity Targets - Strategic Goal A: Address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss by mainstreaming biodiversity across government and society:
Target 1
By 2020, at the latest, people are aware of the values of biodiversity and the steps they can take to conserve and use it sustainably.

? In the context of Armenia, the awareness on the values of biodiversity, as well as its conservation and sustainable use will be increased and the envisaged activities will ensure wider effective participation of the society.
Target 2
By 2020, at the latest, biodiversity values have been integrated into national and local development and poverty reduction strategies and planning processes and are being incorporated into national accounting, as appropriate, and reporting systems.
? In the context of Armenia, the biodiversity conservation closely relates to the improvement of socio-economic condition of our population. The relevant projects on the poverty reduction will integrate biodiversity conservation principles.
Target 3
By 2020, at the latest, incentives, including subsidies, harmful to biodiversity are eliminated, phased out or reformed in order to minimize or avoid negative impacts, and positive incentives for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity are developed and applied, consistent and in harmony with the Convention and other relevant international obligations, taking into account national socio economic conditions.
? In the context of Armenia, especially the investments for mining use include activities that can threaten biodiversity. The updated version of “Mining Code of RA” gives us opportunity to reduce the damages to biodiversity. It is needed to improve the environmental supervision mechanisms within the financial investments assessment and give the importance to the principles on sustainable use.
Target 4
By 2020, at the latest, Governments, business and stakeholders at all levels have taken steps to achieve or have implemented plans for sustainable production and consumption and have kept the impacts of use of natural resources well within safe ecological limits.
? The forests don’t have industrial significance and the weak agricultural development causes land degradation in Armenia. The risks are linked to illegal activities such as illegal logging, illegal fishing and poaching, as well as inland waters management and overgrazing. It is needed to establish regimes, use natural resources within safe defined ecological limits and enhance the supervision mechanisms.
Strategic Goal B: Reduce the direct pressures on biodiversity and promote sustainable use
Target 5
By 2020, the rate of loss of all natural habitats, including forests, is at least halved and where feasible brought close to zero, and degradation and fragmentation is significantly reduced.
? Emerald network project is implemented in Armenia with the support of European Union. One of the key priority issues of environmental strategy is the establishment of ecological corridors that will give an opportunity to implement activities to connect habitats, as well as to promote the species vitality. .
Target 6
By 2020 all fish and invertebrate stocks and aquatic plants are managed and harvested sustainably, legally and applying ecosystem based approaches, so that overfishing is avoided, recovery plans and measures are in place for all depleted species, fisheries have no significant adverse impacts on threatened species and vulnerable ecosystems and the impacts of fisheries on stocks, species and ecosystems are within safe ecological limits.
? The fish resources in Lake Sevan, one of the largest high-altitude lakes in the world, are threatened. It is needed to replenish the fish resources artificially. It is worthwhile to mention that the watershed management needs to be improved to restore and conserve the population.
Target 7
By 2020 areas under agriculture, aquaculture and forestry are managed sustainably, ensuring conservation of biodiversity.
? The land policy in Armenia is developed in the direction of allocating the agricultural and forest lands to the communities. The development of aquaculture mitigates the pressure on fish resources. It is needed to establish effective significant use of water resources.
Target 8
By 2020, pollution, including from excess nutrients, has been brought to levels that are not detrimental to ecosystem function and biodiversity.
? The environmental pollution, including from excess nutrients threaten biodiversity. Its scope has an increasing tendency especially related to ecotourism development. It is needed to promote the development of ecological culture in the country.
Target 9
By 2020, invasive alien species and pathways are identified and prioritized, priority species are controlled or eradicated, and measures are in place to manage pathways to prevent their introduction and establishment.
? The legislation field on invasive alien species needs to be improved in the Republic of Armenia. In comparison there is visible progress related to the study and assessment of plant species, but it should be mentioned that national mechanisms on preventing the introduction and establishment of invasive alien species are weak.
Strategic Goal C: To improve the status of biodiversity by safeguarding ecosystems, species and genetic diversity.
Target 11
By 2020, at least 17 per cent of terrestrial and inland water, and 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, and integrated into the wider landscapes and seascapes.
? The Republic of Armenia has about 12% of protected areas. It is needed to implement an Action Program to increase the surface area of protected areas (land and water areas) up to 17 percent by 2020.
Target 12
By 2020 the extinction of known threatened species has been prevented and their conservation status, particularly of those most in decline, has been improved and sustained.
? The publication of RA Red data books of plants and animals (2010) showed that there is great tension in the biodiversity conservation. The registered and described various declining plant and animal species are classified under IUCN categories. It is needed to envisage additional activities for the conservation / restoration of the biodiversity and include the activities under the prioritized issues of the NBSAP.
Target 13
By 2020, the genetic diversity of cultivated plants and farmed and domesticated animals and of wild relatives, including other socio-economically as well as culturally valuable species, is maintained, and strategies have been developed and implemented for minimizing genetic erosion and safeguarding their genetic diversity.
? It is needed to include in the strategy the inventory and registration activities for the genetic diversity of cultivated plants, farmed and domesticated animals and of wild relatives, and their habitats, as well as creation of ecological corridors and special category dedication to the areas that involve their habitats.
Strategic Goal D: Enhance the benefits to all from biodiversity and ecosystem services
Target 14
By 2020, ecosystems that provide essential services, including services related to water, and contribute to health, livelihoods and well-being, are restored and safeguarded, taking into account the needs of women, indigenous and local communities, and the poor and vulnerable.
? In Armenia, especially in rural communities, within the transition period problems occurred related to community neighboring forests, land desertification and degradation, mining exploitation, as well as potable and irrigation water, emissions, air pollution that leads to the problem related to food safety. Registration of renewable resources and reasonable limitation of exploitation will give an opportunity to create a production of agricultural products, especially for vulnerable and poor layers, in the working activities of which women will be mostly involved that will promote to ensure gender balance.
Target 15
By 2020, ecosystem resilience and the contribution of biodiversity to carbon stocks has been enhanced, through conservation and restoration, including restoration of at least 15 per cent of degraded ecosystems, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation and to combating desertification.
? The priority activities under the NBSAP to carbon stocks and prevention of degradation will be afforistation and management of pasture and meadows.
Target 16
By 2015, the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization is in force and operational, consistent with national legislation.
? In the context of Armenia, as a result of new land policy above mentioned under Target 7, the access to Genetic resources will be facilitated for the communities. There are implementing projects, the goal of which is to ensure participatory management and ownership mechanisms connected to Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from the Utilization of genetic resources. The cooperation of state and private sectors and determination of responsibilities tend to ensure Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits. The mentioned activity should be enhanced that will be carried out within the NBSAP to be developed.
Strategic Goal E: Enhance implementation through participatory planning, knowledge management and capacity building
Target 17
By 2015 each Party has developed, adopted as a policy instrument, and has commenced implementing an effective, participatory and updated national biodiversity strategy and action plan.
? The NBSAP will be developed within 2012-2014 and approved by the RA Government and will have a status of policy instrument.
Target 18
By 2020, the traditional knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, and their customary use of biological resources, are respected, subject to national legislation and relevant international obligations, and fully integrated and reflected in the implementation of the Convention with the full and effective participation of indigenous and local communities, at all relevant levels.
? Measures will be included in the NBSAP that will have a goal to value the traditional knowledge, innovations and practices of local communities, relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and their customary use of biological resources, as well as to improve the national legislation and match it to international obligations meanwhile to ensure local community participation at all levels.
Target 19
By 2020, knowledge, the science base and technologies relating to biodiversity, its values, functioning, status and trends, and the consequences of its loss, are improved, widely shared and transferred, and applied.
? Measures will be included in the NBSAP that will have a goal to present the public representatives the significance of biodiversity in details as well as non-renewable effects caused by its loss.
The science base and technologies related to biodiversity will be improved, widely shared/transferred, and applied at wider layers.
Target 20
By 2020, at the latest, the mobilization of financial resources for effectively implementing the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 from all sources, and in accordance with the consolidated and agreed process in the Strategy for Resource Mobilization should increase substantially from the current levels. This target will be subject to changes contingent to resource needs assessments to be developed and reported by Parties.
? Besides the state budget continuous increase for the conservation of biodiversity there are other sources in the Republic of Armenia that increase the opportunity to mobilize the financial resources for the conservation of biodiversity. For example there is a new opportunity which is Caucasus Nature Fund – CNF that tends to mobilize also investments received from Armenian Diaspora.
State approach will be also presented under GEF 6 while allocating the means according to the focal areas.
Clearing House Mechanism (CHM) is another key component requested to be involved in the implementation activities. COP-10 issued further guidance to raise effectiveness of Clearing House Mechanisms. According to UNDP back in 2010, 90 countries accessed funding under the Fourth
National Report joint global project (UNDP-UNEP/GEF), only 44 of which had national CHM sites, and of those, 25 were kept up-to-date.
Per UNDP reports many CHMs are out of date and are not reliant on digital information. The Republic of Armenia is no exception. In 2002 Armenia created the national CHM web-site within “Armenian National Capacity self-assessment for global Environmental management (GEF/ -UNDP)” project. Within the framework of CHM, the institutions related to CBD were found out; the responsible persons in the institutions were nominated and trained on CHM. The national CHM web-site was: WWW.BIODIV.AM

The website was active for about 2 (two) years then it stopped functioning. Currently, various types of data on CBD activities at different levels are scattered across several sites of Government and non-government organizations, but there is no single database for biodiversity that would qualify as a national CHM including its major goals and components.

The national CHM being linked to CBD and international mechanisms should be connected to the requirements of the relevant state departments, scientific research institutions, local communities, NGOs and should objectively announce about all threats to biodiversity, status of biodiversity, trends of threats to biodiversity. The most appropriate professional host for the national CHM, capable for properly maintaining it, is the Bioresources management agency under the Ministry of Nature Protection of RA.
The agency will be mandated to deliver up-to-date information on the country’s ecosystems and serve as a scientific back-up mechanism for the CBD.

While preparing the NBSAP we will include the activity to re-activate the national CHM to contribute significantly to the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity and its Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, through effective information services and other appropriate means in order to promote and facilitate scientific and technical cooperation, knowledge sharing and information exchange, and to establish a fully operational network of Parties and partners following the CHM three major goals and key components, which are:

Goals:
• The central clearing-house mechanism provides effective global information services to facilitate the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020.
• National clearing-house mechanisms provide effective information services to facilitate the implementation of the national biodiversity strategies and action plans.
• Partners significantly expand the clearing-house mechanism network and services.

Components:

• The CBD website, acting as the central node.
• The network of national Clearing-House Mechanisms.
• Various partner institutions.


The Bioresources management agency that is supposed to be the professional host for the national CHM will constantly improve the national Clearing-House Mechanism to better contribute to the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets consistent to the national requirements and international standards.


NBSAP related activities:
Component I. Stocktaking and Assessment
Activities
1. Rapid stocktaking and review of relevant plans, policies and reports

Though this activity was largely conducted while preparing the 4th NR additional stocktaking and review of relevant plans, policies and reports are needed.
2. Identification of stakeholders; consultations and awareness
Expand the list of the stakeholders (the stakeholders that relate to biodiversity conservation) involved in the implementation of the activities of the 4th NR, as well as implement activities related to their competencies and responsibilities.
Arrange meetings, conferences, discussions and consultations, trainings; create knowledge sharing and information exchange mechanisms and prepare relevant materials.
Arrange measures within the stakeholders to increase awareness on the biodiversity conservation and their participation in the implementation of the activities related to the biodiversity conservation.
3. Rapid assessment of the causes and consequences of biodiversity loss highlighting the value of biodiversity and ecosystem services and their contribution to human well-being

This activity was largely conducted while preparing the 4th NR.
In addition, three small-scale projects will be implemented that will aim to determine the significant threats of biodiversity loss, describe the real picture of biodiversity status, as well as make the challenges visible.
The projects will tend to reveal the threats to biodiversity caused from particularly mining, small hydro-electric power stations exploitation, as well as a result of climate change. They will also tend to reveal their negative impacts on conditions of human life.
As a result of the implemented activities proposals will be done to the contribution to human well –being.
Component II. Setting national targets, principles and main priorities of the strategy
Activities
4. Setting national targets, principles and main priorities of the strategy through national consultations
The NBSAP will be prepared according to the 5 Strategic Goals of the Aichi Plan. Under each Strategic Goal, the local experts will propose a national target for each of the Aichi actions with focus on the currently missing Targets in the 4th NR, particularly on the negative impacts on biodiversity as a result of climate change, as well as caused from the increase in the volume of mining.
Component III. Strategy and action plan development
Activities
5. Developing the strategy and actions to implement the agreed targets through national consultations

The project will focus on updating all aspects of NRs based on the 5 Strategic Goals of the Aichi Plan by developing detailed action plans for each specific action particular emphasizing those Targets currently missing from the 4th NR. The allocated resources will be used to hire national experts to collect biodiversity data, implement their analytical processing, work with graphs and tables, as well as to arrange consultations and field trips; prepare and publish informative materials related to biodiversity conservation.
6. Application of the NBSAP to sub-national entities through sub-national and local consultations
The NBSAP targets will be discussed with local authorities, local NGOs and local land-users, scientific and educational institutions, volunteers, ecotourism agencies, public wide layers, especially involving women to ensure gender equality by arranging local and republican workshops.
Prepare a proposal package related to biodiversity conservation and submit it to local and republican bodies responsible for biodiversity conservation to involve and implement it in the territorial and local projects.
As needed, legislative and sub-legislative proposals will be done.
7. Sectoral integration including mainstreaming into development, poverty reduction and climate change plans through sectoral consultations

It is needed to discuss with corresponding state agencies and ministries the ways to prevent or minimize the impact of industrial operations on the habitats. There was industrial agriculture in Soviet Union Period of time and the rural farms tend to return to that form of farming. The continuous increase of the volume of the industry also provokes a serious environmental problem in Armenia.

It is needed to harmonize state policies, incentives and legislation with biodiversity conservation legislation and policies.

Roundtables, consultations, symposium with representatives of state agencies will be included in this process to mitigate potential conflicts and identify steps on how to gain compromises, as well as to work on mutually acceptable solutions, including strategies, challenges that will serve to implement the goals deriving from the strategies.
Component IV. Development of Implementation plans and related activities
Activities
8. Development of a plan for capacity development for NBSAP implementation.
The national capacity building planning was undertaken under UNDP/GEF "Armenia. National Capacity Self-Assessment (NCSA) for Global Environmental Management" Project (2003-2004). The outcomes of this project will be used and some data will be updated based on structural changes and improvements implemented within 2004-2012.
9. Technology needs assessment
The technology needs assessment will be carried out within the activities mentioned under each Aichi Goal and Target, the activities that will be implemented based on the detailed action-planning developed under Component III, Action 5.
10. Development of a communication and outreach strategy for the NBSAP
While developing the communication and strategy for the NBSAP the information will be classified and informational clusters will be selected.
The content will be translated into Armenian and English and distributed through relevant media (newspaper, television, radio, informative materials).
The implementation of the above mentioned activities will help to re-activate Clearing House Mechanism properly and ensure its sustainability.
11. Development of a plan for resource mobilization for NBSAP implementation
The NBSAP will consolidate the expected funding, state co-financing and private sector support.
Formulation of self-satisfying mechanism for the implementation of future activities will be pursued.
Activities related to active integration of private sectors, local communities in the management of protected areas, as well as in biodiversity conservation are implemented in Armenia.
Component V. Institutional, monitoring, reporting and exchange
Activities
12. Establishment/ strengthening of national coordination structures
The Bioresources management agency will be strengthened. All relevant instruments and mechanisms will be created to re-activate the CHM properly. The specialists will be trained to coordinate CHM, the data exchange, knowledge sharing and use the CHM advantages for biodiversity conservation.
13. CHM development
Thanks to the reactivation of CHM two issues can be solved: the first - it links to the use in the country; the second - it gives a wide opportunity to cooperate with international organizations, such as the Biodiversity Indicators Partnership, Global Biodiversity Information Facility, the World Conservation Monitoring Centre, the Global Environment Outlook portal etc.
www.bipindicators.net ; www.gbif.org ; www.unep-wcmc.org ; geodata.rrcap.unep.org
To solve the above mentioned issues properly reactivation of CHM is considered one of the priorities for Armenia. The CHM will be reactivated upon the requirements given by local (state agencies, NGOs, communities, individuals, Aarhus Convention Informative Centers in Armenia, etc…) and international audiences (CBD, World Conservation Monitoring Center, etc…). It will allow increasing awareness in the local communities, relevant agencies responsible for the biodiversity conservation, as well as among donors. It will also have an online opportunity to consolidate the positions of NGOs, communities, individuals and relevant agencies on
biodiversity issues which will help to maintain meaningful dialog with state agencies on ecosystem values, and the ways on how to rationally use and protect ecosystems.
The CHM will be embedded in the Bioresources management agency which will sustainably maintain the web-platform after the cessation of the GEF funding.
The following activities will be included: development of the content for the CHM based on most recent real-time update on the state of biodiversity in the country, tendencies, and threats, as well as design of interfaces with IBA, Ramsar, WCMC.

The CHM will be a single online biodiversity data-base for Armenia that will be designed and made available to the online users.
The trained groups for CHM will also be involved in the development of administration roles, protocols, update schedules etc…
14. Development of indicators and monitoring approach
NBSAP will include monitoring and reporting on the current status of biodiversity.

Though efforts to monitor and report on the status and trends of biodiversity were invested the status of biodiversity, its effective conservation, the contribution of ecosystem services (such as water, air and carbon), and the likely impacts of climate change on biodiversity and ecosystem services were not taken into full account and the outcomes were not sufficient.


Within the framework of the NBSAP we will ensure comprehensive monitoring and reporting on the status of biodiversity and ecosystem services, and fully incorporate climate change issues.

The outcomes of the implemented activities within the NBSAP will also link to the biodiversity database (CHM) that will be designed and possibly linked to UNEP’s Wildlife Conservation Monitoring Center in Cambridge, mentioned under the previous activity.

15. Fifth national reports
Armenia will submit the 5th National Report that will fully cover the NBSAP, key changes in the status and trends in biodiversity status, threats and conservation, and develop a long-term reporting framework that will enable us to better control over time.
Gender equality:

The issue of disparities between women and men in Armenia is not critical.
Women are an explicit target group under the socioeconomic development component. They are receiving preference in selection processes as long as their proposals have at least even added value compared to proposals made by male competitors. Women are very active. It is felt that their initiative will most probably contribute in the project implementation.
Although the NBSAC does not have a particular gender promotion aspect it can be stated that the overall project concept provides a sound basis for the inclusion of the particular interests and concerns of women into the project.

Project Details

GEF Project ID
4984
Country
Armenia
Implementing Agencies
GEF Secretariat
Approval FY
2012
Status
Project Approved
Region
Europe and Central Asia
Executing Agencies
Environmental project implementation unit" State Agency
GEF Period
GEF - 5
Project Type
Enabling Activity
Focal Areas
Funding Source
GEF Trust Fund

Financials

USD
Co-financing Total
237,000
GEF Project Grant
242,000
GEF Agency Fees
0

Timeline

Received by GEF
04 May 2012
Concept Approved
11 Jul 2012
Project Approved for Implementation
10 Jul 2012