Cbd third National Report Armenia (English version)

Expanded programme of work on forest biological diversity

Programme element 1 – Conservation, sustainable use and benefit-sharing
Is your country applying the ecosystem approach to the management of all types of forests?
No (please provide reasons below)	X
No, but potential measures being identified (please provide details below)
Yes (please provide details below)
Comments on application of the ecosystem approach to management of forests (including effectiveness of actions taken, lessons learned, impact on forest management, constraints, needs, tools, and targets).

Has your country undertaken measures to reduce the threats to, and mitigate its impacts on forest biodiversity?
Options	X	Details
Yes	X	Please specify below the major threats identified in relation to each objective of goal 2 and the measures undertaken to address priority actions
		National Forest Program of Armenia identified all dangers that causes degradation of forest ecosystems and loss of their biodiversity. They are: - fragmentation and loss of the habitats, particularly due to use of forest lands and minerals in agricultural purposes. - overgrazing, - unsustainable forest management, including illegal logging, - overuse of timber and non-timber resources, - introduction of alien species - road construction, construction of hydropower stations, - unregulated recreational activities, - pollution of the environment.
No		Please provide reasons below
Further comments on measures to reduce threats to, and mitigate the impacts of threatening processes on forest biodiversity (including effectiveness of actions taken, lessons learned, impacts on forest biodiversity, constraints, needs, tools and targets).

Is your country undertaking any measures to protect, recover and restore forest biological diversity?
Options	X	Details
Yes	X	Please identify priority actions in relation to each objective of goal 3 and describe measures undertaken to address these priorities
		National Forest Program of Armenia envisages implementation of short-term, mid-term and long-term activities that are aimed at inventory of forest biodiversity, establishment of monitoring system, development of information bank, conservation of rare and endangered species, assessment of the impact of economic and recreational activities on forest ecosystems and their biodiversity, etc. In 2004 the Government of Armenia approved the “Action plan for mitigating actions to help address the problems associated with illegal logging”. The implementation of the Action plan will improve processes of forest monitoring and control and forest licensing. In 2004 and 2005 forest inventory has been implemented on 45,000 and 125,000 ha territories respectively. Forest management plans have been developed for 5 forest enterprises. Centre for Forest Monitoring has been established within the Ministry of Agriculture.
No		Please provide reasons below
Further comments on measures to protect, recover and restore forest biological diversity (including effectiveness of actions taken, lessons learned, impacts on forest biodiversity, constraints, needs, tools and targets).

Is your country undertaking any measures to promote the sustainable use of forest biological diversity?
Options	X	Details
Yes	X	Please specify priority actions in relation to each objective of goal 4 and describe measures undertaken to address these priorities
		Promoting sustainable use of forest biodiversity obtained a legislative basis by adoption of “Forest Code of Armenia” in 2005 and priority activities are defined in “National Forest Program” (2005), particularly on: - reduction of forest illegal logging, - implementation of community-base forest programs, - capacity building in the field of monitoring and identification, - forests licensing, - increase of the volumes of effective use of forest by-products, - development of ecotourism and recreational activities, - development of hunting industry
No		Please provide reasons below
Further comments on the promotion of the sustainable use of forest biological diversity (including effectiveness of actions taken, lessons learned, impacts on forest biodiversity, constraints, needs, tools and targets).

Is your country undertaking any measures to promote access and benefit-sharing of forest genetic resources?
Options	X	Details
Yes		Please specify priority actions in relation to each objective of goal 5 and describe measures undertaken
No	X	Please provide reasons below
Further comments on the promotion of access and benefit-sharing of forest genetic resources. (including effectiveness of actions taken, lessons learned, impacts on forest biodiversity, constraints, needs, tools and targets)

Programme element 2 – Institutional and socio-economic enabling environment
Is your country undertaking any measures to enhance the institutional enabling environment for the conservation and sustainable use of forest biological diversity, including access and benefit-sharing?
Options	X	Details
Yes	X	Please identify priority actions in relation to each objective of Goal 1 and describe measures undertaken to address these priorities
		“Forest Scientific Experimental Center” SNCO has been established by Government Resolution #1587 (September 26, 2002), which implements the following functions: forest development activities forest-ecological scientific experimental research and scientific applied testing of conservation and reproduction of forest genetic resources; development of information bank on forest resources; development of methods of effective use of forest resources; development of collection of valuable and rare species for biodiversity conservation scientific information exchange on forests, capacity building, practical training of specialists of forest sector
No		Please provide reasons below
Further comments on the enhancement of the institutional enabling environment for the conservation and sustainable use of forest biological diversity, including access and benefit-sharing (including effectiveness of actions taken, lessons learned, impacts on forest biodiversity, constraints, needs, tools and targets).

Is your country undertaking any measures to address socio-economic failures and distortions that lead to decisions that result in loss of forest biological diversity?
Options	X	Details
Yes	X	Please identify priority actions in relation to each objective of Goal 2 and describe measures undertaken to address these priorities
		Government Resolution #46 (January 19, 2006) approved new set of fees for use of bioresources, including timber use fees depending on type of tree (oak-tree, ash-tree, maple, pine-tree, lime-tree, beech-tree), herb, edible, technical, decorative plants, forest areas for grazing, etc. This categorization of fees will allow decision-makers and forest users to implement proper management without harm to biodiversity
No		Please provide reasons below
Further comments on review of socio-economic failures and distortions that lead to decisions that result in loss of forest biological diversity (including effectiveness of actions taken, lessons learned, impacts on forest biodiversity, constraints, needs, tools and targets).

Is your country undertaking any measures to increase public education, participation and awareness in relation to forest biological diversity?
Options	X	Details
Yes	X	Please identify priority actions in relation to each objective of goal 3 and describe measures undertaken to address these priorities
		Problems of forest sector are emphasized by activities of a number of NGOs. Round tables, hearings, workshops, seminars are organized with the participation of decision-makers, stakeholders and general public to discuss directions for forests improvement, including issued of conservation of forest biodiversity. A great number of materials are published to raise awareness on the issues on forest sector.
No		Please provide reasons below
Further comments on measures to increase public education, participation and awareness in relation to forest biological diversity (including effectiveness of actions taken, lessons learned, impacts on forest biodiversity, constraints, needs, tools and targets).

Programme element 3 – Knowledge, assessment and monitoring
Is your country undertaking any measures to characterize forest ecosystems at various scales in order to improve the assessment of the status and trends of forest biological diversity?
Options	X	Details
Yes	X	Please identify priority actions in relation to each objective of Goal 1 and describe measures undertaken to address these priorities
		In the framework of “Assessment of Global Forest Resources” project implemented by the FAO Forest Department, “Assessment of Forest Resources of Armenia” Report has been developed in 2005. The report summarizes the following data for the years 2000-2005: status of forests and areas covered by forests; types of ownership of forests; functions, characteristics, and biomass properties of the forests; trends of biomass changes; diversity of tree species; tree logging; employment in forest sector; and other issues.
No		Please provide reasons below
Further comments on characterization of forest ecosystems at various scales (including effectiveness of actions taken, lessons learned, impacts on forest biodiversity, constraints, needs, tools and targets).

Is your country undertaking any measures to improve knowledge on, and methods for, the assessment of the status and trends of forest biological diversity?
Options	X	Details
Yes	X	Please identify priority actions in relation to each objective of goal 2 and describe measures undertaken to address these priorities
		Capacity buildings trainings are organized at Regional training centre in Zikatar forest for the specialists of forest sector with the use of contemporary methodologies for assessment of biodiversity status and trends. Educational curricula on biodiversity assessment includes training on the following subjects: forest management plan development, use of GIS, national procedures for indirect assessment of biodiversity: advantages and limitations, assessment based on forest species, etc. National Forest Program of Armenia has provided broad attention to the issues of education and capacity building in the forest sector and included a number of respective actions.
No		Please provide reasons below
Further comments on improvement of knowledge on and methods for the assessment of the status and trends (including effectiveness of actions taken, lessons learned, impacts on forest biodiversity, constraints, needs, tools and targets).

Is your country undertaking any measures to improve the understanding of the role of forest biodiversity and ecosystem functioning?
Options	X	Details
Yes	X	Please identify priority actions in relation to each objective of goal 3 and describe measures undertaken to address these priorities
		The issues of forest biodiversity conservation and restoration are emphasized in the documents entitled “National Forest Policy and Strategy of the Republic of Armenia” (2005) and “National Forest Program of the Republic of Armenia” (2005), which have been adopted by the Government (Resolutions #38 and #1232 respectively). Problems addressed are: Decrease of biodiversity in forest ecosystems, Degradation of forest landscapes, Sharp decrease of the habitats of rare and endangered species (walnut-tree, wild berries) Absence of biodiversity monitoring and information databases, Lack of specialized knowledge on biodiversity conservation among the staff involved in forest sector Irregular scientific research on biodiversity The following directions are identified as priority objectives for forest sector: Ensuring biodiversity monitoring and construction of information databases Ensuring reliable and effective conservation of biodiversity Restoration of degraded forest landscapes and their conservation, Development of ecotourism, Restoration of degraded forests.
No		Please provide reasons below
Further comments on the improvement of the understanding of the role of forest biodiversity and ecosystem functioning (including effectiveness of actions taken, lessons learned, impacts on forest biodiversity, constraints, needs, tools and targets).

Is your country undertaking any measures at national level to improve the infrastructure for data and information management for accurate assessment and monitoring of global forest biodiversity?
Options	X	Details
Yes		Please identify priority actions in relation to each objective of goal 4 and describe measures undertaken to address these priorities
No		Please provide reasons below
Further comments on the improvement of the infrastructure for data and information management (including effectiveness of actions taken, lessons learned, impacts on forest biodiversity, constraints, needs, tools and targets).

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Please elaborate below on the implementation of this programme of work and associated decisions specifically focusing on: outcomes and impacts of actions taken; contribution to the achievement of the goals of the Strategic Plan of the Convention; contribution to progress towards the 2010 target; progress in implementing national biodiversity strategies and action plans; contribution to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals; constraints encountered in implementation.