Armenia

Armenia is a highland country of nearly 30,000sq km, located in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains. Its highest point is Mount Ararat, measuring 4,095 m above sea level. Despite the lack of sea or ocean outlets, the country has multiple fast flowing rivers and boasts Lake Sevan, the largest lake in the mountain range.

In the north of the country the Debed River and its tributary the Hrazdan, fed by Lake Sevan, drain much of the country. The land around the Aras River is rich and has long been used for agriculture.

Armenia signed the Bern Convention on 13 March 2006, which entered into force in 2008. Since then, the country has been working on the setting-up of the Emerald Network and listed more than 110 species that need protection and habitat conservation, according to the Bern Convention Resolutions No. 4 (1994) and No. 6 (1998).

Some of the most emblematic species include the Persian leopard, Panthera pardus, the greater horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, and the fern leaf peony, Paeonia tenuifolia. Four different habitats of European importance, such as the Continental glasswort swards, are identified as present in Armenia.

21 sites have been identified as suitable to join the Network in the country (by February 2016), 13 of which have been officially nominated as candidate Emerald sites by the Standing Committee to the Bern Convention (in December 2015).

The 21 potential Emerald sites cover 4975.44 km2, 16.58% of the country territory.

Latest activities in Armenia

Two new publications on the Emerald Network out now

June 2015 Yerevan, Armenia
In Georgia, a new brochure presents the Bern Convention and the Emerald Network, as well as how this ecological network is set up practically and what are the obligations it creates for the State Party. The EU Habitats and Birds Directives and the Natura 2000 Network are also presented, as...

Results of the first Emerald evaluation Seminar

27-29 May 2015 Tbilisi, Georgia
The first Emerald network evaluation Seminar was held in Tbilisi on 27-29 May 2015. The evaluation targeted three South-Caucasus countries, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. It was aimed at assessing how well the Emerald Network identified on the territories of these countries will perform in...

Year 2015 Calendars focussing on the Emerald Network

January 2015
Two national Emerald teams produced a Year 2015 Calendar focussing on the Emerald Network in their countries. The Republic of Moldova illustrated their Calendar 2015 with a map indicating their national Emerald Network areas.

Evironment friendly Year 2014 Calendar in Armenia

January 2014 Yerevan, Armenia
The Armenian Emerald Network team prepared a Year 2014 Calendar, marking the important dates celebrated globally, dedicated to environment, nature and biodiversity issues. The Calendar features pictures of Emerald Network sites in the country, as well as of various species of European importance...

Project results for 2013 in Armenia available now

February 2014 Yerevan, Armenia
During 2013, the country Emerald sites proposals grew from 9 in 2012 to 12 in 2013, with three additional areas identified as corresponding to the Network requirements. The total area of the 12 Emerald Network sites covers 291329.0 ha and it now covers around 9.88% of the total country territory....

First national event in Armenia

25-26 June 2013 Yerevan, Armenia
The first national event in the frame of the project in Armenia took place in Yerevan, on 25-26 June 2013.

Picture gallery

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Contact person in Armenia

Ms Hasmik Ghalachyan
Head of  Plant Resources Management Division
Ministry of Nature Protection, Agency of Bioresources Management
Government Building 3, Republic Square, YEREVAN
Tel: :+374 580711 or +374 273890
Contact