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.

• Achievements of the project implementation in Armenia in 2013
• Quality check of the 2013 Emerald sites database submitted by Armenia
• State of play of work on the Emerald Network by 2012 in Armenia